While it’s admirable to have no ego, self-deprecation sometimes telegraphs low self-esteem. Though giving of oneself is a virtue, being a doormat invites others to take advantage of you. Handling a crisis with complete calmness can also appear like you don’t care. The most empathetic among us may also be intrusive. Even the most positive human traits can be under- or overused. When the expression of our personality falls outside of its sweet spot, the intended impact gets lost.
Sometimes a strength employed to its extreme becomes a weakness. An intense results-oriented leader might be impatient with team feedback or the benefits of a process that plays out over time. A wildly innovative creator may have trouble getting to the finish line of a project as he travels down one rabbit hole after another. A hungry and enthusiastic learner may be easily bored and distracted when unchallenged.
Being aware of our natural strengths allows us to be best aligned with our professional path. The career activities that engage these traits are energizing. Those that don’t match up are depleting. Compassionate people can thrive in the helping professions, for instance. Similarly, analytical people often find homes in research.
Yet, the compassionate people are at risk of serving from an empty vessel if they fail to counterbalance their giving with some self-care. Likewise, our analytical friends could suffer from social anxiety if they spend more time with their computers than their coworkers. Whatever the trait, too much or too little negates the benefit.
By all means, discover your strengths and find their sweet spots. But be aware of the symptoms of the extremes. What happens when you overdo it? What is the counterpart weakness that emerges beyond that threshold? How do you dial it back when the strength has morphed into a weakness?
Your best self is always within reach.