Know Thy Strengths: Why Great Leaders Start With What They Already Do Well

Strength based leadership: Your strengths are not something to “check off.” They’re your leadership engine. Know Thy Strengths!!

If you’ve ever taken a leadership assessment or received 360° feedback, you’ve probably jumped straight to the section labeled development opportunities. We’re wired to fix things (at least I am). We zero in on what’s “missing” or “lacking” and start scribbling plans to be better.

But here’s the thing many people miss - especially in leadership

Your strengths are not something to “check off.” They’re your leadership engine.

Recently, I took a deep dive into my own feedback report. It was humbling, energizing, and in some places surprisingly emotional. I’ve spent years in technology, from my individual contributor days to leading large-scale technology teams. But it took this moment of reflection to remind me: my strengths aren't just soft skills on a slide they’re the tools I lead with every single day.

Strengths Are Not Static — They're Strategic

Let’s take empathy. It showed up again and again in my feedback: “Maryanne cares about the people on her team,” “She listens,” “She’s supportive and energizing.” I used to see that as “how I prefer to lead.” Now I see it as a strategic advantage.

When you build trust through empathy, people speak up. Innovation flows. Risks are surfaced early. Silos start to break down. That’s not just culture it’s performance architecture.

Strengths as Force Multipliers

It’s tempting to spend all our energy on fixing our “blind spots.” But we don’t always talk about hidden strengths those behaviors others see in us more clearly than we do ourselves.

One of mine? “Leading by example with high standards of personal integrity.” I wasn’t even aware it was seen as a standout strength. But now that I know? I can lean into it. I can model it intentionally. I can use it to anchor hard conversations, to challenge the status quo, or to build cross-functional alignment.

Your greatest force multipliers are already embedded in how you show up.

When Strengths and Development Align

Of course, this isn’t about ignoring growth. We all have edges to sharpen. In my own feedback, I saw areas like “strategic mindset” and “cross-org visibility” that I’m actively working on. But I also realized: those areas will evolve faster when I pair them with my existing strengths.

For example, if I want to drive more innovation, I don’t need to be an expert in everything! I can leverage my ability to build trust, create safe spaces, and bring people together. That’s how new ideas get heard.

So What’s the Takeaway?

If you're a leader—or aspire to be one—don’t just look at your strengths as personality traits. Look at them as intentional instruments of impact.

• Map your strengths to your strategy.

• Name them. Own them. Use them.

• Let them drive your growth—not just your comfort zone.

Because leadership isn’t about fixing every weakness. It’s about knowing where your superpowers are—and using them with purpose.