When Strengths Sleepwalk Us into Blind Spots
The feedback was sincere, and the recognition appreciated. But something in it made me pause. Not because assertiveness is unfamiliar to me—it’s one of my go-to tools. In fact, that’s precisely why I paused.
We often hear it and I am personally guilty of saying it many many times "play to your strengths".
It’s a common leadership mantra—and for good reason. Knowing your strengths, leaning on them under pressure, and consistently delivering value through what you do best is a powerful engine of progress. But what if that same engine is running on autopilot? What if the very traits that got you here are the same ones quietly limiting your growth?
Recently, I received feedback on a project I led to completion—feedback that read: “Very well done, your assertive approach ensured that the deliverable didn’t get lost.”
The message was sincere, and the recognition appreciated. But something in it made me pause. Not because assertiveness is unfamiliar to me—it’s one of my go-to tools. In fact, that’s precisely why I paused.
