by Michele Krolczyk, Principal, Vivid360
EOS/Traction Implementer / StrengthsFinder Guide
Imagine if you understood what makes you tick…like really understand what drives you, what motivates you, what makes you communicate the way you do, etc. Then imagine being able to understand what makes others tick and have a common language you could use to express those qualities or talents.
Cue the magic wand! I present to you: CliftonStrengths (previously known as StrengthFinder). This assessment tool identifies an individual’s top 5 natural talent themes which are your recurring and consistent patterns of thought, feeling or behavior.
Why is this important? Because…
Understanding Yourself + Understanding Others = Team Success
And…it’s a way to celebrate what’s right with us! If you want to see and feel success in either your personal or professional life, you’ll get a lot further by focusing on your natural, innate talents and how you can apply those, as opposed to trying to “fix” your shortcomings.
Learn About You
Yes…it’s all about you. For starters. By better understanding ourselves and understanding why we act and behave in certain ways, we can better appreciate what we’re really bringing to the table. It helps us make sense of where we shine, and maybe even when we “overshine” a certain strength. Awareness goes a long way in providing insight into how we can really leverage those talents at work and in our personal life.
Turn to Others
Now that you understand yourself better, turn your attention to learning about others. Think about how much more effectual you can be in your conversations and interactions because you’ll know better about what they need and want. And when that knowledge becomes synergistic, you’ve just paved the path to higher levels of productivity and ENGAGEMENT. Boom.
Bring it all Together
Does all of this seem like common sense? Maybe, but the fact of the matter is that the pace of the workplace has never been faster, and yet statistically, productivity is falling. Gallup’s latest book, It’s the Manager, talks about the research behind this. And the simple truth is that sometimes we need to slow down so that we can speed up. If we don’t take the time to develop ourselves and others, organizations as a whole suffer from lower creativity, spirit, and growth.
About the author:
As EOS® Implementer, I regularly work with teams to solve issues, set strategy and make difficult decisions. I became a certified Strengths Communicator because I realized how much better it worked when people had a greater awareness of their talents and their colleague’s talents. Because good communication does not come from talking at each other…it comes from talking with each other.
