Two weeks ago I wrote about how we find our strengths in our weaknesses and how it is often our humanity not our perfection that makes audiences relate to us. 

Our weaknesses can be the source of our strengths.

The converse is also true.

I was at an NZATD meeting last week and heard a speaker talk about a training program within a bank that targeted the top 2%.  These high achievers were so far above the rest that their leadership potential was threatened by that fact that it was easy for them to become arrogant, or not relate well to their audience.

Our strengths can become our weaknesses where we rely on them and stop developing into a rounded professional, or lose our ability to relate to others.

The same can be true for speakers.  Are you good at speaking off the cuff?  Good at working a room?  Does it mean you can get away without preparing?   Or are you someone who is so organised, and prepared, with your speech learned by rote that you never take the time to react to the room?

Our strengths can become our weaknesses, if we rely on them and avoid developing our other talents.  Sometimes it's good to have a go at doing things a different way.

I don't advocate working only on your weaknesses - recent thinking from people like Marcus Buckingham (Now Discover your Strengths) and the recently released Switch from Chip and Dan Heath show that harnessing our strengths is the route to success.  But sometimes our weaknesses are holding us back from the greatest success, and a little attention can make a big difference.

If you like this tip: you may like these

Tip 28 : Why More isn't always better: Lessons learned from Juggling

Tip 21 : Why Speaking is like Rugby: Part 1

Tip 19: Why you're better to try and be average than a superstar on stage

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