Ask an Olympic sprinter what they most want to improve, and they will say: “Speed.” Make this same ask of someone who is highly intelligent, and they will likely reply with, “More analytical ability.”
Re: They (leaders) soon learn weaknesses gradually take care of themselves? No, they don't. They remain weaknesses. It's okay to have weaknesses, that where working on a Team comes to play. However, if people are talking about a deficiency you have when you're not in the room (and they do) you have to fix that. Can you turn it into a strength? Most likely no. You just have to get good enough at it so people don't associate the deficiency with your and your reputation. As Morgan McCall told me once, the goal is to 'push the needle' up to the point where your weakness is a non-issue. Regarding strengths, more is not always better. There is the law of diminishing returns.
What a fantastic reminder.
Re: They (leaders) soon learn weaknesses gradually take care of themselves? No, they don't. They remain weaknesses. It's okay to have weaknesses, that where working on a Team comes to play. However, if people are talking about a deficiency you have when you're not in the room (and they do) you have to fix that. Can you turn it into a strength? Most likely no. You just have to get good enough at it so people don't associate the deficiency with your and your reputation. As Morgan McCall told me once, the goal is to 'push the needle' up to the point where your weakness is a non-issue. Regarding strengths, more is not always better. There is the law of diminishing returns.