Focusing On Strengths Brings Out The Best In People

focusing

Focusing on strengths brings out the best in ourselves and in others.  A few statistics* demonstrate the value of focusing on what is right with people.

People who learn to use their strengths every day have 7.8% greater productivity.

Teams who focus on strengths every day have 12.5% greater productivity.

Teams who received strengths feedback have 8.9% greater profitability.

Employees who received strengths feedback have 14.9% lower turnover.

These are impactful and meaningful numbers to the bottom line but how does that translate into the work environment?  How can your life and your employees’ lives be better as a result?  Here is an example from my work in a small business.

Jim is a long time employee and a member of the leadership team.  A participant in the strategic planning meetings, his input is often met with a bit of dread by the other team members.  Do you want to know what can go wrong and what has been tried in the past and failed?  Just ask Jim.  He is quick to put the damper on a new project or strategy.  Jim is the wet blanket, the Debbie Downer of these strategy sessions.  This is the perception the leadership team and even Jim himself held until we uncovered the strengths of this fourteen-person leadership team.

In our initial work together, we learned that Jim’s top five talent themes are:  Harmony, Adaptability, Learner, Analytical, Responsibility.  As the group worked through the individual, partner and team exercises they learned how Jim’s innate talents contributed.  Eager to help and support the team (Harmony, Adaptability, Responsibility) Jim also desired to protect the company from harm and he could be counted on to look out for issues that could derail a project (Learner, Analytical and Responsibility).  This insight gave confirmation to what Jim and everyone knew in general.  But how could this knowledge further benefit the company and Jim’s role within it?  As we discussed plans for the roll out of strengths throughout the 70 plus person company, Jim’s skepticism and doubts weighed on the leadership team.

Yet plans progressed and the various teams of this family-owned business experienced the benefits of the strengths workshops. Both personal and team level growth was evident in each session and the feedback forms confirmed the value for the company.  It was soon time to work with Jim’s team and leadership was curious to see if he could set aside the skepticism and allow his team to fully experience the strengths workshops.  A senior member or two of leadership participated in every team strengths workshop (kudos to the organization!) and the President attended the meetings with Jim’s team.

Quieter and more thoughtful than the others, Jim’s team jumped right into the exercises and team interactions as did Jim.  As the two workshops played out, Jim became more articulate in expressing his strengths to the team.  The team had the opportunity to share real life stories of how Jim’s talents help them avoid or at least be aware of potential challenges in the work they do.  Instead of disdain or dread, the team shared how much they value the perspective Jim brings to each project.  The President, whose strengths contribute to her visionary role, was relieved to know that she could let Jim be her go-to for identifying pitfalls and cautions as she moved the company forward.  In turn, Jim saw that his strengths could be appreciated by the organization as well as himself and that they are an invaluable asset to a small yet ambitious company.

Teams who focus on strengths every day have 12.5% greater productivity.

The leadership team does not live in “perfect harmony”; no team does or ever will.  Yet with awareness of their own strengths they now understand and appreciate strengths in each other.  With this understanding and appreciation they can call on and utilize the natural talents of each member, allowing greater satisfaction and driving performance for the individual and the team.  This is how individuals and teams become greater.

Call 713-705-3815 or contact me to learn how strengths can contribute to your team’s success.

*Research results from Gallup.

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