Uncover Your Strengths and Weaknesses in Leadership Today

Here’s a startling truth about leadership: it has absolutely nothing to do with being perfect. In fact, trying to be a perfect leader is a surefire way to fail. The best leaders I've ever worked with understood this. They knew that their strengths and weaknesses in leadership weren't separate things, but two sides of the same coin.

One is an asset, the other is simply an opportunity to get better.

The Two Sides of the Leadership Coin

Imagine a ship's captain trying to navigate a nasty storm. Their strengths are a steady hand on the wheel, a deep knowledge of the sea, and the trust of their crew. But their weaknesses? Maybe it's a blind spot on their chart, a tendency to second-guess themselves under pressure, or even overconfidence that makes them ignore a gathering storm cloud.

Every single leader has this mix. The secret isn't to eliminate the weaknesses but to understand them so they don’t sink the ship.

Ignoring those blind spots comes with a hefty price tag. Poor leadership vacuums a mind-boggling $550 billion out of businesses annually, mostly from lost productivity as good people check out and eventually walk out. The connection is crystal clear: leaders who build trust see 14 times more engagement, yet a meager 15% of employees worldwide feel engaged at work. That massive gap is where great leaders are made—by having the courage to look inward. If you're curious, you can dig into more of these surprising leadership statistics.

At-a-Glance Leadership Strengths vs Weaknesses

To really grasp this idea, it helps to see how a strength can cast a shadow, creating a corresponding weakness. Think of it as a leadership seesaw—too much weight on one side throws everything off balance.

This table gives you a quick snapshot of how common leadership assets can turn into liabilities if they're not kept in check.

Seeing these pairs laid out makes it obvious, right? The goal isn't to stop being decisive or visionary. It's about knowing when to dial it back and lean on others to fill the gaps.

A Snapshot of Leadership Traits

Let's look at what the data tells us about the leaders in the trenches right now. This infographic paints a very interesting picture.

It’s a classic leadership paradox, isn't it? A huge number of leaders see themselves as big-picture visionaries, but when it comes to the practical skill of delegation—letting go so the team can execute—they stumble.

The foundation of leadership is your character... However, leadership is also a combination of both character and competence. Many intuitively assume self-confidence is important for being a leader, but self-awareness is more essential.

That quote nails it. Self-awareness is the superpower that separates the good from the truly great. It’s the ability to honestly appraise what you bring to the table and where you need help. For example:

• The brilliant visionary • can paint a picture of the future so compelling that everyone wants to go there. But they might get lost in the weeds of the project plan needed to make it happen.

• The deeply empathetic boss • creates incredible loyalty and trust. But they might agonize over making a tough call that they know will upset someone, even if it's the right move for the business.

• The get-it-done leader • is a force of nature, pushing projects across the finish line. The downside? They might move so fast that they leave their team feeling unheard and run over.

Spotting these patterns in yourself isn't a sign of failure. It's the absolute hallmark of a leader who is serious about growing. The whole journey starts the moment you hold up the mirror and commit to seeing what’s really there—the good, the bad, and the fixable.

What Are Your Leadership Superpowers?

Let's get one thing straight: great leaders aren't perfect. Not even close. What they are is incredibly self-aware. They know their "superpowers"—those core strengths that feel less like a learned skill and more like a part of their DNA. Pinpointing what you do best isn't an ego trip; it’s the first real step toward leading with intention.

Imagine a CEO steering her company through a messy merger. Sure, she's got business smarts. But her real superpower? A ridiculously high level of emotional intelligence . She walks into a room and instantly feels the tension. She doesn't ignore it; she names it, validates her team's anxieties, and lays out the path forward with genuine empathy. In that moment, she transforms a crisis into a shared mission. That's a leadership strength in action.

The Strengths That Truly Matter Today

While you could list a hundred different leadership traits, a few consistently rise to the top, especially in our whirlwind of a world. These are the big ones that build teams that don't just survive, but thrive.

• Adaptability: • This is all about being able to pivot without panicking. When a leader is truly adaptable, they don't see change as a roadblock—they see it as a detour to a better route. They’re the ones who calmly adjust the game plan and keep everyone focused while the ground is shaking.

• Strategic Vision: • This isn't just about making a five-year plan. It's the rare ability to see the entire chessboard and paint a picture of the future so vivid that everyone else can't help but want to be a part of it. It’s the magic that turns a to-do list into a movement.

