1.  Read Rath & Conchie: Strengths-Based Leadership (pages 7 – 95 and the 5 additional resources related to your top 5 strengths).

2.  Read your Signature Theme Report and Strengths Insight Guide (can be downloaded from the same website you downloaded your report at no extra charge).

3.  Write a 2-page paper that identifies your top 5 strengths and how you can apply them to your current or future leadership context.

 i.  Include an introduction and cite your report and the text.

 ii.  How are your strength themes defined? 

 iii.  What are your strengths/advantages?

 iv.  What are your weaknesses/pitfalls?

 v.  How would you address these weaknesses?

 vi.  How would you use your strengths in leadership?

 vii.  Consider your personal experiences and ask: Does this report align with your personal experience?  INCLUDE EXAMPLES FROM YOUR LIFE WHERE YOU SAW ONE OR MORE OF YOUR STRENGTHS EMERGE.

 viii.  Don’t forget to cite your theme report and the text and include them in your reference list.

IIRP Tips on Writing Reflection Papers

A reflection paper is not a summary of the course readings or a stream of
conscious mind dump on paper.

Main themes
Readings

Integrate

Effects on: Thinking
Practice

Classroom
Experience

1. As the diagram suggests, a reflection paper is your identification of the main
themes of the readings integrated with your classroom experience and how both
affect your thinking and practice.

2. A reflection paper is your chance to add your thoughts and analysis to what
you have read and experienced.

3. A reflection paper is meant to illustrate your understanding of the material and
how it affects your ideas and possible practice in future.

4. Begin by jotting down some of the reading material and class experiences that
stand out in your mind. Decide why they stand out to you.

5. It may be helpful to use the restorative questions to generate some of your
thoughts and feelings about the course experience.

6. Using the first person singular (“I”), relate the readings and classes to your
previous knowledge and experience.

7. Consider if and how what you have read and learned changes your thinking
and might affect your practice in both personal and professional situations.

8. Review the readings and class notes to be sure you’ve included all the
relevant information you can and made all the connections you can.

9. Give your reflection paper structure with an opening paragraph, main body,
and conclusion.

10. It may be helpful to write the body of the paper first by using Steps 4-7, and
then decide what your opening paragraph should say. The opening paragraph
may be brief, only a sentence or two, but it should offer some overall statement
of your perspective based on what you’ve learned (e.g., Before I read the articles
for YC/ED 501, I had never considered that I was an authoritative supervisor, that
is, someone who gives my staff firm direction but little support.). Then you could
go on to describe which readings or class experiences affected your thinking and
why. You could disagree with some of the readings or ideas. The conclusion of

https://iirp.edu/pdf/IIRP-Reflection-Tip-Sheet Retrieved on 22-Sep-2019

IIRP/4/6/10MM/BR/SO

your reflection may also be brief (e.g., I realize that I must learn how to be more
supportive to get the best from my staff.). Or it could be uncertain (e.g., I don’t
agree with everything I learned but I am going to consider using some of the
practices in future to see if they change my office environment.).

11. Include in-text references and a reference page for any materials you cite
using APA citation formatting.

GRADING GUIDELINES for Papers Rebecca Straforelli’s class

CONTENT

ORGANIZATION

EXPRESSION / DlCTION

MECHANICS

(GRAMMAR, PUNCTUATION, SPELLING, ETC.)

Excellent

A

(85%)

Exceeds requirements

Intelligent consideration and knowledge of topic with considerable originality of thought

Interaction with the ideas
Carefully selected details which support general statements and central thesis
Comprehensive coverage of topic
Considerable and varied quotes used (from video, readings – text/reserve, handouts, lectures)
Good synthesis evident among various subject areas represented

Creative introduction and conclusion
Various parts of the essay effectively tied together
Writing flows smoothly, with effective paragraphs and transitions
Effective plan of development

Clear, controlled, and fluent diction
Fluency with course terminology
Effective variety in sentence type, length, and structure
Effective subordination and co-ordination
Appropriate, lively, and wide-ranging word choice

