A CEO Who Embraced His Strengths
When Mike first stepped into the CEO role, he thought he knew what he needed to do. Like many leaders in his position, he believed that to be an effective CEO, he had to be the “big strategist”—the one creating the company’s vision, setting ambitious goals, and mapping out the path to success.
But soon, he found himself feeling drained and disconnected from the people and relationships that had originally energized him.
Mike had always been known for his people skills. His board had chosen him for this reason—he had a natural ability to connect with others, influence the room, and unify his team around a shared purpose. However, he began to feel the weight of trying to fit into a traditional CEO mold, where he felt pressured to manage every strategic detail himself. It didn’t take long for Mike to realize that this approach was at odds with his strengths and wasn’t sustainable.
After some reflection, Mike decided to take a different approach. He began to see that his role wasn’t to be the master strategist, but to lean into his strengths as a people-focused, relationship-driven leader. By fully embracing his strengths, he could create an environment where his team members felt valued and empowered to bring their best ideas forward.
He started identifying individuals on his team who excelled at the analytical, detail-oriented work that he found less energizing—people who were natural strategists and operational thinkers. By shifting his focus to leading through influence, relationships, and team-building, Mike created a powerful, strengths-based leadership team.
The outcome?
A more engaged workforce, a stronger strategic direction, and a company culture where everyone contributed their unique skills toward a common vision.
How Can Other Leaders Apply This Lesson?
Mike’s story is a powerful reminder that leadership isn’t about fitting into a predefined role; it’s about understanding your unique strengths and empowering your team to leverage theirs. Here’s how leaders can apply strengths-based leadership to build an effective and cohesive team:
1. Identify and Embrace Core Strengths—Yours and Your Team’s
Start with self-awareness. Take the time to understand your strengths as a leader, considering what comes naturally to you and where you add the most value. Next, apply the same process to your team. Invest in strengths assessments or hold one-on-one discussions to identify each team member’s core talents. When leaders and teams operate from a place of strength, they’re more engaged, effective, and resilient, resulting in a culture where everyone can contribute at their best.
2. Build a Balanced Team with Complementary Talents
With a clear picture of everyone’s strengths, assemble a balanced team. Look for individuals who bring complementary skills to the table—people who can provide strengths in areas where you or others may have gaps. For example, if you’re a big-picture thinker but struggle with details, ensure you have someone who’s skilled in operational planning. This diversity creates a well-rounded team capable of both visionary thinking and practical execution.
3. Empower, Delegate, and Foster Accountability
Once you’ve identified your team’s strengths, empower them to own their roles and responsibilities. Delegate tasks in a way that aligns with each person’s natural abilities, setting clear goals and expectations but allowing them the autonomy to reach those goals in their way. This empowerment fosters a culture of accountability and high performance, where team members feel trusted and motivated to contribute meaningfully. As a leader, this approach also frees you to focus on higher-level priorities and continue leading from your strengths.
Strengths-Based Leadership with StrengthsInsights
If you’re ready to bring out the best in yourself and your team, StrengthsInsights can help. Our coaching and consulting services are designed to empower leaders like you by aligning strategy, transformation, and people development into a cohesive, strengths-based approach. Through tailored coaching sessions, team workshops, and strategic consulting, we help you understand and embrace your strengths, build a well-rounded team, and create a culture of empowerment and accountability.
With StrengthsInsights, you’ll gain the tools and guidance you need to lead authentically and effectively—driving meaningful change and long-term growth for your organization.
Let us help you take the next step toward building a team that’s not only high-performing but also deeply engaged and purpose-driven.