• Decisive Communication: • Forget being loud or bossy. This is about cutting through the noise with absolute clarity when it counts. Decisive leaders make the tough calls and communicate them in a way that leaves no room for confusion, giving their team the confidence to charge ahead.

"He who knows others is wise. He who knows himself is enlightened.”

Lao Tzu nailed it centuries ago. The journey to becoming a better leader starts right in your own backyard—with you. Taking a hard look at what you naturally excel at is like taking inventory of your most powerful weapons. And if you're not sure where to start, that's okay. Exploring different frameworks can be a huge help. A great place to begin is our guide on how to find your strengths .

Why This Isn't Just Fluffy Self-Help

Nurturing these strengths is more than just a feel-good exercise; it’s a rock-solid business strategy. Seriously. When leaders are authentic and adaptable, their companies win. It's how they navigate hurdles like uncertain economic growth, which a staggering 63% of leaders see as a major threat.

And here’s another nugget for you: inclusive leadership, which is a strength all on its own, pays dividends. The research is clear—gender-diverse leadership teams are a whopping 21% more likely to financially outperform their competitors. You can dig into more of these fascinating global leadership findings if you're curious.

This data proves what the best leaders have always known. Those so-called "soft skills" like adaptability and empathy? They deliver hard, bottom-line results. They are the engine of a resilient, growing business.

Confronting Your Leadership Kryptonite

Let's be honest: even Superman had his kryptonite. For leaders, it’s rarely a glowing green rock. Instead, it’s a hidden vulnerability that can completely drain their powers, often without them even realizing it. These weaknesses are the ultimate leadership blind spot. From your own perspective, everything seems fine, but to everyone else on the team, the danger is flashing like a neon sign.

These blind spots aren't deep-seated character flaws. More often than not, they’re just unexamined habits running on autopilot. Take the classic example of the well-meaning manager who, in an attempt to be "helpful," becomes a world-class micromanager. They hover, they poke, they "just want to check in" on every tiny detail, effectively suffocating their team's autonomy and creativity. What's the result? Innovation dies, and your best people start quietly updating their LinkedIn profiles.

The Most Common Leadership Blind Spots

Some weaknesses are so common they’re almost cliché. They’re the villains in countless workplace horror stories, but seeing them for what they are is the first step toward transforming them into your next big growth opportunity.

• Poor Communication: • This isn't just about fumbling a presentation. It’s the leader who never sets clear expectations, leaving their team to play a frustrating guessing game about what "done" looks like. It's also the boss who talks far more than they listen, missing out on game-changing ideas from the people actually doing the work.

• Indecisiveness: • A leader stuck in a state of "analysis paralysis" creates a culture of paralysis. When the person at the helm can't pick a direction, the entire ship just sits dead in the water while frustration builds below deck.

• Resisting Change: • The seven most expensive words in business? "We've always done it this way." This stubborn resistance to new ideas, fresh processes, or modern technology is a surefire way to become irrelevant in a world that refuses to stand still.

Spotting these traits in yourself isn't a sign of failure. In fact, it's a sign you're paying attention. These are just signposts showing you where to focus your development. Learning how to be a better leader means having the guts to look at these areas head-on.

The Real Cost of Unchecked Weaknesses

Ignoring these blind spots does more than just tank morale; it hits the bottom line. Hard. This isn't just office gossip—the data is staggering. For instance, companies that actually invest in developing their leaders see 25% better business outcomes. Development is also critical for keeping your talent; a massive 71% of Millennials say they'll likely bail within three years if their company lacks leadership development opportunities. This makes tackling weaknesses a massive business priority, especially when you consider that leaders hired from outside are 61% more likely to fail than those promoted internally.

Leadership weaknesses are not personal failings. They are simply opportunities for growth that haven't been addressed yet.

Thinking this way is a game-changer. Facing your kryptonite isn't about admitting you're a bad leader. It's about admitting you're a human one and committing to the lifelong work that separates good leaders from great ones. Honestly, it’s the most powerful move you can make.

Alright, let's ditch the robotic tone and give this section a real human voice.

How to Run a Personal Leadership Audit

So, you know that understanding your leadership strengths and weaknesses is a big deal. But how do you actually figure out what they are ? It's not like they come with a handy user manual. You have to do a little digging.

