CliftonStrengths®: Harmony® – The Diplomat

CliftonStrengths®: Harmony® – The Diplomat

by | Jun 16, 2019 | Strengths

CliftonStrengths® defines this theme as people who “look for consensus. They don’t enjoy conflict; rather, they seek areas of agreement.”

 

You seek peace

Bringing people together and seeing what people have in common is one of your talents.

Creating harmony is one of your guiding values so you will steer people away from the drama and focus on areas where you can all find consensus. 

In fact, you hate the negative effects of friction so you will avoid it at all cost. 

You bring calm

With your focus on bringing people  toward reconciliation you will in all likelihood be seen as even-keeled and calm.

You listen to people’s needs and values so that you can guide people towards agreement and harmony. 

You will in all likelihood step in early, long before there is an actual conflict, to avoid it. Yet have the capacity to be in negotiating roles even where there is a conflict.

You need agreement 

When there’s chaos around you, you’ll prefer talking about practical and down-to-earth matters that everyone can agree on.

You have a practical and pragmatic nature that helps you take clear and confident actions. You need to sustain productivity and not waste time on unnecessary debates. 

Finding common ground while setting aside any judgments is one of your super powers that will bring people together. 

You need emotional balance 

Use your listening skills in seeing people’s values and express it to them generously. Share potential conflicts as soon as you become aware of them.

Creating diverse networks of people and experts from different backgrounds that are also intent on create consensus will nurture your need for creating peace and emotional balance.

Having a diverse network will create a win-win situation where you can source and be sourced by others. 

The needs of the group as a whole comes first.

Including you in the equation is important as you’ll easily give up your own needs in favor of what works best for the group. Trust your instincts and communicate your needs for peace. 

Being in roles where you can steer people away from potential conflicts and create a shared vision will nurture your often kind and generous nature.

You’re the ultimate Ambassador that can thrive in roles of negotiation and as such be the peace-maker behind the scenes of a global conflict-resolution or organizer of the next peace rally.

 

Do you have Harmony® as one of your dominant talents?

Think and/or share about a recent situation where you created consensus and how you went about creating that? 

 

Are you curious what your talents might be? CLICK HERE for more information about the CliftonStrengths® Assessment or HERE for the BP10™ Assessment.

Lastly, visit Gallup’s YouTube channel for more information on the CliftonStrengths® theme of Harmony® HERE.

 

CliftonStrengths®: Deliberative® – The Risk Assessor

CliftonStrengths®: Deliberative® – The Risk Assessor

by | Jun 9, 2019 | Strengths

CliftonStrengths® defines the talent theme of Deliberative® as people who “take serious care in making decisions or choices. They anticipate obstacles.”

 

You are careful

Before making any decision you’ll stop, assess and weigh the pros + cons, then take action.

You sense risks beneath the surface and need to expose any potential risk.

Being cautious and making the correct decision is more important to you, than the time it takes to do so.

You have good judgment

Helping others, who ask for your help, to think through their decisions before they act too quickly can be one way to utilize your talent.

Being a sounding board for a more conservative approach will bring new perspectives.

You see things that others don’t and your often thoughtful approach gives you the foresight you need to make wise decisions.

You need time

Listening to needs and thinking things through before being expected to speak or taking action.

You will anticipate potential risks or things that could go wrong and with that prevent problems or reduce the risks before happening.

You bring a thorough and conscientious approach to your endeavors with accuracy and stability.

You need to plan ahead

You love restraint and caution in the face of risk and hate any rush to judgment. You tend to slow things down.

Deliberative is about action, processing what’s true and the truth, thinking some more and then taking action. Due diligence is key.

You can plan for the unexpected.

You minimize risks

Your awareness and ability to tune in to potential risks before jumping helps you and others avoid mistakes.

You also tend to be a good listener, not necessarily share about yourself and think before speaking.

Being selective and private, you may be reserved and only bringing trusted friends and co-workers in.

