Page 132 - Getting to the Heart of High Performance

“In every culture we have studied, the overwhelming

majority of parents (77 percent in the U.S.) think that a
student’s lowest grades deserve the most time and atten-
tion. Parents and teachers reward excellence with apathy

instead of investing more time in the areas where a child
has the most potential for greatness.” 20

The same pattern shows up in the way we run organiza-
tions and manage our personal lives. Gallup data on 10

million people reveal that 7 million don’t have the oppor-
tunity to focus on what they do best in the work
environment. This carries tremendous cost and brings
negativity into our everyday lives. In StrengthsFinder 2.0,

Rath reports that if you’re not playing in your sweet spot,
chances are you—

• Dread going to work

• Have more negative than positive interactions
with colleagues

116 DEEP STRENGTHS