No grammatical errors
Sentence fragments, if present, are used deliberately for effect and emphasis
Impeccable punctuation and spelling
Evidence of careful proofreading
On time
(If exceeds word count, first cleared with instructor)

Proficient

B

(75%)

Meets requirements

Clear central thesis
Effective development of the topic
Good coverage of the topic
Good engagement with topic but little originality
Some quotes used to support ideas
Appropriate details most of the time

Clear introduction, body and conclusion

Unified, well-developed paragraphs
Effective paragraph transitions; sentence transitions sometimes conventional
Specific plan followed fairly consistently

Appropriate use of course terminology
(definitions not needed)
Clear and reasonably fluent
Appropriate sentence variety
Satisfactory subordination and co-ordination
Appropriate, clear, and correct word choice

A few minor errors which do not reduce the clarity of communication
Clear, accurate indication of source
Good title page

“Works Cited” page
Word count

Satisfactory

C

(65%)

Adequately limited central thesis
Adequate knowledge; ideas may be conventional
Details may be repetitious, but must be accurate

Adequate coverage of topic

Reasonably adequate introduction, body and conclusion
Adequate paragraphs but some are needlessly long or short
Mechanical or abrupt transitions
Specific plan but emphasis sometimes misplaced

Clear and functional
Some sentence variety
Subordination and co-ordination usually correct
Correct but unimaginative word choice

Minor errors and a few major errors which sometimes impede communication
Meets min. word count (paper length)

Not Acceptable

D

(55%)

Ambiguous central thesis, insufficiently limited
Writer demonstrates some understanding of topic, but ideas are mainly obvious
Insufficient, unclear, or inaccurate details

Identifiable but mechanical introduction, body and conclusion
Some paragraphs inadequately developed
Transitions may be weak or ill-chosen
Plan of development barely apparent

Fairly clear, but functional and occasionally awkward
Little sentence variety
Overuse of co-ordination
Limited and sometimes inaccurate word choice

Many minor and several major errors which result in clumsy writing

F

(50% and below)

Central thesis not clear and topic not limited
Limited knowledge; trite ideas
Insufficient, inappropriate, or illogical details

No clear introduction or conclusion
Paragraphs not sufficiently unified or developed
Transitions poor and inappropriate
Confused order of development and misplaced emphasis

Frequently awkward
Almost no sentence variety
Excessive use of co-ordination or simple sentences
Restricted vocabulary (frequently inaccurate, dependence on slang)

Frequent errors which seriously impede communication

N
early a decade ago, Gallup unveiled the results of a

landmarK 3D-year research project that ignited a global

conversation on the topic of strengths. More than 3

million people have since taken Gallup’s StrengthsFinder

assessment, which forms the core of several books on this topic,

including the #1 international bestseller StrengthsFinder 2.0.

In recent years, while continuing to learn more about

strengths, Gallup scientists have also been examining decades

of data on the topic of leadership. They studied more than 1

million work teams, conducted more than 20,000 in-depth

interviews with leaders, and even interviewed more than 10,000

followers around the wor1d to ask exactly why they followed the

most important leader in their life.

In Strengths Based Leadership, #1 New York Times

bestselling author Tom Rath and renowned leadership consultant

Barry Conchie reveal the results of this research. Based on their

discoveries, the book identifies three keys to being a more

effective leader: knowing your strengths and investing in others’

strengths, getting people with the right strengths on your team,

and understanding and meeting the four basic needs of those

who loOk to you for leadership.

As you read Strengths Based Leadership, you’lI hear

firsthand accounts from some of the most successful

organizational leaders in recent history, from the founder of

Teach For America to the president of The Ritz-Cartton, as they

discuss how their unique strengths have driven their success.

Filled with novel research and actionable ideas, Strengths

Based Leadership will give you a new road map for leading

people toward a better future.

