Boost Your Game and Unlock Leadership Excellence with Nermine Zakhary

Mar 27, 2025

Great leaders recognize and leverage the strengths of those around them to achieve extraordinary results. Whether in the boardroom, on a construction site, or at home, leadership is inevitable—and often, the right person for the job is already on your team. In our March Midday Masterclass Series, Nermine Zakhary from the Buffalo-Niagra NAWBO Chapter led a thought-provoking session on strengths-based leadership and how embracing a strengths mindset drives engagement and team success.

 

The Power of Strengths-Based Leadership

Strengths-based leadership is about making extraordinary things happen by focusing on the strengths and potential of yourself and your team. Too often, leaders and organizations fixate on weaknesses, trying to “fix” what isn’t working rather than amplifying what is. Nermine shared the transformative power of focusing on strengths, a philosophy rooted in the Clifton Strengths Assessment developed by Donald Clifton, the father of strengths-based psychology.

Nermine emphasized that great teams are not necessarily well-rounded, but rather composed of individuals who each bring unique strengths to the table. By recognizing and developing those strengths, leaders can drive engagement, improve performance, and create a thriving work environment.

Key Takeaways from the Masterclass

  1. Know and Own Your Strengths
    • Self-awareness is the foundation of effective leadership. Take the time to understand your own strengths, how they contribute to your success, and what you need to perform at your best.
    • Action Step: Complete the Clifton Strengths Assessment to uncover your top strengths and reflect on how they show up in your work and leadership style.
  2. Shift the Focus from Fixing Weaknesses to Amplifying Strengths
    • Rather than focusing on what is lacking, embrace what you and your team members naturally do well. When individuals work within their strengths, they are more engaged and productive.
    • Action Step: Identify one strength in each team member and find ways to help them use it more effectively in their role.
  3. Understand the Four Domains of Leadership Strength
    • Leadership strengths fall into four categories: Strategic Thinking, Executing, Influencing, and Relationship Building. Recognizing where you and your team members excel can help you build a well-balanced leadership approach.
    • Action Step: Assess where your strengths lie within these four domains and identify complementary strengths in your team to create a more dynamic and effective unit.
  4. Encourage a Strengths-Based Culture
    • Leaders who foster a strengths-based culture empower their teams to perform at their best. Encouraging others to recognize and leverage their strengths creates a ripple effect of engagement and productivity.
    • Action Step: Start a conversation with your team about strengths-based leadership. Share your strengths and ask them to reflect on theirs.

Leadership isn’t about fitting a mold; it’s about embracing who you are and leveraging your unique abilities to inspire and guide others. Nermine’s session was a powerful reminder that when we focus on what is right with people, rather than what is wrong, we unlock potential and create extraordinary results.

If you missed this session, we encourage you to explore strengths-based leadership in your own journey. For more learning opportunities, stay tuned for upcoming sessions in our Midday Masterclass Series!

Watch the Full Presentation

Want to explore strengths-based leadership further? We’ve embedded the full video of Nermine’s masterclass below. Whether you’re new to the concept or looking to refine your leadership approach, this session provides practical insights and actionable strategies to help you build a more engaged and high-performing team.

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