You’re a skeptic

Like a jury that deliberates so do you. Slowing things down and taking the time to review every detail until you’re crystal clear on what actions to take.

Thinking through your process of how you assess risk and sharing it with others, or simply being clear on it for yourself, could help you see the value you bring.

Gathering information and reviewing it from all angles ensures as safe of an option as there can be.

 

Do you have Deliberative® as one of your dominant talents? What risks are you currently aware of and what suggestions do you have for them?

Are you curious what your talents might be? CLICK HERE for more information about the CliftonStrengths® Assessment or HERE for the BP10™ Assessment.

Lastly, visit Gallup’s YouTube channel for more information on the CliftonStrengths® theme of Deliberative® HERE.

CliftonStrengths®: Restorative® – Fixing Problems

CliftonStrengths®: Restorative® – Fixing Problems

by | Jun 2, 2019 | Strengths

CliftonStrengths® defines people exceptionally talented in the Restorative® theme as “adept at dealing with problems. They are good at figuring out what is wrong and resolving it.”

 

You need problems to solve

The idea of ignoring problems does not sit well with you as your focus is on identifying problems and fixing them.

Analyzing symptoms, identifying what’s wrong and finding the solution to said problem is what has you thrive.

In fact, you actively look for potential problems with the intent of fixing them before they become serious problems or fearlessly dive into chaos to sort it out.

You can restore

For those of you with talents & skills in fixing cars, coupled with Restorative®, you would in all likelihood restore it back to its former glory.

You can be perceived as negative so place yourself in roles where you’re actively looking for, and solving problems, like a computer programmer looking for bugs, or turn-around management where you solve the issues and rebuild departments that other people have given up on.

As your focus tends to be on what’s wrong you may want to consider your delivery to negate that reaction. We all need a Mr. or Ms. Fixit that can help and who also considers our perspective.

You find the reason why

Bringing awareness to what your team needs to look out for to avoid unintended consequences and with that an ability to take more effective action.

You will continually look for how you, and your team, can take it to the next level.

When chaos or crisis situations happen your cool and ability to address the problem, clean up the mess and reinstate order is priceless.

The life of an editor is not a glamorous one. You’re a fixer; you make things better. —Courtney B. Vance

You have a practical approach

This ensures performance as you respond to real-time issues, and keeps any team you’re on, or leading, focused and productive.

You may lean on processes over people so check in with the people around you to get buy-in and feedback.

You have practical solutions to issues that others may have given up on and make necessary adjustments with existing resources.

You’re a resource

You have the ability to sort whether to save, fix or restore items.

By including yourself in the equation you may wish to create a network of experts that you can tap into as needed and not do it all on your own.

You may also wish to put some focus on creating a fix-it list from small to larger problems to get the scope early and connect the dots prior to chaos mode.

 

Do you have Restorative® as one of your dominant talents? What is on your agenda to fix today?

Are you curious what your talents might be? CLICK HERE for more information about the CliftonStrengths® Assessment or HERE for the BP10™ Assessment.

Lastly, visit Gallup’s YouTube channel for more information on the CliftonStrengths® theme of Restorative® HERE.

CliftonStrengths®: Context – Connecting the past to now

CliftonStrengths®: Context – Connecting the past to now

by | May 26, 2019 | Strengths

CliftonStrengths® defines this theme as people who “enjoy thinking about the past. They understand the present by researching its history.”

 

You need relevant background information 

Your decisions are made by looking to the past, this could include facts and information from the origin of the topic to present date.

For others, it could be simply having a love for everything antique, or recreating old campaigns. 

Either way, bringing in facts or tidbits, “lessons learned”  from the past to current conversations or discussions are important to you. 

You remember important historical events

Whether it relates to the history of this planet, country or families and friends, you may have an innate ability to remember details, conversations and more. 

It’s important for you to keep the past alive and to learn from the past. In fact, you bring an understanding between the past and the future. 

