I’ve shared that one of my most important management lessons is “Skill or will”?  Basically, it’s a way to figure out the best way to manage people.   But what if you’re the person will low will, high skill?  How do you know if you’re a LWHS?

So based on my experience, these are the attributes:

1. You’re really smart, but don’t play well with others.  LWHS folks are usually very smart or have deep subject matter expertise.  These are the attributes that get you hired, are the first positive things listed in your annual evaluation. But, you often get lower marks in terms of teamwork, and your peer reviews (if they’re honest) might hint that you’re difficult to work with.
2. You really hate it when someone disagrees with you. You want to be the smartest person in the room, and often you are convinced your way is right. So if your suggestion isn’t followed, someone questions you, or you feel ignored, you get stubborn and want to take your ball and go home.
3. As far as personality goes, you’re likeable: LWHS folks are fine when they’re not being challenged or ignored: they are sociable, funny, witty, and often charming. It’s when they don’t get their way…..watch out.
4. If you feel you’re not supported, you launch a full attack on the individual. You take it personally.  You badmouth the person, you openly make fun of their abilities. You try to get others to join you on your personal vendetta.
5. Behind all of this is a deep rooted fear of being wrong. I know, sounds weird. But I find that LWHS folks can be really good at telling others what to do but fail when it comes to doing things themselves. As long as they are directing, they’re fine. But when it falls to them to actually execute, they falter.

So if you think you are an LWHS, what to do?

1. Recognize you are an LWHS.  Like any other weakness, you need to work on those behaviors that make you seem low will. Be aware of how you come across when your ideas aren’t the ones the team goes along with.
2. Do you have people you constantly fight with?  Extend an olive branch and focus on the work….most importantly, stop taking things personally.
3. Start doing things.…you don’t always get to tell everyone what to do. Write the document yourself. Edit the presentation yourself.  Have value beyond telling people what to do.
4. Don’t play the “exclusion card”. Yes you have the personality to sway the group, but use your power for good.
5. Be ok with being wrong. Force yourself to admit publicly when you’re wrong. You might find it refreshing! And you’ll notice the world didn’t end.

Many of you are going to question why you need to change?  Here’s the thing….LWHS people last…for awhile. But they never get promoted to the really senior roles, and eventually, people decide the pros aren’t worth the cons.