The Strengths Deck

04/05/2025

Leadership benefit #347: All of your mistakes are public.

(I can hear you saying, "What do you mean, BENEFIT?"!)

As a leader, everything you do and say (or don't do or say) is open for scrutiny.

You are going to get it wrong. A lot. And everyone around you will know it.

But the benefit of that is that you have the perfect opportunity to model how to respond effectively to mistakes, slip-ups, boo-boos, errors, and failures.

Because the way you respond to YOUR failures tells your people what you think about failure in general.

If you model self-awareness (acknowledging you got it wrong, and addressing any harm that has caused), self-compassion (being kind to yourself as you pick yourself back up), and self-belief (getting back on the horse again), you show them failure isn't final, it's something to learn from.

But if you ignore it, try to hide it, or blame other for it, you tell your people that failure is shameful and intolerable, and that you lack the ethical backbone to own up and fix what you got wrong. They will follow your lead, and that is one heck of a slippery slope!

And that's why it's a really good thing that your failures as a leader are public - you get to lead by example, and be the change you want to see.



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📸: Gratisography on Pexels
ID: A close up photo of someone's lower legs. They are wearing dark blue trousers and tan shoes, standing outside on a road. One shoe is lifted, showing a large wad of chewing gum stuck to the bottom of the shoe, and stretching down to the road's surface.

30/04/2025

Are you guilty of assuming there's no such thing as too much of a good thing?

The most common issue I see in my coaching clients is that they are relying heavily on just one or two of their strengths.

In doing so, they risk burning the strength out, annoying the people around them, or, worst case scenario, both!

When we're great at something and enjoy doing it, it's easy to want to do that all the time. There's a very good reason we have the cliché "When all you've got is a hammer, everything looks like a nail."

But a hammer isn't always the right tool for the job - sometimes we need to switch up the strengths we're using to get the best result.

And even if a hammer is the best tool, you wouldn't use a sledgehammer to put up a picture hook (I hope!). We can dial our strengths up and down to suit the situation.

If you want to get clear on what's in your Zone of Genius, and how to use your strengths to build the kind of life and work you've been dreaming of, let's talk. Drop me a DM and we'll set up a time for your free, 30-min chemistry check call.

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ID: A text-based image with decorative semi-circle elements around the outside. The text reads "Daria encouraged me to consider how I can overplay the strengths in my Zone of Genius and what to do about it. Her use of language around strengths-based leadership brings clarity and curiosity, allowing the client to thrive on a business and personal level." AM - business owner

28/04/2025

When was the last time you ran a simple experiment?

A couple of weeks ago, my newsletter mentioned the Pomodoro Technique (created by Francesco Cirillo) as a way of getting good work done (see below for a description).

A long-time subscriber, AJ, tried it out for himself and sent me this pic with a note saying that my newsletters have impact - which totally made my day 😊

The thing I love about this is that AJ started with what he had on hand - a giant red hourglass - and gave it a go.

Once he discovered the value, he repeated the action, and reaped more rewards.

You don't need to wait until you've got the perfect equipment, set-up, or business plan.

Start where you are, with what you have. And do a couple of pomodoro repeats to get some momentum!

🍅 The Pomodoro Technique 🍅

🍅 Pick something you want to do some deep, uninterrupted work on.
🍅 Switch off notifications and close the door (if you can).
🍅 Grab some kind of timer and set it for 25min.
🍅 Work on your chosen task, and only that task, until the timer goes off/runs out.
🍅 Take a 5min break and go again.
🍅 After three pomodoro repeats, give yourself a longer break and pat yourself on the back for the good work you've done!

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Image description: A large red hourglass on a wooden desk. Most of the sand is in the upper chamber. Around the timer are reading glasses, a notebook, paperwork and a drink bottle. In the background are a plant and window partially covered in blinds.

27/04/2025

Big mistake #2 for first-time leaders: Avoiding difficult conversations

The longer you wait to have the tricky conversations, the harder it is to have them.

By waiting, you're giving "permission" to your team to continue to perform below expectations, or to engage in ineffective behaviours.