Think of it as a personal leadership audit. And no, that's not as scary or boring as it sounds. This isn't about criticizing yourself or creating a list of everything you do wrong. It’s more like a fact-finding mission—a chance to hold up a mirror and see what’s really there, so you have the intel you need to get better.

Gather Your Evidence

If you only rely on what you think of your leadership, you're only getting a tiny piece of the puzzle. It’s like trying to describe a parade when you can only see one float. To get the whole picture, you need to collect clues from a few different sources.

It takes a bit of guts, but the clarity you'll gain is worth it. Here’s how you can play detective on your own leadership style:

• Ask for 360-Degree Feedback: • This is the gold standard for a reason. Ask your boss, your direct reports, and even your peers for some honest, confidential feedback. The key is to frame it as a personal growth exercise, not a performance review. Make it safe for them to be candid.

• Keep a "Decision Journal": • For the next two weeks, jot down the key decisions you make each day. Note the situation, what you decided, how it turned out, and how you felt about it. You'll be amazed at the patterns that pop up, showing you where you shine and where you trip up.

• Use Self-Assessment Tools: • Sometimes, you're just too close to the situation to see it clearly. Formal assessments from places like • Hogan Assessments • or the • CliftonStrengths • test can give you a structured way to look at your tendencies. They provide a common language to identify traits you might otherwise miss.

"When it comes to our own weakness, we tend to have blind spots. Willingness to look at ourselves through others’ eyes would help us glean invaluable insight into how our emotions and communication style affect other people."

This is the whole point. The audit isn't about judgment; it's about gaining perspective. It's the essential first step before you can turn that newfound awareness into real, meaningful action.

Your Personal Leadership Audit Checklist

Once you've collected all your evidence—the feedback, the journal entries, the assessment results—it's time to put it all together. This checklist is a simple tool to help you organize your thoughts and rate yourself across a few critical areas of leadership.

Grab a coffee, find a quiet spot, and be brutally honest with yourself. This is for your eyes only, so there's no point in fudging the numbers.

Finishing this table gives you the raw material for a powerful growth plan. Remember, the goal isn't to get a perfect score across the board. The goal is to get a clear one. That clarity is where your journey to becoming a better leader truly begins.

Turning Awareness into Actionable Growth

Okay, so you’ve done a personal audit and now have a map of your leadership skills. You can clearly see the towering mountains of your strengths and the tricky valleys where your weaknesses lie. But here’s the thing about maps: they're pretty useless if you just stare at them. It's time to actually go somewhere.

Think of it like hitting the gym. You wouldn't just do bicep curls forever because you're good at them, right? You'd end up completely unbalanced. A great workout plan hits your strong muscles to keep them sharp and includes targeted exercises to build up the weaker ones. That’s exactly how we need to approach leadership growth.

Amplify Your Strengths

Leaning into what you're naturally good at is the quickest way to feel more effective and, frankly, happier at work. Don't just give your strengths a polite nod; put them to work!

• Be a Mentor: • If you’re a fantastic communicator, why not take a junior team member under your wing? Teaching someone else forces you to deconstruct your own talent, making you even better at it while helping them grow.

• Take On a “Hero Project”: • Are you a strategic visionary? Volunteer to lead that project that’s lost its way. This is your chance to shine and put your superpower right where it can do the most good.

• Double Down on What Works: • The next time you get positive feedback on something, ask yourself a simple question: “How can I do • more • of that?” It’s a surprisingly powerful way to unlock new opportunities.

Mitigate Your Weaknesses

Let's be real: you're probably not going to completely eliminate your weaknesses, and that's okay. The goal is to build smart systems and find support so they don't trip you up. A weakness isn't a life sentence; it’s a signpost.

Your weaknesses are not character flaws. They are simply signposts pointing you toward a new skill to learn or a different way to collaborate.

For example, if you know you have a tendency to micromanage, just telling yourself "stop it!" is a recipe for failure. You need a practical system to short-circuit that impulse before it takes over.

Here are a few ways to build those guardrails:

• Find a Complementary Partner: • If you're a big-picture person who gets lost in the weeds, team up with someone who loves the details. Your strengths and weaknesses will balance each other out, creating a truly formidable duo.

• Build a Delegation Framework: • For the recovering micromanager, create a crystal-clear plan for handing off tasks. Define the • what • and the • why • , but—and this is crucial—leave the • how • to your team. This structure gives you the confidence to let go.

