Hidden Strengths

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.

Milo Sindell is a principal in Skyline Group International, Inc., a Silicon Valley-based human capital solutions consulting company that combines the scalability of technology with one-on-one coaching. Milo and Thuy have been featured by national media, including Fortune, CNN Money, Businessweek, Washington Post, Fox News, and NBC News, and are the coauthors of Sink or Swim, Job Spa, and The End of Work as You Know It.

Thuy Sindell is a principal in Skyline Group International, Inc., a Silicon Valley-based human capital solutions consulting company that combines the scalability of technology with one-on-one coaching. Thuy and Milo have been featured by national media, including Fortune, CNN Money, Businessweek, Washington Post, Fox News, and NBC News, and are the coauthors of Sink or Swim, Job Spa, and The End of Work as You Know It.

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