Do you know your Top 5 Strengths Themes? Achiever, Responsibility, Relator, Strategic, Learner. Awesome! Do you recognize them when they show up?
It is not enough to be able to name your strengths, you must know how they influence what you do and how that impacts others. This is self-awareness. If you’ve been part of a strengths workshop, you likely completed an exercise that asked you to think of a time when you used your strengths in the past and how you are using them presently. It is a great way to get familiar with how your strengths are demonstrated. But in the real world, do you really get to ponder when and how your strengths show up? No.
The real world throws daily challenges and opportunities at us continually. Most of the time we are reacting to what comes our way and we aren’t consciously choosing to exercise this strength or that strength. Because strengths derive from talent and talent is a natural way of thinking, feeling or behaving, we are often unconsciously reacting and using our strengths. This is a good thing. The downside is it provides no input on if we are using our strengths or not. We wouldn’t recognize it as such because it is just so natural.
This is where “others” come in. “Others” are the people around you daily. In the workplace, at home, working out or just relaxing. “Others” can also be the people you meet infrequently or only once. How often has a person you recently met complimented you on an aspect of your personality or actions? That is what we call a talent in action moment.
You are surprised, yes, by the compliment paid or the observation made. You didn’t think anything of how you acted only that it was natural and appropriate for the situation. The fact that it was noticed surprises you.
“Strengths develop best in response to another human being” said Dr. Donald O. Clifton, developer of the Clifton Strengths® assessment. Make sure your talent development plan involves “others” feedback. Without it, your efforts will be fruitless. Learn more about integrating strengths personally or for your team.