What great leaders have in common is that each truly knows her or his strengths - and can call on the right strength at the right time. Leaders have an extreme self-awareness level of themselves and those around them. Perhaps this is why there is no definitive list of characteristics that describe all leaders.

In the book called, "Strengths-Based Leadership", Tom Rath discusses the possibilities when people have "the opportunity to do what they do best every day" - playing to their strengths, it will boost an organizations overall engagment and productivity. It is a brillant read and demands action for you to increase the self-awareness of your strengths and those around you. The on-line assessment brings all the credability that you will need to re-organize and energize your team's strength.

As I consider profitability of businesses every day, I seldom examine the "one" leader anymore. I consider the better question suggested by Tom in his book, "Why people follow the most influential leaders in their life?" Interesting enough, it can be summarized as:

• The most effective leaders are always investing in strengths
• The most effective leaders surround themselves with the right people and then maximize their team
• The most effective leaders understand their followers' needs of trust, compassion, stability and hope

It is all about the strengths of people. We know that - the 3 P's. People, Productivity and Profits.....we just seldom do very much about the "P" for people.

I just decided that how can I blog about financial matters without discussing where there is great potential to increase the awareness of where some real money lies. By engaging our colleagues, the results from  a strengths-based will create more rapid individual and organizational growth. I only wish I had read the book 20 years ago....