And then when you get the point where you've got no choice but to address is, they ask "Why haven't you said anything until now?"

So what's the fix?

Normalise talking about the good, the bad, and the ugly, regularly.

Develop skills in feedback, coaching, and conflict resolution.

Listen deeply, ask curious questions, support improvements and maintain accountability.



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Image descriptions: Text-based images. The first is "Mistake #2: Avoiding difficult conversations". The second is "Fix #2: Learn courageous communication skills". At the bottom of each image is The Lightning Leadership Logo with a picture of its creator, Daria Williamson, the tagline "Grow your leadership, fast" and the URL thelightningleadershiplab[cot]com

23/04/2025

Why am I posting an "unprofessional" photo like this when I've spent thousands of dollars on professional ones in recent years?

Read the coffee cup!

Don't get me wrong, I adore the photos taken by Johns and Billing - as you'll know based on how frequently I use them!

But those photos show a curated, perfected version of me, as all professional branding photos do.

When I'm working, I'm not usually in full hair-and-makeup - in fact, once upon a time, when I was WFH on a massive documentation project, I told the client that I did some of my best work in my PJs!

In this photo:

📛 my hair needs a wash,

📛 I'm wearing a singlet that wouldn't meet dress code in most of the workplaces I've ever been in,

📛 there's not a skerrick of makeup nor a hairbrush within 5 metres of me.

And after I put the cup and phone down, I wrote some kick-ass content for my latest project (all will be revealed very, VERY soon!).

THIS is what 90+ percent of my work looks like - just getting 💩 done as my real, messy, slightly-disorganised-somewhat-creative-very-passionate self.

My clients get my best work, because I'm not wasting hours trying to be "perfectly professional".

And stuff the idea of "professionalism" anyway - it's always been about gatekeeping who gets credibility, power, and authority. (Hint, if you look closely, you'll notice that people who fit the "professional" trope tend to share... let's call them "physical characteristics").

Let's be real, not perfect. How can you show up as your real-not-perfect, flawsome self today?



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Image description: A selfie of Daria. She is holding up a black and white coffee mug with the image of a cartoon cat and the words "We were born to be real not to be perfect" on the cat's belly. She is holding the mug just below her mouth, and she is smiling with her head tilted and an eyebrow raised. Her hair is pulled back into a bun, and one shoulder is visible, showing a spaghetti strap of a top, and a bra strap underneath. In the background you can see the corner of a bookshelf, with 'Unleash Your Awesome' by Daria, and 'Gentle Power' by Elisabet Lahti on display.

21/04/2025

They say "Consistency is key". Well, they're wrong!

Humans are not machines that can operate at all times without missing a beat (actually, not even machines can do that - they need regular downtime and maintenance to perform well over the long haul, just like humans).

Consistency is great for establishing your professional reputation and doing client delivery.

But relentless consistency can be dehumanising, de-energising, and eventually lead to burnout.

⛈️ If you're going through a tough time, trying to stay consistent will do more harm than good if you don't prioritise your self-care.

🏖️ If you're having a holiday, trying to stay consistent will undermine the benefits of the break if you don't make space for rest and recovery.

🏗️ If you're taking on an additional project or responsibility, trying to stay consistent will lead to poorer outcomes overall if you spread yourself too thin.

Sometimes it's healthier to choose INconsistency. Let go of certain priorities so that you can look after what's really important - which is YOU!

You can always go back to the other stuff when you've rebuilt your capacity.

And if you're a leader, look out for excessive consistency from your people, and make sure they can take appropriate breaks and rest so they can thrive long-term.

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Hi, I’m Daria 👋🏻

✨ I develop high-trust leaders through coaching and workshops.

📖 I created The Lightning Leadership Lab to help first-time leaders to build their competence, confidence, and community to lead for good.

💡 Follow me for ideas on how to build sustainable leadership performance.

09/04/2025

If you want to win a popularity contest, I've got two bits of bad news for you:

1) Leadership isn't for you.

2) Neither is any other occupation, hobby, or activity that involves interacting with other humans!

