--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Too many companies waste time trying to…" description: "\"Too many companies waste time trying to eliminate their employees' weaknesses when, in fact, they should concentrate on developing their strengths.\" — ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74c/marcus-buckingham-3878_company_too-many-companies-waste-time-trying-to_1842211.jpg" --- # Too many companies waste time trying to eliminate their… ![“Too many companies waste time trying to eliminate their employees' weaknesses when, in fact, they should concentrate on developing their strengths.” quote by Marcus Buckingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74c/marcus-buckingham-3878_company_too-many-companies-waste-time-trying-to_1842211.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74c/marcus-buckingham-3878_company_too-many-companies-waste-time-trying-to_1842211.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74c/marcus-buckingham-3878_company_too-many-companies-waste-time-trying-to_1842211.jpg) > “Too many companies waste time trying to eliminate their employees' weaknesses when, in fact, they should concentrate on developing their strengths.” [Marcus Buckingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-buckingham/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Focusing on employees' strengths yields better performance than trying to fix weaknesses. **In simple terms:** Build on strengths, not fix flaws. Key Takeaway Prioritize strength development. Themes leadership performance talent management Mood pragmatic insightful Type advice business When to use this quote - team building - performance reviews - training programs - career development Key Concepts strengths-based management employee engagement Questions to Reflect On - How can you identify each team member's top strengths? - What risks arise from ignoring weaknesses? A Different Perspective Neglecting weaknesses can cause critical gaps. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Company](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/company/) [Employee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/employee/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Waste](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waste/) [Wasting time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wasting-time/) [Weakness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weakness/) [Weaknesses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weaknesses/) ## Related quotes > [I've known people who thought that reaching their potential would come from shoring up their weaknesses. But do you know what happens when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/i-ve-known-people-who-thought-that-reaching-their-potential-would/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [It remains true that great managers recognize individualities and focus on developing strengths rather than weaknesses. Great leaders, in sharp contrast, recognize what is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-buckingham/it-remains-true-that-great-managers-recognize-individualities-and/) [Marcus Buckingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-buckingham/) > [People have several times more potential for growth when they invest energy in developing their strengths instead of correcting their deficiencies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/people-have-several-times-more-potential-for-growth-when-they-invest/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [“So ... you can  choose to become incredible by focusing on and developing your strengths -- or you can be ordinary, and focus on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-ammon-wexler/so-you-can-choose-to-become-incredible-by-focusing-on-and-developing/) [Jill Ammon-Wexler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-ammon-wexler/) > [Success is achieved by developing our strengths, not by eliminating our weaknesses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-vos-savant/success-is-achieved-by-developing-our-strengths-not-by-eliminating/) [Marilyn vos Savant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-vos-savant/) > [You will excel only by maximizing your strengths, never by fixing your weaknesses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-buckingham/you-will-excel-only-by-maximizing-your-strengths-never-by-fixing-your/) [Marcus Buckingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-buckingham/) > [Every medium has its advantages and weaknesses and there are many things I can put down on paper that I might not be able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-wright/every-medium-has-its-advantages-and-weaknesses-and-there-are-many/) [Lawrence Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-wright/) > [“You talking about computer weaknesses?" "Yes. But also human weaknesses." "Meaning what?" "Meaning the types of weaknesses that make humans let down their guard.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-pavone/you-talking-about-computer-weaknesses-yes-but-also-human-weaknesses/) [Chris Pavone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-pavone/) > [My only sanction is the love and affection in which you hold me. But it has its weaknesses, as it has its strengths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/my-only-sanction-is-the-love-and-affection-in-which-you-hold-me-but/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“You have to learn where your weaknesses end and your strengths starts or you will spend your life focusing on all that falls apart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-rowe/you-have-to-learn-where-your-weaknesses-end-and-your-strengths-starts/) [Nikki rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-rowe/) > [You can't abuse your body and you need to work hard on your weaknesses. Everyone likes to focus on the things they are good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-lafontaine/you-can-t-abuse-your-body-and-you-need-to-work-hard-on-your/) [Pat LaFontaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-lafontaine/) > [Some people pretend they never were in love and never wrote poetry; two weaknesses which they dare not own -- one of the heart,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/some-people-pretend-they-never-were-in-love-and-never-wrote-poetry/) [Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) > [Many times our weaknesses are extensions of our strengths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/many-times-our-weaknesses-are-extensions-of-our-strengths/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [An arch consists of two weaknesses which, leaning one against the other, make a strength.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/an-arch-consists-of-two-weaknesses-which-leaning-one-against-the/) [Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/) > [“Those who know what's wrong with them and take care of themselves accordingly will tend to live a lot longer than those who consider…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-hoff/those-who-know-what-s-wrong-with-them-and-take-care-of-themselves/) [Benjamin Hoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-hoff/) ## More by Marcus Buckingham > [Too many of the organizations I have observed resemble a farm in Kansas. They have lots of fences and silos as well as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-buckingham/too-many-of-the-organizations-i-have-observed-resemble-a-farm-in/) [Marcus Buckingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-buckingham/) > [Most of my work has been in corporations, studying how you build an organization that helps people to identify and work to their strengths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-buckingham/most-of-my-work-has-been-in-corporations-studying-how-you-build-an/) [Marcus Buckingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-buckingham/) > [You can find energizing moments in each aspect of your life, but to do so you must learn how to catch them, hold on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-buckingham/you-can-find-energizing-moments-in-each-aspect-of-your-life-but-to-do/) [Marcus Buckingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-buckingham/) > [“The power of skills and knowledge is that they are transferable from one person to another. 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It may sound obvious, but you'd be surprised how many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-buckingham/emphasize-your-strengths-on-your-resume-in-your-cover-letters-and-in/) [Marcus Buckingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-buckingham/) > [In most cases, no matter what it is, if you measure it and reward it, people will try to excel at it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-buckingham/in-most-cases-no-matter-what-it-is-if-you-measure-it-and-reward-it/) [Marcus Buckingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-buckingham/) > [Life's tricky for women because they have to make more choices than men. And yes, choice is good, but boy, you better be an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-buckingham/life-s-tricky-for-women-because-they-have-to-make-more-choices-than/) [Marcus Buckingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-buckingham/) > [Companies don't have one culture. They have as many as they have supervisors or managers. You want to build a strong culture? Hold every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-buckingham/companies-don-t-have-one-culture-they-have-as-many-as-they-have/) [Marcus Buckingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-buckingham/) > [Every time you make a rule you take away a choice, and choice, with all of its illuminating repercussions, is the fuel for learning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-buckingham/every-time-you-make-a-rule-you-take-away-a-choice-and-choice-with-all/) [Marcus Buckingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-buckingham/) > [“to encourage people to take responsibility for who they really are. And it is the only way to show respect for each person. 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