Schedule a Consultation

THIS Leader Podcast

Episode 31: Strengths: The Hidden Key to Extraordinary Performance

September 9, 2025

What if the secret to extraordinary performance isn't fixing your weaknesses, but amplifying what you're naturally brilliant at?

In this episode, I explore the research-backed power of strengths and share why people who use their strengths daily are three times more likely to report having an excellent quality of life.

Discover how to identify your unique zone of genius and transform both your leadership impact and your team's performance by working with your natural talents instead of against them.

Listen Now
Photo of Claire Laughlin with the words "with Claire Laughlin"

Listen Now

Are you pushing a boulder uphill every day, feeling exhausted despite getting results? If you're like many capable leaders I work with, you might be operating primarily outside your strengths, and it's costing you energy, impact, and fulfillment.

In this episode, I share how to identify your natural zone of genius and stop trying to fix weaknesses instead of amplifying what makes you extraordinary. You'll discover why that Saturday morning work you do "for fun" might actually be your greatest professional asset, and learn practical strategies for restructuring responsibilities around strengths.

Whether you're feeling drained by routine tasks or wondering why smart people on your team seem disengaged, this episode will show you how to work with your natural current instead of against it.

Mock up of podcast episode on phone with air pods Episode #31: "Strength: The Hidden Key to Extraordinary Performance" with Podcast cover art
THIS Leader Podcast
Episode #31: Strengths: The Hidden Key to Extraordinary Performance
23:59
 

"When you align your leadership with your actual strengths, everything changes. Your energy increases, your impact grows, and work becomes something you're excited about rather than something you just have to push through."

Highlights from this episode:

In this episode, Claire explores why most leaders are unknowingly operating at only 70% of their potential and how aligning with your natural strengths can transform your leadership impact.

The Research on Strengths
The data from Marcus Buckingham, Don Clifton, and the Gallup Organization is compelling. People who use their strengths daily are three times more likely to report an excellent quality of life and six times more engaged at work. Teams focusing on strengths see 12.5% greater productivity and 8.1% more profitability.

What Are Strengths?
Strengths aren't just learned skills; they're the intersection of natural talents, knowledge, and developed abilities. The magic ingredient is that natural talent, making certain activities feel effortless while producing extraordinary results.

How to Identify Your Strengths

Three practical approaches for discovering your natural talents:

  1. Feedback Patterns - What do people consistently come to you for? What do they say you're naturally good at?
  2. Energy vs. Drain - Pay attention to what energizes you versus what depletes you. Strengths give you energy when you use them.
  3. Peak Performance Moments - When have you achieved your best results? What were you doing and how were you approaching the problem?

Three Applications for Leaders

Claire shares how to leverage strengths by leading yourself (structuring work around natural abilities), leading others (amplifying team members' strengths instead of fixing weaknesses), and shaping your environment through strengths partnerships and intentional role adjustments.

Resources Mentioned:

Click here to get the Bring Your Strengths to Work Guide

To learn more about my services, subscribe to my newsletter, and for additional tools to enhance your leadership impact, visit ClaireLaughlin.com and connect with me on social channels @Claire Laughlin Consulting.

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! New episodes are released weekly, and we'd love for you to share them with others who might benefit.

LISTEN ON SPOTIFY
REVIEW ON APPLE

Episode transcript

Click here to view the full episode transcript.

Transcript

Subscribe for weekly inspiration

Get it delivered right to your inbox!

Enter your name and email below and you'll get the inside scoop when we release a new episode on the podcast plus weekly leadership inspiration. We know you're not one to miss out on a good thing!

ClaireLaughlin.com needs the contact information you provide to us to contact you about our products and services. You may unsubscribe from these communications at anytime. See our privacy policy for terms and conditions and to learn how we protect your data.

About your Host

Claire Laughlin, MA, Organizational Development Consultant

Hi! I'm Claire Laughlin, and I love helping leaders like you create workplaces where people truly thrive.

For over two decades, I've been rolling up my sleeves alongside teams and organizations, using hands-on methods that actually work (because let's face it - theory only gets you so far!). 

I specialize in teaching leaders how to engage their teams, helping managers become more effective facilitators, and showing people how to work better together.

I'm also a master facilitator for the Six Types of Working Genius® - a fantastic tool that helps you understand and leverage your natural talents.

When I'm not helping leaders like you build happy, high-energy workplaces, I'm enjoying a hike in the forest with my dog Fiona, spending time with my family or curled up with a great book.

Photo of Claire Laughlin looking at her dog

Listen Now

Let's keep the party going!

We have tons of great episodes waiting for you! Check them out on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Podcast cover art with words "Episode 29: Transforming Workplace Tension into Trust with Theresa Phillips"

Episode #29: Transforming Workplace Tension into Trust with Theresa Phillips

What if the workplace conflicts you're trying to avoid could actually become your greatest opportunities for building trust and stronger teams?

In this powerful conversation with Theresa Phillips, who has conducted over 700 workplace investigations, we explore how to transform dysfunctional relationships into productive partnerships.

You'll discover why listening with an open heart is the catalyst for healing, and learn practical strategies for addressing tension.

More on this episode
Podcast cover art with the words "Episode 30: 4 Ways to BE IRREPLACEABLE at Work"

Episode #30:

4 Ways to BE IRREPLACEABLE at Work

 In this empowering episode, I address job security concerns in an era of AI and economic uncertainty by sharing four core strategies to make yourself absolutely indispensable through consistently adding more value.

While Forbes reports that 77% of people are concerned about AI causing job loss within 12 months, there's a crucial flip side: wages are rising twice as quickly in industries most exposed to AI.

The people adding real value are becoming more valuable, not less.

More on this episode