Can Strengths be Applied to Any Role?

I've been in e-mail conversation with a reader of our book -- I thought you might find it interesting! She poses, essentially, this question: How can somebody play to her strength when there are few job openings and remuneration that make the most of her strengths?

The assumption in this question is that certain strengths are more applicable to certain roles -- and the corollary, that certain roles require certain strengths. For simplicity sake, let’s assume all available jobs are technical IT jobs. If I have no strengths that can be used in the field of technology, I will not succeed and I will not contribute. However, what I believe is much more likely to happen, is that each and all strengths can be applied to most any role. If your strength is data analysis, where is that needed in the development and support of technical innovation? If my strength is creativity, how can it be utilized in the design and creation of technical products? If Carol’s strength is in relationship building, how can it serve IT customer management? If Tom’s strength is in design, how can his strength be used to market products and services?

Basic to this philosophy is our belief and experience that all strengths are useful … and that it is the great diversity of our strengths that creates innovation, inspiration, and engagement. This is one of the great benefits of looking through the lens of strength – our strengths are applicable across a wide range of jobs, organizations, and roles. If I have strength in seeing the big picture, I can apply that in the field of literature, or IT, or social justice. What is imperative is that workers and leaders look deeper than technical skills, to the underlying strengths that can feed and nourish the business, especially when combined with the strengths of the person in the next cubicle, and the other person down the hall.

I would love to hear your further thoughts on these questions …

Strengths Rule!

I serve on a volunteer Board of Directors. Because it is a volunteer position, and we have a few standing committees, but lots of ad hoc committees, board members clearly have the opportunity to play to their strengths every time we meet. Jan, who has analytical and detail strengths not only serves on the Finance Committee, but she is always first to volunteer for any projects that require data review and analysis. Nancy is organized and structured -- perfect for the Board Chair role! She also writes very well, and it a final editor on most everything. Dan, new on the board, has strengths in humor and vulnerability. He's always willing to ask questions -- and we are all grateful for the clarity (and often, laughter) that emerges.

It intrigues me that, when given the option, we naturally and easily gravitate towards our our unique hand of strengths, producing not only success, but also joy and satisfaction!

Andrea