6 Work-Arounds that Help Address Weak Competencies
When you’re working with an employee on her leadership development and helping her address weak competencies, you have two options to help her improve and make progress toward becoming a better leader. The first is to use growth strategies, and the second is to employ work-around strategies.Today, I’m going to focus on the second: “The work-around.” This strategy can be a great alternative to growing a competency that may be too difficult for a particular employee to master. But, not all weak competencies are viable options for this strategy. Success-limiting weak competencies require growth, and there’s no substitution for building a basic level of ability in them.Keep this in mind when you’re deciding which strategy to employ toward a particular employee’s leadership development process. If you decide a work-around is the way to go, consider suggesting your employee use one of these six options.
1. Get help from someone gifted in the lacking skill area.
One man’s weakness is another man’s strength. In the case of the work-around, a skill that a leader may be lacking, may be another employee’s strength. Leaders need to be aware of their co-workers and employees’ strengths and weakness, and work to grow and utilize both for the best of the organization.
2. Invite a direct report to work on the project.
Direct reports who excel in a leader’s area of weakness can help keep the chain of information and command flowing seamlessly. Leaders should consider bringing in a direct report when they need a clean flow of information with regular and systematic reports throughout the process.
3. Invite someone from another department to help.
If the skills a leader needs to successfully meet his goals aren’t available within her department, turn to other departments for support. Remember, you don’t always need to go outside of the company to find a fresh perspective and dynamic set of skills.
4. Invite a professor to assist.
When you’re looking for a expert opinion and point-of-view, consider bringing in a professor from a local university. Their natural tendency and strength for teaching can be a huge asset to a leader and your company as a whole by providing education, assistance and insights.
5. Use software.
Often times the solution to a problem is finding the right technology to address your needs. Invest in the software options that will help shore up leaders’ weaknesses and make it easier to meet your company’s goals.
6. Hire a consultant.
If you find you don’t have the skills you need within your company -- or that the people with those skills are already booked solid -- consider hiring a consultant to come in and walk you through the solution. A consultant can provide you with a fresh perspective and an expert information to help you formulate your next right steps.Success Labs is a full-service, strategic organizational and leadership development company located in Baton Rouge, La. For more than 25 years, our expert team of consultants has worked with hundreds of companies to explore their business potential and improve their company and cultural performance. Contact us to get proactive about your people strategy.
