This article was first published on my LinkedIn Profile on 28 Nov 2017. I'm publishing it here with a few additions.
Being a Strengths Strategy Coach who uses the Clifton #Strengthsfinder, I often get the above question. There are other variations such as, "Which of these 34 strengths must I have so that my company recognizes that I'm a manager and promotes me?" or "My strength of Communication is ranked at No. 18, but People say I am a good communicator - what's going on?" or "I don't have the Strategic talent in my top 20 rankings of my strengths - can I be a leader"?
The Strengthsfinder assessment provides 2 reports, one is a ranking of your Top 5 Strengths, the other is a ranking of all 34 Strengths. These 34 #strengths exist (born) in each of us; the catch is that it exists in various degrees. Hence the ranking is important to understand why some strengths are easy to use and some difficult. It's not really about which strength to develop, but more fruitful to focus on the ones ranked 1 to 15. Why is it like this?
Imagine a long cylinder open only at the top, containing your strengths which are in the order of your Strengthsfinder assessment Ranking starting from No 1 (at the top) to No. 34 (at the bottom). Because of the opening at the top, it is easier to access the strengths around the top of the cylinder. Chances of success are high. Accessing Strengths which are lower and progressively closer to the bottom is difficult. It will prove time-consuming, frustrating, because you will not get the results you require.
Now, what if you think of each strength as similar to a tool? Just as a multi-blade (or Swiss) knife has many tools which can have more than one use, our strengths, too, can be used in ways that will manifest as different behaviours, especially when combined with other strengths. That's correct - a strength alone or a combination of 2 or 3 strengths for different things (within limits). Let's look at Ideation, which is about being fascinated by ideas, and connecting disparate phenomena, thus generating ideas. These ideas can show up in art, music, food, or even planning. If Ideation was to be combined Futuristic (being inspired by the future i.e. possibilities) and Communication (ability to put thought into words), the person may be able to easily articulate futuristic ideas very vividly - if these strengths are ranked within the top 15. There could be other ways in how these strengths will show up, so that's why we Strengths Coaches spend time to understand our client in detail.
You may be aware that the 34 strengths are distributed among one of the four #domains, Strategic Thinking, Executing, Relationship Building and Influencing.
Strategic Thinking strengths are about planning, analyzing and making decisions. Executing Strengths help to turn ideas into reality. Relationship Building strengths help forge relationships. Influencing strengths help to sell your ideas.
Considering the above brief explanations of the domains, we know that we would love to be proficient in all four domains, in both personal and professional life. However since we are born with talents in different measures, it would be futile to try to develop each of the strengths. Here's the thing - Strengths are dormant talents which we practice (some naturally, some deliberately, and ignore others). They each need to be worked on (deliberately practiced) in order to become strengths. In deliberate practice, you need to be completely focused in learning the skill, removing all distractions as much as possible (put away your phone).
Anyone who has spent time in deep concentration on a particular task or activity knows that focusing so intensely takes tremendous energy. This level of practice will be effective for you, if carried out for 60 - 90 minutes continuously, maybe a little more. Beyond this time, your practice will start developing errors. You will know this because your mind and muscles will announce this to you. So it's not the hours you put in, but what you do as you are practicing, and how you rejuvenate after practice sessions. As you can see, it would be quite time consuming to try to develop all 34, and more effective to focus on the top 15.
So, to develop your strengths, you should start by :-
- Taking the Strengthsfinder assessment and going through the report
- Identifying tasks that you're good at
- Identifying which of your strengths positively enhance these tasks,
- Being aware of your weaknesses, so that you ensure that they don't get in your way.
- Then practice using those strengths (just like athletes practice - and the professional ones use a coach)
Let me share a personal example - My top 5 Strengths are Individualization, Learner, Ideation, Relator and Self Assurance. I use my Individualization and Relator to build relationships with new and existing clients, Learner and Ideation to help me research and design training and coaching interventions. Further down the top 15 strengths, I have Intellection, Strategic, Input, Analytical, Arranger strengths which supplement my chosen career as a Strengths Strategy Coach and Trainer. Using my strengths in this way, ensures I am always excited and happy about what I do - whether in my work or in daily life. You can see my article "Strengths Based Career Conversations" on this aspect.
Some Strength Descriptors (You can download all 34 here from the Gallup Strengthscentre):
Intellection - People who are especially talented in the Intellection theme are characterized by their intellectual activity. They are introspective and appreciate intellectual discussions.
Maximizer - People who are especially talented in the Maximizer theme focus on strengths as a way to stimulate personal and group excellence. They seek to transform something strong into something superb.
Arranger - People who are especially talented in the Arranger theme can organize, but they also have a flexibility that complements this ability. They like to figure out how all of the pieces and resources can be arranged for maximum productivity.
Individualization - People who are especially talented in the Individualization theme are intrigued with the unique qualities of each person. They have a gift for figuring out how people who are different can work together productively.
You will definitely require the help of a Strengths Strategy Coach to help you identify your strengths through your behaviours, and then plan to consciously use the strengths in your life (Possibility Thinking). This is not easy as it sounds because you are now starting to break years of habit which have made you work on your weaknesses and ignore your strengths (Deficit Thinking). But the important thing is that you step out of your comfort zone to decode, and then practice on improving your Strengths. Reach me at +919820155778 or ryanbbarretto@hotmail.com if you have questions or to schedule a discussion.
