A VP was concerned she was "too accommodating". Some explorative questions about her childhood revealed she was the peacemaker in her chaotic upbringing, which led to an awareness of the strengths that she hyper developed. Her approach with her org and her leadership shifted almost immediately, as "accommodating" gave way to: deeply seeing people where they are, mediating her peer group toward alignment, and building the story of the way forward that everyone could get behind. By tapping into strengths, she became the key driver of the leadership team, and ultimately was tapped by the board to succeed the CEO.
I worked with a biotech client who felt uncomfortable leading meetings with company colleagues. He would hold back on expressing opinions and was told by his manager to increase his amount of talking. He was referred to me in order to enhance his visibility and impact as a speaker and leader. As we developed our coaching relationship, I noted and affirmed his sharp sense of humor and use of metaphors and quotes. As a result, he used that strength to begin each meeting with anecdotes, quotes or metaphors-and received positive reactions from the group. As an example, when his company received a bit of negative publicity due to a delayed clinical trials, he quoted Mark Twain. "Whether it's good news or bad news, it's making the news that counts."
I once coached a senior executive aiming for a C-level position, a step they had never taken before. Through in-depth discussions, we not only explored their strengths but also pinpointed gaps in their experience. By identifying these gaps, we could focus on their closest achievements to bridge them. We discovered they had been operating at a C-level scale without the official title. So, instead of focusing on titles in their resume, we highlighted the impact, scale, and responsibilities they had already been managing. This approach opened doors for favorable conversations and opportunities and empowered my client. They gained a profound self-awareness and confidence in their readiness to take the leap to C-level.
At FemFounder and Marquet Media, I worked with an executive who struggled with delegation, often taking on too many tasks herself. After discussing her strengths and interests, we realized her hidden strength was strategic vision and leadership rather than day-to-day operations. I helped her focus on empowering her team by identifying key areas where she could delegate effectively, allowing her to focus on long-term strategy and business development. This shift relieved her stress and increased overall team productivity, leading to more innovative solutions and a 20% increase in project efficiency. The impact was clear: by leveraging her leadership strength, she could drive the company forward while fostering a more empowered and engaged team.
An executive at a struggling company aimed to boost revenue but lacked awareness of their underutilized digital content library. A thorough analysis uncovered valuable articles, videos, and e-books attracting traffic but without a monetization strategy. Discussions led to the realization that this content could be repackaged for third-party platforms as premium offerings, paving the way for a comprehensive revenue-generating strategy.
As a Medical Director, I once worked with a hospital administrator who felt overwhelmed managing a large, underperforming department. Through conversations, I recognized their ability to break down complex challenges into simple, actionable steps-a strength they didn't fully appreciate. I encouraged them to apply this skill to streamline workflows and improve communication within their team. Within months, employee engagement improved, patient outcomes became more consistent, and the administrator gained confidence in their leadership style. It was a powerful reminder of how uncovering and using hidden strengths can drive meaningful change.
I identified a significant opportunity to enhance partnerships by leveraging the untapped strengths of affiliates in content marketing and niche audience engagement. While leadership focused on traditional metrics, I recognized these affiliates excelled in community-building but were underutilized in our broader strategies. By shifting our approach to acknowledge and exploit these hidden strengths, we could greatly improve campaign performance.