SILENT POWER

It’s That They Didn’t Know How to Use You

In today’s working world, success isn’t always about how hard you work or how much you know. More often, it comes down to whether your strengths are recognized, whether someone sees the value you bring—and whether you’re placed in a position where you can thrive.

We often say, “Don’t blame the student, blame the teacher.”

But that same concept applies to the workplace: Don’t always blame the employee—look at the leadership.

Playing to Strengths: The Secret Ingredient of Great Leadership

One of the most overlooked traits in leadership today is the ability to observe, listen, and place people where they shine.

Too many managers stick to policy.Too many business owners stick to procedure.They forget that they’re working with people—not cogs in a machine.

A great leader isn’t someone who blindly follows the company handbook.A great leader sees the potential in people—even when it doesn’t match their job title.

My Wake-Up Call: A Missed Opportunity

Let me share a real story from my own journey.

But I brushed it off.

I once hired a woman to work as a cashier. She was consistent, polite, and did her job well. But she often shared stories about how, back in her home country, she would bake bread and sell gelatins on the street. She told me how successful she had been doing it—how much pride she took in it

Not out of malice, but ignorance.

I had hired her for the register, and in my mind, that’s where she was supposed to be. I didn’t see beyond the title. I didn’t ask more questions. I didn’t listen.

Eventually, she left—frustrated by the empty promises I had made about “maybe moving her to another department one day.” I later found out she had joined the bakery team at Walmart, working longer shifts, staying late, even taking the bus home at 11 PM. And you know what?

She didn’t mind.

She was finally doing what she loved.Today, she’s one of their top employees in that department.

The Lesson: Don’t Waste Potential

That moment taught me something I’ll never forget:

Sometimes it’s not the employee’s fault. Sometimes it’s not even the manager’s fault. Sometimes… people just don’t know how to use you.

Not everyone fits neatly into a job description. Some people have talents that go unnoticed because their managers never ask the right questions—or never bother to listen.

Imagine how different that story could’ve ended if I had:

• Taken 10 minutes to ask about her baking

• Given her a chance to help in our bakery department

• Let her show me what she could do instead of assuming I already knew.

I lost a great employee—not because of performance, but because I failed to see her potential.

The Bigger Picture: What Real Leadership Looks Like

Being a leader is more than enforcing policies.

It’s about building relationships, creating trust, and putting people where they can succeed.

Some of your best team members might be doing the wrong job—not because they’re lazy or incapable—but because no one has seen what they’re truly good at.

Ask yourself:

• Who on my team has untapped skills?

• Am I listening to what my employees are really saying?

• Am I too focused on roles and not enough on people?

When you shift your mindset from “just follow the system” to “let me understand my team,” everything changes.

Morale improves.

Performance skyrockets.

And people actually want to come to work.

Final Word: People Want to Be Valued, Not Just Paid

It’s easy to overlook people’s gifts when you’re focused on deadlines, reports, and policies. But the greatest return on investment comes not from squeezing every hour out of someone—but from placing them where they can thrive.

To all the leaders reading this:

Start listening more.

Start observing more.

And don’t be afraid to let someone grow beyond the role you hired them for.

Because sometimes, it’s not them.Sometimes, it’s just that no one ever figured out how to use them the right way.