A unique access code (enclosed In the back of this book)

allows you to take a new leadership version of Gallup’s

StrengthsFlnder program. The new version of this program

provides you wtth speclflc strategies for leading wtth your

top five strengths and enables you to plot the strengths of

your team based on the four domains of leadership strength

revealed In the

book.

SIR EN G IN S . GAllU P. CO M

TOM RATH

Gallup Global Practice Leader

Tom Rath has written two # 1

international bestsellers. His

first book, How Full Is Your

Bucket?, was a # 1 New York

Times bestseller, and his most

recent book, StrengthsFinder

2.0, is a l ong~running #1

Wall Street Journal and #1 BusinessWeek oestseller. In total,

Rath’s books have sold more than a million copies and have

made more than 100 appearances on the Wall Street Journal

bestseller list.

Rath has been with Gallup for 14 years and currently

leads Gallup’s workplace research and leadership consu lt ing

worldwide. He also serves on the board of VHL.org, an

organization dedicated to cancer research and patien t support.

Ra th earned degrees from the University of Michigan and

the University of Pennsylvania. He and his wife, Ashley, live in

Washington. D.C.

BARRY CONCHIE

A renowned Leadership

Consultant, Gallup’s Barry

Conchie is sought after by

CEOs around the world to

assist in aligning business

and talent strategies that drive

performance. As an expert in

executive assessment. team

diagnosti cs . and succession planning. he brings objective

measurement and insight to these important leadership areas.

Conchie was a public sector leader in the UK before joining

Gallup in London. In 2002. he brought his extensive global

experience to Gallup’s Washington. D.C. headquarters. where

Conchie now leads Ga llup’s executive leadership consulting.

He and his wife. Nicola, and children. Amy and Thomas. live

in Maryland.

JAC KE T DESIGN : CHIN · HE LA

I

AU THDR PHO TOG RAPHS : RATH BY CHRISTOPHER BANKS

CON CHI[ BY JAMES fERRY

GALLUP PRESS

STRENGTHS

LEADERSHIP
GREAT LEADERS, TEAMS, AND WHY PEOPLE FOLLOW

TOM RATH

BARRY CONCHIE

To the pioneering researcher, Don Clifton

(1924-2003), who spent four decades studying the strengths

of great leaders

GALLUP PRESS

1251 Avenue of the Americas
23’d Floor

New York, NY 10020

Library of Congress Control Number: 2008937114

ISBN: 978-1-59562-025-5

First Printing: 2008

1098765432 1

Copyright © 2008 Gallup, In

c.

All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part

in any form.

Gallup’, Clifton StrengthsFindero , The Gallup Poll’,

Gallup Press

·, Q12°,

StrengthsFinder”, and the 34 Clifton Strengths Finder theme names are

trademarks of Gallup, Inc. All other trademarks are property of their

respective owners.

The Q12 items are protected by copyright of Gallup, Inc., 1993-1998. All

rights reserved.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction …. . 1

Part One: Investing in Your Strengths ….. .. ………. 5

Part Two: Maximizing Your Team. . . . . . . . . . .. 19

Part Three: Understanding Why People Follow. . . .77

Conclusion: Leadership That Lasts Beyond a Lifetime. . . . .. .93

Additional Resources ..

Taking StrengthsFinder

97

… 99

Leading With Your Strengths: A Guide to the 34 Themes… 101

The Research ……… “‘” ………………………………. 237

A: Your Strengths: The Research Behind Strengths Finder . 239

B: Your Team: Gallup’s Research on Work Team Engagement … 247

C: Why People Follow …………. .. .. ………………….. 251

References ……………………………………….. ” ……. 259

A NOTE OF THANKS TO OUR TEAM

Gallup has been studying human behavior for more than 70

years and consulting with organizational leaders for more

than four decades. Over the years, hundreds of top scientists

and leadership consultants have contributed to this collective

knowledge base. Even as we write this book, Gallup consultants

around the globe are spending their days working with leaders

to improve their organizations’ effectiveness. It is the work of

the following team of experts, many of whom have devoted their

lives to studying great leaders, that fills the pages of this book.

