Addressing the Shadow Side of Your Leadership

by Del Fehsenfeld

What if your best strengths are also your biggest hurdles? Strengths are like a double-edged sword: sharp and useful in the right context, but capable of causing unintended harm if wielded without awareness.

At Consentia Group, we draw on the wisdom of the Strengths Deployment Inventory (SDI) to explore the shadow side of strengths, or what SDI terms “overdone strengths.” This framework doesn’t just highlight what we’re good at; it maps how our well-intentioned behaviors can be perceived by others as obstacles, creating blind spots that hinder collaboration and effectiveness.

Let’s dive into how this plays out, using real-world insights to illustrate the point.

The Flip Side of Your Superpowers

Imagine you’re in a team meeting, brainstorming ideas for a new project. Your ability to see multiple options and pivot quickly feels like a superpower—until a colleague sighs in frustration, labeling you as indecisive. Or perhaps your knack for jumping into action saves the day during a crisis, but in calmer waters it’s seen as rash and impulsive. These aren’t hypothetical scenarios; they’re drawn from my own SDI strengths portrait.

In my case, being option-oriented has been a tremendous asset. It allows me to explore creative pathways, adapt to changing circumstances, and keep from getting stuck in ruts. Yet, when overdone, this strength casts a shadow. Others perceive it as hesitation or a lack of commitment, turning what I see as flexibility into an obstacle for decision-making.

Similarly, my quick-to-act style propels progress and seizes opportunities that others might miss. It’s a superpower in fast-paced environments, but its shadow emerges as recklessness, leading to avoidable mistakes or alienating those who prefer a more deliberate pace.

These overdone strengths aren’t always character flaws—they’re simply weaknesses when dialed up too high or used without awareness of the context. SDI’s mapping of these shadows helps us visualize how our contributions might be misinterpreted.

For instance, what I intend as thoughtful exploration might come across as aimless to a results-driven or plan-oriented coworker. Awareness of this perceptual gap has been transformative for me. It has revealed huge blind spots where my automatic responses, though well-meaning, made me ineffective or even counterproductive in certain situations.

Becoming More Effective and Loving

The beauty of the SDI lies in its practical roadmap for growth. Once we identify our overdone strengths, we can consciously balance them by incorporating complementary ones from other parts of our portrait. Recognizing the shadow side of my strengths—my tendency to be option-oriented and quick to act—prompted me to lean into traits lower in my SDI profile, like being methodical and cautious. These don’t come naturally to me, but integrating them has been a game-changer. In projects requiring precision, I’ve learned to pause, outline steps, and build in checkpoints, transforming potential chaos into structured success. With coworkers who thrive on planning, this adaptation fosters harmony, shows respect for their styles, and turns potential conflicts into collaborative wins.

This shift isn't just about efficiency; it's about becoming more loving in our interactions. For those of us motivated by following Christ, this process echoes a profound biblical call to love more effectively. Jesus left the glory of heaven to personally take up our human reality and frame of reference in order to love and redeem us (Philippians 2:3-7). Likewise, we’re urged to adopt a mindset of humility and selflessness, especially in verse 4: “Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.”

Adapting our strengths through SDI aligns with this—moving beyond our natural inclinations to genuinely consider and accommodate others, just as Christ did for us. When we adapt our strengths, we’re saying, “I see you, and I’m willing to meet you where you are.” It’s a form of relational intelligence that strengthens relationships and amplifies impact.

Reflecting on Your Own Shadows

As you consider your own strengths, pause and ask yourself: Do you know your shadow side? Have there been times when your greatest assets were perceived as obstacles by others? How could intentionally developing the strengths you tend to overlook make you more effective in ministry and life?

If you’re curious to explore this further, tools like the SDI can provide personalized insights, helping you turn those shadows into sources of light.

Ready to Help Others Discover Their Shadow Side?

If this framework has sparked new insight for you, imagine equipping others with the same clarity. Through SDI Facilitator Certification with Consentia Group, you’ll learn to guide individuals and teams in understanding their core motivations, recognizing overdone strengths, and building healthier, more effective relationships.

Whether you lead a ministry, coach leaders, or develop teams, becoming an SDI-Certified Facilitator empowers you to help others grow in both self-awareness and relational intelligence—turning potential conflict into connection.

Click here to learn more about our upcoming SDI Facilitator Certification courses and take the next step toward transforming the way people lead, serve, and relate. If you’re already certified, refresher courses are also available.