The LETTER:
Official Report Of The L Group

Your Weakest Link
by Lee J. Colan, Ph.D.

We all know there is always a weakest link on any team (always someone else, of course!). As the old saying goes, "a team is only as strong as its weakest link." But have you ever thought of your own personal weakest link? It's that certain skill or habit you really have to work at—the exact opposite of what you are naturally gifted at or your strongest link.

None of us are made of solid metal through and through. We all have a weak link. Just like a team, we are each individually only as strong as our weakest link. We can choose to be defined or refined by moments that stress our weakest link. Let's say you cause your company to miss a chance to bid on a big new project because you were disorganized and missed the submission deadline. Will that define who you are (a failure) or help refine your weakest link (failing to be organized)? We are given our strongest link to help others and we are given our weakest link to help refine our character, skills and habits.

Success minded people are refined by their weakest link not defined by it. They are more aware of their weakest link and employ strategies to strengthen their entire success chain. Here are a two success strategies for managing your weakest link:

1. HALT! When our basic needs are unfulfilled our weakest link tends to rear its ugly head. So remember to HALT—avoid getting too Hungry, Angry, Lonely or Tired (excuse me while I grab a bite and vent with a friend then take a nap!) Bottom line: take care of yourself — physically, socially and emotionally — so you can be at your strongest.
   (Read Oxygen Mask Priorities for more on this topic.)
2. Cross chain (not cross train) with someone whose strongest link is your weakest link. That's what a good team is all about—covering for each other's weaknesses, leveraging strengths and locking hands to build a stronger team. To be sure, winners still try to develop their weakest link, but they also realize they cannot be strong at everything. They don't paint stripes on their backs if they are not zebras. Success minded people stick with their strengths, their natural gifts and cross chain with trusted friends with complementary strong links. For example, you might be a great idea person, but you know in order to execute the idea you need to rely on your detail—oriented teammate. Or maybe you are gifted at creating a financial case for a new prospect, but you want to lock arms with your partner who makes killer presentations.
   (Read Optimize Your Sweet Spot for more on this topic.)

Know your weakest link to be at your strongest!

Copyright © 2010 by Lee J. Colan and The L Group, Inc.