No, this is a common misconception. Strengths-based coaching doesn’t ignore areas that need attention; it just approaches them differently. Alongside identifying natural strengths, it uncovers blockers and blind spots that other approaches often miss entirely — particularly overused strengths, where a strength is applied excessively or in the wrong situation and produces the opposite of its intended effect. Boldness, for example, is a real asset in a crisis, but overused in a routine team meeting it can look like steamrolling colleagues rather than showing leadership. Rather than telling someone to “be less bold,” strengths-based coaching helps them recognise when and how to dial a strength up or down — a more creative, collaborative and empowering way to address weaker areas than a traditional deficit-focused approach.