There is no such thing as pleasing all of the people, all of the time.

And even if you could, you shouldn't, because the only person who pays a price in that scenario is YOU!

You'll end up twisted twenty-eight ways to Sunday if you even attempt it, and you'll lose touch with your sense of self. Nothing is worth alienating yourself over.

In my time as a manager, I sometimes had to draw on a phrase my Mum used to use when the students at her high school complained about how mean she was for expecting them to follow the rules:

"I'm here to be memorable, not lovable"

Yes, OF COURSE we want to be liked, and no, we definitely DO NOT want to be an awful person.

But sometimes as a leader, we've got to make an unpopular call, and be OK with the fact that people won't like it (and by extension, us).

And when that happens, it's important to have a crew around you who can provide support, encouragement, guidance, and empathy.

I'm working on something behind the scenes to help you find your crew and hone your leadership skills. If you're interested in finding out more, hit "Follow" - all will be revealed!

Hat-tip to Phil Doran for sharing the Jobs quote with me this morning.
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Hi, I’m Daria 👋🏻

✨ I help leaders develop for good, by working in their Zone of Genius.

📖 I created The Strengths Deck and wrote Unleash Your Awesome to help you get up close and personal with your strengths.

➡️ I work with teams and individuals to build sustainable performance by understanding your unique strengths.



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Image description: A text-based image with a gradient blue to green background. In the top left and bottom right corners are decorative elements. In white text, the image reads "If you want to make everyone happy, don't be a leader. Sell icecream", attributed to Steve Jobs.

There is an asterisk at the end of the quote, leading to another smaller block of text that reads "And then make peace with the fact that someone will be upset that you aren't selling sorbet". In the bottom centre of the image is a headshot of Daria Williamson, next to the Daria Williamson logo over the text "Leadership Coach & Trainer"

08/04/2025

What if personal development could be fun?

Too often we get stuck with the story of "no pain, no gain".

So we tell ourselves that if we're enjoying ourselves, we can't be doing something worthwhile.

But my clients will tell you that our work together is meaningful, transformative, AND fun.

When you're my client, my commitment to you is that you will feel more empowered at the end of your session than you did at the start.

You might be working on hard things, but you'll feel encouraged, supported, and inspired to step up, make changes, and get results.

If you are ready to grow, let's talk! I offer a free, 30-minute discovery session to chat about what you're working towards and what support you need to get there. Drop me a DM or comment below and we'll set up a time.

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Hi, I’m Daria 👋🏻

✨ I help professionals find and work in their Zone of Genius.

➡️ I work with teams and individuals.

💡 Follow me for ideas on how to build sustainable performance by understanding individual strengths.



📸: Katrina Johns/Social Shoots

Image description: two women are sitting on a corner couch, facing one another. One is holding a coffee cup, and the other has a notebook and pen. They are both laughing.

06/04/2025

Overnight successes usually aren't!

It takes a lot of work underwater to support the visible signs of success.

Something I think is missing from this picture is "Good people" including:

✨ family,

✨ friends,

✨ clients,

✨ colleagues,

✨ support staff,

✨ and even our pets (they're people too, don't you know?!)

Not to mention the mistakes we've made, failures we've experienced, training and practice we've done, and all the lessons we've learned along the way.

So, what's supporting your iceberg?

If it could do with a bit more support under the surface, working with a coach can help. Drop me a DM and we'll book in your free, 30min discovery call to chat about what will build your success iceberg.

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Hi, I’m Daria 👋🏻

✨ I help professionals find and work in their Zone of Genius.

➡️ I work with teams and individuals.

💡 Follow me for ideas on how to build sustainable performance by understanding individual strengths.



📷: The Prudent Generation

Image description: A cartoon iceberg, labelled "Success is like an iceberg". Above the waterline are emojis of a certificate, trophy, badge and medal. Below the waterline are other emojis, with labels such as growth mindset, expenses, tears, disappointment, focus, and good habits.

01/04/2025

Are you building a team of 'rockstars' or 'superstars'? Or are you just taking anyone with a pulse?

