Performance Management/Talent Management

The Balanced Benefits of Strengths Based Leadership

by

Chapter 1 - Introduction

Strengths based leadership is a relatively new organizational philosophy focused on identifying and developing the innate talents of each employee or team member within an organization, benefiting both the organization and individual. In this project, I will explore the benefits of utilizing a 'strengths based leadership' (SBL) approach. I will research, review and summarize the 'Strengths Based Leadership' theory, exploring written examples of industries, organizations and work groups that have employed the SBL approach, and the correlation of this application to overall employee engagement and company profit or performance.  

Many employees work in positions and are assigned tasks that are in no way aligned to their innate talents. They often are miserable, hating their jobs, dragging down morale and typically being labeled a trouble maker or poor performer. Most often these employees are adequately trained in their job function, but may just be a product of a bad job fit. It is well researched that employees with low engagement do not contribute to the overall success of the employer. Both the employer and the employee share responsibility regarding the alignment of employee talents with employer job tasks, if their engagement is a bona fide lead measure in company performance. Because using a SBL approach results in peak performance by both, the employee and the employer, all teams seeking top performance should focus on identifying, developing and aligning job tasks that enrich the innate talents within each member of the organization.

In this paper, I will seek to prove:

When a person is working within their unique strengths, they are never without energy, ideas, capacity for learning, and desire.

SBL builds upon the theory of soaring with our innate strengths

SBL is a legitimate alternative managerial approach to team leadership

The SBL approach enables teams to achieve great results

The SBL approach helps others find personal satisfaction in their work, because they engage in work that is naturally linked to their innate capacity to good work in that area.

Happier employees are more engaged employees.

Highly engaged employees contribute, at a higher level than non-engaged, to the overall success of the employer, producing a win-win outcome and/or environment.

Chapter 2 - Review of the Literature

Today's competitive organizations demand strategic leadership. Leaders believe in change, they energize organizations to innovate continuously, they recognize the need for synergy, and recognize the importance of unity and collaboration. Strengths Based Leadership by Tom Rath and Barry Conchie was passionately and astutely written during a crucial time when strong leadership is needed in all organizations, communities, and countries. The authors provide sound examples to help identify unique strengths that drive success. Rath and Conche discuss the three keys to becoming a more effective leader: knowing your strengths and investing in others', getting the people with the right strengths on your team, and understanding and meeting the four basic needs of those who seek leadership. (Howard, 1988)

The authors state, "Organizations are quick to look for leaders who are great communicators, visionary thinkers, and who ...