Hidden Strengths, livre ebook

Books like StrengthsFinder 2.0 have helped leaders discover their strengths—but tend to stop there. Thuy and Milo Sindell argue that focusing only on our best abilities neglects a vital development opportunity. Inside every leader are “middle skills,” hidden strengths that can be turned into full strengths with attention and focus.
Build a Foundation for Continual Growth
In today's turbulent world you need to continually develop new skills to remain agile and adaptive—otherwise, your strengths will become crutches. But contrary to what many people believe, the best way to develop new skills isn't working on your weaknesses—it's identifying and elevating the underdeveloped abilities that lie between your weaknesses and your strengths.
Books like StrengthsFinder 2.0 have helped leaders build on what they're best at—but they stop there. If you only go that far you're missing a huge opportunity for professional growth. Leading Silicon Valley consultants Thuy and Milo Sindell argue that relying exclusively on your top abilities can actually hold you back—it's critical that you expand your repertoire of skills. The most effective way to do that is find your hidden strengths—midlevel skills that can quickly be elevated into learned strengths with attention and focus. This book shows you how.
Too many people waste their time working on their weaknesses, say the Sindells. Although focusing on shoring up weaknesses on the surface makes sense, they've found that it takes too much time and effort—the ROI just isn't there. The neglected skills in the middle, neither strengths nor weaknesses, are where the most potent development opportunities lie. They're close enough to being strengths that putting your energy there can offer a fast and powerful payoff. Us the Sindells' free online Hidden Strengths Assessment, along with the exercises and case studies in the book, you'll be able to identify your most promising hidden strengths and create a plan to turn them into major assets.
In today's work environment, not growing and stretching yourself translates into lack of innovation, stagnation, and obsolescence. You can't keep leaning on the things you're naturally good at or your strengths will become training wheels. But with the Sindells' help, you'll continually develop new skills that will keep you riding at the front of the pack.
Introduction

Part 1: About Hidden Strengths
Chapter 1: What are Hidden Strengths?
Why Hidden Strengths?
The Risk of Focusing on Weaknesses
The Risk of Over-Relying on Strengths
The Reward of Focusing on Hidden Strengths

Chapter 2: The Four Principles of Hidden Strengths
Principle #1: Leverage your Traits, Develop your Skills
Leverage your traits
Develop your skills
Principle #2: The Middle is the Source for Development
Principle #3: Practice, Practice, Practice
Principle #4: Always be working on your Hidden Strengths

Part 2: Uncovering the Goldmine of Opportunity
Chapter 3: Identifying your Natural Strengths, Hidden Strengths, and Weaknesses
The Twenty-Eight Skills
Leading Self
Leading Others
Leading The Organization
Leading Implementation
Chapter 4: Reviewing Your Results
Your Hidden Strengths Report

Part 3: Harnessing Your Potential
Chapter 5: Making Your Hidden Strengths Work for You
Hidden Strengths Development Plan:
Step 1: Find Your Motivation
Step 2: Identify Your Goals
Step 3: Choose Your Hidden Strengths to Develop
Step 4: Turn Your Hidden Strengths into Learned Strengths
Step 5: Evaluate Progress
Chapter 6: Leading Your Evolution
Sustainability
The Never-Ending Adventure
Share the Love

Resources
I. : The 28 Skills and Why They Matter
Leading Self
Leading Others
Leading The Organization
Leading Implementation
II. Hidden Strengths Development Worksheet

Endnotes
About the Author
Index