In a tough economic environment, it's more important than ever to be intentional and deliberate about how you are shaping your team.

Kim Scott, in her brilliant book 'Radical Candor', explains that rockstars and superstars are very, very different - and both types of people are necessary for long-term, sustainable success.

Check out the article to learn how to identify who your rockstars and superstars are, and how to get the best of both worlds.

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Hi, I’m Daria 👋🏻

✨ I help professionals find and work in their Zone of Genius.

➡️ I work with teams and individuals.

💡 Follow me for ideas on how to build sustainable performance by understanding individual strengths.

Do you know the difference between 'rockstars' and 'superstars'? And more importantly, do you know who on your team is a rockstar, and who is a superstar?

30/03/2025

Do you challenge people directly while caring for them personally?

If so, you're acting with radical candour.

If not, you're falling into one of the other quadrants, reducing your effectiveness as a leader.

And that's not just hurting your performance - it's affecting the people you work with, and the organisation as a whole.

Kim Scott's book 'Radical Candor' is a fantastic exploration of why being direct AND caring leads to better results for people and organisations, and includes plenty of practical advice on how to develop your radical candor skills.

When I was a new leader, I oscillated between Ruinous Empathy and Obnoxious Aggression, because those were the dominant leadership styles I had been exposed to.

I don't think I often fell into Manipulative Insincerity, but my past team members might tell you something different 🤷🏻‍♀️

One of the hardest things I had to do was learn the art and science of being direct whilst demonstrating care for the person I was speaking with. I messed it up more times than I got it right, and still find it a challenge to this day.

But the results speak for themselves - relationships characterised by:
✅ high trust,
✅ two-way feedback, and
✅ a mutual focus on getting things a bit more right each day.

And that has led to better performance, sustained over the long term.

What's one change you can make to your approach this week that will move you closer to the Radical Candor quadrant?

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Hi, I’m Daria 👋🏻

✨ I help professionals find and work in their Zone of Genius.

➡️ I work with teams and individuals.

💡 Follow me for ideas on how to build sustainable performance by understanding individual strengths.



📷: Radical Candor website
Image description: A four-quadrant model. The vertical axis is labelled "Care Personally" at the top, and "$ #@!" at the bottom. The horizontal axis runs from "Silence" on the left to "Challenge Directly" on the right. The quadrants are labelled clockwise from top left: "Ruinous Empathy", "Radical Candor", "Obnoxious Aggression" and "Manipulative Insincerity".

25/03/2025

If you ever find yourself stuck in a pattern of negativity and reactivity with someone, you're caught up in the Perception Reaction Cycle.

They do something, and you see it. Actually, you're not just SEEING what they do, you're also PERCEIVING it through the distortions of your filters, biases, and stories.

That drives your reaction - in your mind, it's a reasonable response to what you *think* you've seen from them.

They see what you do, and then perceive it through the distortion of all of their own filters, biases and stories.

And that drives their reaction - in their mind, it's a reasonable response to what they *think* they've seen from you.

As long as each of you stay within your filters, biases and stories, the cycle will roll on to infinity.

You can't change the other person's behaviour or "correct" their perception. No matter how insightful or persuasive you believe yourself to be, there are only two things you can control:
* what you are perceiving (by rethinking your filters, examining your biases, and updating your stories)
* how you are acting (by choosing behaviours that align with your values and desired outcomes)

And the cool thing about any kind of cycle is that you only have to change one element for the whole thing to shift.

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Hi, I’m Daria 👋🏻

✨ I help leaders develop for good, by working in their Zone of Genius.

📖 I created The Strengths Deck and wrote Unleash Your Awesome to help you bring more of your special brand of magic to the world.

➡️ I work with teams and individuals.

💡 Follow me for ideas on how to build sustainable performance by understanding and using your unique strengths.



Image description: A circle divided into four quadrants. In the top left, it says "They do", and points to top right, labelled "I see". That points to bottom right, labelled "I do", which points to bottom left "They see", which goes back to top left, "They do". The image is copyrighted to Daria Williamson Limited 2022