CHAPTER 6Where to Start

Targeting Strengths to Develop

Should You Ever Work on a Weakness?

We are greatly amused at the consultants and writers who criticize those who focus on strengths. One of their most frequent arguments is that there are times when weaknesses need to be addressed. That idea seems so self-evident that it should go without saying. Does the person with a hand being burned on a hot plate need to ask if he should take his hand off? We would not think so.

But we thought we’d better be sure to say it now, and we will say it often. Are there times when you should work on a weakness? The answer is yes, absolutely. There are situations where you should temporarily set aside a strengths focus to correct a significant weakness. We will ...

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