What is a core idea of strengths-based leadership?

• A. Leaders should ignore weaknesses
• B. Leaders should focus solely on themselves
• C. Leaders should recognize and develop their strengths and leverage others' strengths
• D. Leaders should rely only on formal authority

Answer: (C)

Strengths-based leadership centers on recognizing and developing strengths and using those strengths to energize and align the whole team. The idea is to identify both your own strongest capabilities and the strongest capabilities of others, grow them, and arrange work so people can apply their natural talents. This approach leads to better performance and engagement because people are doing what they’re best at and supporting one another with complementary strengths. That makes the option about recognizing and developing strengths and leveraging others' strengths the best fit. Choices that suggest ignoring weaknesses, focusing only on yourself, or relying solely on formal authority miss the collaborative, talent-focused way this leadership style works.