Overusing a Strength Can Be Detrimental
Does the concept of overusing a strength make sense?
Last week we recommended using a checklist to help track what you want to accomplish.
This week we want to recommend that you create a checklist of your strongest skills and behaviors and assess where you may be over-using that strength.
We’ll use “communication” as an example. Let’s say you’re a strong communicator.
Consider:
- Are there times when you provide too much information?
- Have you been known to dominate conversations or highjack meetings?
- Do all email recipients have a “need to know” or are you over communicating?
- Does the receiver of your message “get it” yet you ramble on?
- Do you talk more than you listen?
- Is your message too lengthy and as a result not read in its entirety?
- Are you disregarded for talking too much?
Other considerations:
- Are you mainly fact based and lacking empathy in your delivery?
- Could you do more to minimize discomfort when communicating a difficult message?
- Do you take into account how others may feel from your message?
- Do you ask others for their perspective, views, and interpretation of your message?
Over-communication can have negative consequences and consequences for under-communicating can be even worse. Be aware of your audience and don’t over-use your communication skills.
This applies to all strengths; be aware that when over-used they can be detrimental.
An incoherent email is like a puzzle that people have to solve before they can take any significant action.—John Rampton