As leaders, we want to make a difference in the world and impact the people entrusted to us.

Strategic planning is a great way to help leaders assess the world around them and focus on achievable results that improve the lives of others. In traditional strategic planning, leaders make an inventory of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Once there is strong awareness of these items, strategies are created to leverage strengths, take advantage of opportunities, improve or eliminate weaknesses, and minimize threats.

Most management experts and personal improvement gurus will tell you the key to success is to leverage strengths. Peter Ducker said, “We can't make people better by trying to eliminate their weaknesses, but we can help them perform better by building on their strengths.” In his book, Strenthfinder 2.0, author Tom Rath says “What's more, we had discovered that people have several times more potential for growth, when they invest energy in developing their strengths instead of correcting their deficiencies.” Many people have been helped by reading Rath’s book, and by taking the Clifton Strength Assessment. However, I want to suggest that there is much more to consider."

Developing strengths is good, but focusing on strengths can also lead to ruin.

“Strengths can also turn into threats at the industry level. Take the taxi business. A market monopoly in many cities, it looked stronger than ever in 2009. That was the year a smartphone-enabled ride-hailing service, then called UberCab, was founded. Over the next several years, many taxi businesses found out just how much their market dominance had let them ignore customer service and technology that could connect passengers and drivers. It’s a classic illustration of how a powerful market position can lead to life-threatening underinvestment in innovation.” Are Your Company’s Strengths Really Weaknesses, Harvard Business Review, by Adam Brandenburger

God shows us a better way to have world-impacting results through His Word. The Apostle Paul said, “That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10). No one had more reason to boast than Paul. He had met Jesus face to face and was personally commissioned by Him (Acts 9:1-18). Paul performed many miracles and was even taken up into the third heaven (2 Corinthians 12:2) while he was still alive on earth. These incredible experiences give him a unique humility and incredible perspective on weakness as he states,
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“I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know---God knows. And I know that this man---whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows--- was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell. I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses. Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say,  or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” (2 Corinthians 12:1-9) ‍

Boasting in and leveraging weaknesses worked for Paul, but can this strategy work for us? Can our greatest weaknesses really be used for the most lasting impact and greatest benefit to the world? We see over and over again in the Bible where weakness is turned to strength, but can modern-day people and organizations leverage weakness as a tool to grow stronger?

Practical Ways to Leverage Weakness

The city of Memphis has struggled to protect both human and civil rights—from post civil war lynchings, to the 1968 sanitation strike, and the assassination of Dr Martin Luther King. Yet, Memphis found a way to use its difficult past to point to the future for itself and for our nation. The National Civil Rights Museum educates people from all over the world about civil rights and the effectiveness of nonviolent protests. The NBA Freedom Awards are now celebrated at an event in Memphis. The awards are given to select individuals for their tireless contributions for civil and human rights, education, the arts, sports community, and justice. And, after the deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd, Memphis was recognized by many around the world as a leading example of the right way to conduct peaceful protests and move toward reconciliation. Yes, there is still much to do, but it’s clear Memphis is not just learning from its past—it is developing a new strength.

What about personally? Can individuals learn from their mistakes too?

A mentor of mine was an extreme introvert who had to prepare questions to make it through the parties his wife insisted they attend. This ability to embrace his weakness and prepare for conversation led him to be one of the best public speakers I know.

Just this past weekend, I witnessed Ole Miss quarterback, Matt Corral, use what was a weakness only a few weeks ago to win the game against South Carolina. He threw six interceptions in a previous game because the defense discovered that Corral often looked at his intended receiver before he throws the ball. So, in the game against South Carolina, Corral started looking at one receiver and then throwing to another. His reputation and his weakness became the offense’s key strength in that game.

Ultimate Ways to Leverage Weakness

To know our weaknesses is to understand what we can’t do for ourselves. Even strong leaders can’t justify themselves before a perfect and Holy God. When we know our weakness we can turn to the greatest power—the name that is above every name, Jesus. When we turn to Jesus and trust Him, we have the eyes of our hearts enlightened and believe the hope to which He has called us. Then, we start to marvel at the riches of his glorious inheritance (Ephesians 1:18). In our weakness we see what God has done for us through His Son. “…his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come” (Ephesians 1:19-20).

Accepting your weaknesses and trusting Jesus is the life-saving strategy for you and everyone you love. This is a strategy worth your whole life. Embrace it and share it with others today.