This is newsletter #24 in the series. If you have missed prior newsletters, and are enjoying the series, we encourage you to take advantage of the discount offer for Mike's Leadership and Life Skills Program. Click on the coupon at the bottom of this page.

Everyone has weaknesses—we're all better at doing certain things, and not so good at doing others. Focusing on what you can't do well can affect your self-esteem, your work, and the way in which you relate to others. The key is to think about your weaknesses as challenges rather than flaws. By doing so you'll be able to approach them in a different way and work on overcoming them. It’s extremely important for you to objectively analyze what your weak points are so you can determine what you can do to rise above them.

We’ll only talk about a few here to give you some ideas to help you to come up with corrective measures you can apply.

Weakness: Immaturity
Solution:
If others have told you that you’re immature, get more facts from them. Try to understand the areas in which you’re immature, and work hard to develop maturity and improve your problem-solving and decision-making skills. Doing so will increase your self-confidence.

Weakness: Temperamental
Solution:
Everyone gets angry and gets their feelings hurt, but what’s important is how you handle it. Make a concerted effort not to allow personal problems or feelings to affect your decisions or your performance. Learn to develop patience and to not take things so personally. Others might have their own problems and could be acting out for reasons that have nothing to do with you. You have a responsibility to others to control your emotions.

Weakness: Can’t handle criticism
Solution:
Criticism given improperly often feels like a personal attack and results in hard feelings and diminished self-confidence. Consider the source of the advice. If you know the person is genuinely concerned about you, graciously accept this as constructive criticism. Be open to self-improvement. What they’re saying about you is either true and is an area you need to develop, or it isn’t so you don’t need to worry about it. Criticism is often the fuel to help propel you to the next level.

Weakness: Perfectionist
Solution:
Perfection is an elusive quality and an unnecessary stressor. Trying to be perfect will overwhelm you to the point you won’t get anything done. Strive for great, not perfect. Expecting perfection in others is to set yourself up for failure. Understand that in most cases everyone is doing the best they can. Even if you can change, don’t expect it of others. Be fair and realistic in your dealings with everyone.

Weakness: Poor communicator
Solution:
Make sure that when you have written communication you use the spell-checkers and grammar checkers that are provided with the software. Bad spelling doesn’t make a good impression. If you know that you make mistakes when you talk because your language and grammar in school weren’t your focus points, make an effort to take a class or read so that you can improve in this area. The language you use when you talk sends a message.

There are obviously many more things that can be considered weaknesses, or personal challenges to overcome. Take some time to make an objective list of those areas in which you feel you can improve. Try to think of strategies or solutions. Be careful when you ask others what your weaknesses are—you might receive more frankness than you anticipated. Be prepared to handle it and learn from it.

The above content is extracted from Mike Holt's Leadership Skills textbook.