The Two Sides of Every Strength

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned in my career, especially as a product manager, is that every strength usually comes with a hidden weakness. Or maybe it’s better to say: every strength has a shadow side.

It’s easy to talk about what we’re good at, to highlight our strongest skills in performance reviews or on LinkedIn posts. But the truth is, most of the things that help us shine can also trip us up if we’re not paying attention.

Take thoughtfulness, for example. It’s one of the qualities I admire most in product managers (and honestly, in people in general). Being thoughtful means taking time to understand others, to weigh tradeoffs, and to make decisions that are grounded in empathy and context. It’s what leads to better products and more trusting teams.

But the flip side? Sometimes that same thoughtfulness can become hesitation. I’ve worked with people (and been that person) who stay quiet in meetings, not because they lack ideas, but because they’re still processing, or holding out for the “perfect” version of what they want to say. I’ve learned that in fast‑moving environments, waiting for perfect can mean missing the moment entirely.

For me personally, one of my biggest strengths has always been my ability to work independently. I love being self‑driven, setting direction, and powering through projects. I’m the type of person who looks at a vague idea and says, “Don’t worry, I’ll figure it out.” That sense of ownership is something I take pride in.

But I’ve realized that same independence can sometimes make me a little too… independent. I can get so deep into a project that I forget to pull others in, or I hesitate to delegate even when it would actually help the team. Asking for help can feel like slowing things down (when really, it usually speeds things up). This is something I’ve noticed more in my work at Buffer, where collaboration is such a core value.

Recognizing that duality has been a real growth moment for me. Instead of thinking of strengths and weaknesses as opposites, I’ve started to see them as two sides of the same coin. The goal isn’t to eliminate the shadow side: it’s to understand it, so you can manage it intentionally.

And honestly, once you start seeing things that way, you notice it everywhere. The perfectionist who’s also the quality champion. The visionary who sometimes skips over details. The empathetic listener who occasionally avoids tough feedback.

Leaning into that awareness has made me a more balanced teammate and a more understanding manager. It reminds me that none of us are purely “good” or “bad” at something: we’re just a mix of traits, each with their own light and shadow.

So as the year wraps up, I’ve been reflecting on my own two-sided strengths, and I’m curious: what about you? What strengths of yours sometimes reveal a surprising downside?