Your Strengths - and a Sundial

Consider this: only 17% of people within the workplace play to their strengths most of the time. That means they feel energized and powerful and are enjoying their day MOST of the time. That also means that the other 83% of people are struggling, feeling depressed and fatigued a lot of their time in the work place. (Source: Career Coach Institute)

I was talking with a friend this weekend about the importance of organizations playing to the strengths of their employees – helping them (and in doing so, the organization itself) by building on what they are good at rather than focusing so much on improving their weaknesses. As individuals, we must do the same for ourselves by first noticing how things keep showing up for us and accepting and appreciating the recurring tendencies we have. Research shows that we are happiest and most productive at work when we’re using our natural talents, which when combined with knowledge and skill, develop into our strengths.

Let me give you an example: Say you are in a work situation playing a role on a team comprised of 1 or 2 analytical types like yourself but mainly more outgoing, sales-oriented folks. If you are not well known on this team, your tendency to want to analyze and review data before speaking up in a client meeting may be misinterpreted as not participating or creating the “right” impression. In this case, others aren’t appreciating the strength that you bring to the team – that of being the one who can mind the details, ask the right questions, and keep a project on track. Chances are, you aren’t appreciating this strength either. Rather than beating oneself up and struggling to be more outgoing or more spontaneous to fit in, accept this trait and let people know how it benefits everyone involved.

The Clifton StrengthsFinder, based on over 30 years of cross functional and cultural research (aided by The Gallup Organization) measures the presence of 34 themes or recurring patterns a person exhibits. This tool helps you “sharpen your perception” of yourself and provides you with your top 5 Signature Themes. And yes, they can change over time although this assessment says you really have a top 10 and they just reshuffle themselves depending on your life situations. Here’s the important thing in all this: There is not any one specific theme that is more appropriate than another – no right or wrong answers! Each theme you have is simply “the promise of a strength”, an area you can develop and maximize into an opportunity of aligning yourself with the right job, manager, or business.

Shed some light on what Ben Franklin called wasted strengths – “sundials in the shade”.

If you’re interested in learning more about this particular tool, visit http://gmj.gallup.com/book_center/strengthsfinder/default.aspx or purchase the book, Now, Discover Your Strengths which includes a code for accessing the online assessment.

I invite you to post a comment and to visit my website at www.LousbergUnlimited.com