You may be drawn to collect memorabilia or collections from the past. Whether as a historian, archeologist, genealogist in your area of interest 

You love retro 

It’s important for you to honor the past. Sharing anecdotes or hearing stories from the past will inspire you. 

In fact, some of you might be inspired to recreate the era in your current life, and live it full out in clothing, home interior, music, and lifestyle. Think Rockabilly, Renaissance Fairs or Gettysburg reenactments. 

Either way, you create by linking facts to what has been and bringing it into now. 

The past matters 

You’re able to help people understand the “how’s” and “why’s” when changes occur by providing the context from past events. This also helps you process and move forward. 

By taking people back in time to understand the history you’re able to make sense and provide a sense of continuity to the present and future. 

You need time to explain your thinking behind your actions and opportunities to ask questions, to get clear on all the background information to the present date, before taking action. 

You bring depth 

Whether it’s facts from the past or an understanding of ideas from the past, you have the ability to link facts to what has been.

You bring a perspective where you put things into a framework comparing situations, ideas or reasons to why it existed in the past.

Biographies may pique your interest in understanding the past, how people lived, and what life was like at that time.

 

Do you have Context® as one of your dominant talents? What time periods of history intrigues you? 

Are you curious what your talents might be? CLICK HERE for more information about the CliftonStrengths® Assessment or HERE for the BP10™ Assessment.

Lastly, visit Gallup’s YouTube channel for more information on the CliftonStrengths® theme of Context® HERE.

CliftonStrengths®: Competition – Playing to Win!

CliftonStrengths®: Competition – Playing to Win!

by | May 19, 2019 | Strengths

CliftonStrengths® defines this theme as people who “measure their progress against the performance of others. They strive to win first place and revel in contests.”

You play to win

Your performance stats are important to you and you will compare yourself to others to see how you stack up.

You want to be the best and you work hard to win. The game is to win, being number one.

No matter how well you perform, it’s all about outperforming e-v-e-r-y-o-n-e and if you don’t you’re left feeling crappy.

The comparison game  

Is real for you, it determines how you feel at any given moment and you can’t help but check where you stand. 

You need to compare, compete, and WIN! 

Playing full out for #1 is key, it will ensure that you perform and finish strong.   

You check your stats

Reviewing your stats to date help you identify personal records and create a plan to beat previous results.  

Creating games to keep that competitive spirit alive might energize you, like timing a task, washing your car, mowing the lawn, and keeping score.  

Use your scorecard focus to create win-win solutions with others while maintaining your own motivation.  

You know your competition 

Use that knowledge to create a competitive edge not only for yourself but for the company you represent.  

Be selective and intentional with whom you compete. Playing with the best will inspire you and up your game too.  

Your drive is your motivation. 

You create a competitive environment

Your competitive spirit can stimulate innovation and be a catalyst for peak performance.

Place yourself in situations where you can use your strengths to win, and do the same for any team that you manage.

Do make a point to celebrate yours and others win, especially if you’re a manager.

“You have competition every day because you set such high standards for yourself that you have to go out every day and live up to that.”
—Michael Jordan

 

You hate to lose

Creating powerful responses to manage potential “temper tantrums” is crucial, especially when working with others that aren’t as competitive 🙂

I’ve found that reverse psychology often works great as a motivator for people high in Competition. Let’s say that you have a project due tomorrow and you can’t find the time to complete it and if I were to say to you “I don’t think you can do it by tomorrow” or similar, would that spur you with an internal “watch me, game on!” or would you simply say “I guess you’re right…”. What’s true for you?

“I’m a pretty good winner. I’m a terrible loser. And I rub it in pretty good when I win.” —Tom Brady

Do you have Competition® as one of your dominant talents? How do you use your competitive spirit to win in your daily life?

Are you curious what your talents might be? CLICK HERE for more information about the CliftonStrengths® Assessment or HERE for the BP10™ Assessment.

Lastly, visit Gallup’s YouTube channel for more information on the CliftonStrengths® theme of Competition® HERE.