Let’s say Achiever® is your #1 Strength.
In everyday life, you’re motivated to move projects and initiatives to completion setting the pace for what’s possible. We love our Achievers!
But, as it happens to everyone at some point, what if your plate becomes too full? Do you burn yourself out trying to do everything at 120%? Does your work pace lead to overwhelm and exhaustion?
Or are you able to shift to another Strength that allows you to better navigate these types of moments while keeping your composure?
The Shadow Side of Strengths
Our natural talents often come with a shadow side, typically in the form of an unintended consequence, due to overuse or underuse.
These are blind spots, gaps, and weaknesses that can surface when we lean too heavily on what comes naturally or fail to flex in new ways.
The good news?
Awareness is the first step toward balance. When we recognize one of our talents is working against us, we can learn to self-regulate, recalibrate, and bring our best selves forward with intentionality.
Overused or Underused Talents
CliftonStrengths® identifies our innate talents, but these talents become problematic when they are over expressed, under expressed, or misapplied.
Overuse: A Strength pushed too far can become a liability.
For example, as hinted at above, someone with the Achiever® strength may struggle with burnout, the Responsibility® strength may lead to overcommitment, and the Analytical® Strength may create a tendency to overthink.
Underuse: When we don’t tap into our Strengths enough, we fail to maximize our potential.
A person with the Strategic® Strength who doesn’t trust their instincts may hesitate to make key decisions, or someone with the Positivity® strength who doesn’t share encouragement may miss opportunities to uplift others.
The key is to recognize when we are in a state of imbalance.
Ask yourself:
Am I amplifying this Strength too much? Am I holding it back? How is it showing up in my daily interactions?
Weaknesses, Gaps, and Blind Spots
Every CliftonStrengths® theme has the potential to be unproductive and subsequently show up a weakness, gap, or blind spot.
It’s not about labeling ourselves as “good” or “bad,” but rather understanding how our thinking and our choices influence our natural talents and how we bring them to life.
Someone who leads with Focus® may struggle with flexibility.
Someone strong in Empathy® may have difficulty maintaining personal boundaries.
These blind spots don’t define us, but if left unchecked, they can hinder our growth.
Rather than resisting our weaknesses, we can get curious about them and begin to manage them.
What am I not seeing? How do others experience me when I lean too far into this strength? What adjustments can I make to be more effective? What does this situation or relationship need from me.
Shadow Activators: Getting Back into the Light
A shadow activator is anything that pushes us into the overuse or misapplication of our strengths.
Triggers like stress, fatigue, external pressure, or fear can send us into reactive patterns.
For example:
Under pressure, someone with the Command® Strength may become domineering rather than empowering.
When overwhelmed, a person strong in Deliberative® may become overly cautious and resistant to action.
A Relator® may cling too tightly to existing relationships rather than expanding their network.
Recognizing these shadow activators helps us shift.
When you find yourself slipping into a shadow pattern, pause and ask:
What is causing me to react this way? What adjustment can I make to realign with my core strengths in a productive way?
Self-Regulation for Maximum Impact
The most powerful way to work with our natural talents (rather than against them) is through self-regulation. This means consciously managing how and when we apply our talents, so they serve us and those around us rather than derail us. Here are a few ways to practice:
Pause & Reflect – Take a step back and assess: How are my Strengths showing up at this moment?
Gather Feedback – Ask trusted colleagues or friends how they experience your Strengths and where they see an imbalance.
Develop Complementary Skills – If you lean heavily into one strength, stretch yourself by developing a complementary talent theme.
Take a look at your top 5 talent themes and see where you can create powerful pairs. Consider balancing a Strategic Thinking Strength with an Executing Strength for better outcomes and increased efficiency.
Regulate Your Energy – Stress and fatigue often intensify shadow tendencies. Prioritize self-care to stay grounded.
Bringing awareness to our shadow sides isn’t about fixing ourselves, it’s about refining how we show up.
When we embrace the full picture of our CliftonStrengths®, we unlock greater effectiveness, stronger relationships, and a more intentional way of leading and living.
Gallup®, CliftonStrengths® and each of the 34 CliftonStrengths® theme names are trademarks of Gallup, Inc. Copyright @2025 Gallup, Inc. All rights reserved.
