In PI’s CEO Benchmarking Report, CEOs were asked to identify their greatest weaknesses. Here are the top 10 weaknesses CEOs reported from most to least common: Holding people accountableGetting rid of under-performersStaying focusedCreating a great business strategyBeing analytical about the businessCommunicating clearlyEmpathy for employeesMotivating my employeesHiring the best peopleIdentifying new opportunitiesEmpathy for customers What’s interesting about this research is CEOs reported struggling with the top two issues Holding people accountableGetting rid of under-performers at 3 to 4 times the rate they struggle with issues lower on the list. This research tells us two things: 1. If you’re struggling with these issues, you’re not alone–it’s the hardest part of being a leader. 2. Those who possess the courage to admit it’s a problem, face it as a weakness that needs to be addressed, and commit to making improvements will emerge as better leaders. I often advise leaders to focus less on improving their weaknesses and more on optimizing their natural strengths. But these two weaknesses are too critical to be ignored.