Managers who rely too much on their strengths may become hammers that see every problem as a nail. Over-forceful bosses can turn their subordinates into patsies; consensus-obsessed bosses can institutionalise dithering. It is not difficult to find examples of strengths-turned-weaknesses in politics. Barack Obama’s talent for lofty rhetoric has distracted him from the nuts and bolts of policymaking. François Hollande’s passion for being Mr Normal has rendered him too small for his grand office.

管理者过于依赖自己的优势，将有可能像锤子一样只会往钉子上锤。过于强势的管理者会让其下属变得懦弱；喜欢意见统一的管理者会拿不定主意。在政界，要找出优点变为缺点的例子并不困难。贝拉克奥巴马（Barack Obama）的天赋在于抛出一些大而空的话，使他在制定政策中忽略了细节。弗朗索瓦奥朗德（François Hollande）致力于维护“平凡先生“的形象使他在政坛上气场不够。