• Automate or Outsource: • If administrative work is your kryptonite, use technology to automate it. If you can, delegate it to an assistant. Freeing up that mental space lets you focus on the high-impact areas where you truly make a difference.

Turning self-awareness into real growth means applying your strengths to everyday challenges, like tackling workplace issues with grace and empathy. The whole point of this journey is to keep improving. For more ideas on how to continue your development, check out our guide to Improve Leadership Skills: Proven Strategies to Lead Better.

Alright, let's get this sounding like it was written by a seasoned leader, not a robot. Here’s a rewrite that brings in more personality, experience, and natural flow.

The Leader's Journey Is Never Over

So, you’ve spent some time digging in, figuring out your leadership profile. Feels good, right? But don't mistake that feeling for crossing a finish line. What you've really done is arrive at a much more interesting trailhead.

Great leadership has never been about reaching some mythical final destination. It’s always been a messy, fascinating, and ongoing journey of growth, adaptation, and rediscovery. And let's be honest, that process is moving at warp speed these days.

The ground is constantly shifting under our feet. We're grappling with artificial intelligence, navigating the new normal of remote and hybrid work, and figuring out how to connect with teams scattered across the globe. These aren’t just passing fads; they're the new reality. Surviving—and thriving—in this environment demands more than a static set of skills. It demands a serious commitment to learning and a rock-solid growth mindset.

It's All About Continuous Improvement

Let me let you in on a little secret: the best leaders I've ever known aren't the ones with all the answers. They're the ones who are obsessed with asking better questions.

They have the humility to know that a strength that works wonders today might be totally irrelevant tomorrow. They also understand that a nagging weakness could actually hold the key to their next big breakthrough. That's why regularly checking in on your strengths and weaknesses in leadership isn't a one-and-done task. It's a discipline.

The most dangerous leadership myth is that leaders are born—that there is a genetic factor to leadership. That's nonsense; in fact, the opposite is true. Leaders are made rather than born. - Warren Bennis

This relentless drive for self-improvement is what separates a forgettable manager from an inspiring leader. It’s the engine that keeps you relevant and effective over a long, winding, and truly impactful career.

The real work starts now. It’s the daily choice to learn, to adapt, and to show up as the leader your team needs—not just for today, but for all the wild and unpredictable tomorrows to come. Your journey is just getting started.

Your Burning Leadership Questions, Answered

Let's be honest, figuring out your own leadership style can feel like trying to solve a puzzle in the dark. It’s tricky stuff, but don't worry—these are the questions every leader grapples with on their journey.

Can a Strength Also Be a Weakness?

Oh, absolutely. In fact, this is probably one of the biggest "aha!" moments in anyone's leadership development. The best way to think about it is like a personality trait turned up to 11 .

Your decisiveness is a superpower, right? It keeps projects moving and cuts through corporate paralysis. But crank that dial too high, and suddenly it looks a lot like rash impulsiveness. That same confidence that inspires your team can curdle into off-putting arrogance if you're not careful. It’s a fine line.

The magic ingredient here is self-awareness . Knowing your greatest asset has a dark side allows you to be more intentional. You can consciously "dial it back" when a situation calls for more listening, more collaboration, or just more patience. Getting this concept is a massive leap forward.

How Can I Spot My Blind Spots?

This is the million-dollar question, isn't it? How do you see the one thing you are, by definition, blind to? You can’t read the label from inside the bottle. The only real way is to bravely step outside and ask someone else to read it for you.

• Just Ask: • It sounds simple, but it takes guts. Pull aside a trusted colleague or direct report and ask open-ended questions. Try something like, "If you were in my shoes for a week, what's one thing you'd do differently to make our team even better?"

• Read the Room: • Your team's behavior is a giant billboard advertising your blind spots. Are they silent in meetings? Do they avoid bringing you bad news until it's a full-blown crisis? That could be a sign that you come across as intimidating or unapproachable, even if you don't mean to.

The most dangerous leadership myth is that leaders are born—that there is a genetic factor to leadership. That's nonsense; in fact, the opposite is true. Leaders are made rather than born.

This is fantastic news! It means you're not stuck. You have the power to get better, and it all starts with having the courage to look at the things you can't see on your own.

Ready to uncover the core of your leadership style? At Enneagram Universe , we provide tools to help you understand your deepest motivations and patterns. Discover your Enneagram type with our free, in-depth assessment and start turning self-awareness into your greatest strength.