Is it that bad to be the Devil's son?

We are in Italy, early XIX century and we are observing a musician about to enter on stage. Niccolò is staring at the mirror. Only an old curtain hanging between him and the crowd. He looks at his long fingers, the ones that have brought him so much glory. He observes his long hair, something that distinguishes him from any other musician. He smiles whilst setting the flaps of his long jacket straight. He then closes his eyes and remembers all the suffering he went through as a kid when people called him Son of the Devil. All the tears, the nightmares, the time spent on his own with the violin and the guitar as his only trusted companions. He was not over it and he knew his mother struggled a lot on her supposed deal with the devil. But he had made the most of it and used his peculiar image and skills to be successful in doing what he liked the most. Playing music.

He stands up as the bell rings. Curtains open. Audience receives him with an standing ovation. The violin on his hands and the show starts…

Niccolò Paganini (1782-1840) was the first rock star. He was a violinist virtuoso who could play his instrument without any sheet music and at the same time flail about across the stage in front of a mesmerized audience. His skills and fame brought him to many concert halls all over Europe. His unparalleled ability to play the violin (up to 12 notes per second) was such, that people began doubting about his human nature. He carried the consequences of the Devil “connection” beyond his death as he had to be buried up to four different times. Later investigations concluded that he suffered a couple of syndromes which gave him more joint mobility and longer limbs and fingers. Instead of shying away and refusing all controversies, he used these peculiarities throughout his life to make his shows more mystic. He dressed in black which highlighted his pale long face and created a mysterious and enigmatic aura round him which just inflated all the satanic rumours.

He used a weakness, something that could have spoiled his career and where he could have spent a lot of energy, as an immense and distinctive advantage.

As leaders, we spend a lot of time trying to pinpoint and develop our people’s improvement areas because we see them as roadblocks for their success in the role and for their future career. I am sure that we also know people that carry an aura of being a micromanager or being undisciplined or too rigid. We may do, as Paganini did, and think about turning these so-called weaknesses into distinctive strengths or differentiators, not just for their own benefit but for the benefit of other team members for whom these could be strengths.

-       Do you, as leader, have some “Son of Devil” weakness that could be turned or you have already

-       turned into an advantage?

-       How often do you work with your team individuals to help each other on complementary skills?

-       Would a low performer in your team become a star in a different role due to a weakness that could also be a strength?