Converting Weaknesses into Strengths

 Rinku and Rahul looked at Rakesh doubtfully.

‘Bhaiyya we understood what you told us about playing on our strengths,’ said Rinku. ‘But what bothers us most are our weaknesses. How do we deal with them?”

‘Yes bhaiyya,’ said Rahul. ‘I am good at all subjects but poor at English grammar. I’m extremely conscious of it.’

‘Yes,’ said Rakesh. ‘A couple of our perceived ‘weaknesses’ can damage our confidence and dilute our strengths. So, to regain your confidence, focus on your strengths, use that competitive advantage and secure yourself.’

‘Yes bhaiyya,’ said Rinku.

‘Next, view your weaknesses in the right perspective,’ said Rakesh. ‘Understand that no one is perfect. Just because we have not worked on some areas for whatever reasons, does not mean we will be bad at them forever. We can work and improve on them. So, instead of calling them “weaknesses” call them Work-In-Progress strengths. Or unevolved strengths.’

‘That’s a nice way to look at them bhaiyya,’ said Rinku. ‘Then?’

‘Pick the “weaknesses” that bother you the most and work at them. If English grammar is bothering you, get a good teacher, put in effort and in a month you’ll be reasonably good. Work on it enough so it does not compromise you. By focusing 80% on your strengths and 20% on your weaknesses, you gain a competitive edge on the one hand and tighten areas that compromise you on the other. Your performance improves.’

‘That’s neat, bhaiyya?’ said Rahul. ‘I always felt that my weaknesses would pull me down forever.’

‘Rahul, we fear our “weaknesses” so much that we don’t even look at them,’ said Rakesh. ‘By working on our strengths we reduce that fear. Then it’s easier to look at our weaknesses and work on them appropriately.’

 ‘Can we convert our weakness into strengths bhaiyya?’ asked Rinku.

‘Yes of course. Many have. Einstein was considered slow, Walt Disney was told he was not imaginative, Amitabh Bachchan’s voice and height were considered weaknesses.’

‘How did they convert those into strengths bhaiyya?’ asked Rahul.

‘Simple,’ said Rakesh. ‘Instead of letting others perceptions bother them, they embraced their weaknesses and owned them. They did not try to hide those weaknesses or try to be like someone else.’

‘Wow,’ said Rinku. ‘So there are three steps in dealing with our weaknesses bhaiyya. In the beginning, when we try to hide our weaknesses, they trouble us and weaken our strengths. In the second step, when we accept and work with our weaknesses, they stop troubling us and support our strengths. In the third phase, when we own our weaknesses, they become our strengths.’

‘Perfect,’ said Rakesh. ‘When we ignore our weaknesses we operate at 50% capacity. When we own them, we operate at 100%. Fully ourselves. When we accept ourselves with our limitations, we can use them to our advantage.’

‘Wow, thanks bhaiyya,’ said Rinku.

‘Yes bhaiyya,’ said Rahul. ‘Let’s accept that we need a chai break now!’

Pro Tip: To convert your weaknesses into strengths, first accept them, and then own them.

 

Exercise:  Pick two areas which you feel are your weaknesses, which compromise you. Don’t try to hide them, justify them or run away from them. Instead, accept them fully. Share your experience with another person. When you no longer feel the need to hide them or justify yourself, you will see that they can be your strength.

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