Vandana Allman Curt Liesveld

Jim Asplund Mary Pat Loos

Dana Baugh Rachel Maglinger

Cheryl Beamer Jacque Merritt

Brian Brim Jan Miller

Jim Clifton Jane Miller

Tonya Fredstrom Laura Mussman

Andrew Green Peter Ong

Christy Hammer Connie Rath

Anne Harbison Tony Rutigliano

Jim Harter Rosemary Travis

Tim Hodges Paula Walker

RoddKarr Stosh Walsh

Lalit Khanna Damian Welch

In addition to this team of leadership experts, there were many

who shaped the content of this book and its accompanying

website. Our publishing team, led by business book gurus Larry

Emond and Piotrek Juszkiewicz, pushed us at every turn to tell

a better story. Then our world-class editors, Geoff Brewer and

Kelly Henry, refined this manuscript countless times and taught

us how to be more effective writers along the way. The following

members of our core team spent countless hours working on

the research, content, and technology that went into Strengths

Based Leadership: Samantha Allemang, Sangeeta Badal, Jason

Carr, Swati Jain, Trista Kunce, Emily Meyer, and Joy Murphy.

Beyond this core team, we would also like to thank all the

people who reviewed drafts of this book, the team who created

the website, our research group, and in particular, the many

critical friends in our client partnerships who kept us true to

our mission and science and provided many of the subjects of

our studies. Without these great partners, this book would not

have been possible. And to all of the leaders who gave us their

time, we extend our most sincere thanks and gratitude.

INTRODUCTION

The best leaders get to live on.

Think for a moment about the leaders you respect –

whether they lead countries, organizations, communities, or

families – who continue to live on because of the way they

have shaped your thoughts and beliefs. Even though you may

not notice it in the moment, the most effective leaders forever

alter the course of your life.

Chances are, you will have many opportunities to

lead during your own lifetime. If you’re able to seize these

opportunities, your influence will continue to grow for

generations to come. Maybe it’s the desire to make a lasting

impact on the world that drives so many of us to want to lead.

In a recent Gallup Poll, we asked people to rate their own

leadership ability. Out of 1,001 people randomly surveyed, 97%

rated their ability to lead as being at or above average. And

more than two-thirds said they have led a group or team. The

fact is, whether you are taking charge in a boardroom, on a

construction site, or even in your home, it is likely that you will

find yourself leading at some point in your life.

So what are the keys to being a more effective leader? To

answer this question, we assembled a team of experts to review

2 I STRENGTHS BASED LEADERSHIP

decades of Gallup data on this topic, which included more than

20,000 in-depth interviews with senior leaders, studies of more

than one million work teams, and 50 years of Gallup Polls about

the world’s most admired

leaders.

Our team then initiated a

study of more than 10,000 followers around the world. In this

study, we asked followers to tell us – in their own words –

why they follow the most influential leader in their life.

Three key findings emerged from this research:

1. The most effective leaders are always investing in

strengths.

In the workplace, when an organization’s leadership

fails to focus on individuals’ strengths, the odds of an

employee being engaged are a dismal 1 in 11 (9%).

But when an organizations leadership focuses on the

strengths of its employees, the odds soar to almost 3 in 4

(73%). So that means when leaders focus on and invest

in their employees’ strengths, the odds of each person

being engaged goes up eightfold. As we will review in

Part One, this increase in engagement translates into

substantial gains for the organizations bottom line and

each employee’s well-being.

2. The most effective leaders surround themselves with

the right people and then maximize their team.

While the best leaders are not well-rounded, the best

teams are. Our research found that top-performing

teams have strengths in four specific domains. In Part

INTRODUCTION I 3

Two, you will hear from four well-known leaders as they

describe how their strengths play out in these domains.

You will also see how one CEO maximized his existing

team and learn about the elements that differentiated

the top-performing teams we studied from the rest of

the pack.

3. The most effective leaders understand their followers’

needs.

People follow leaders for very specific reasons. When we

asked thousands of followers, they were able to describe

exactly what they need from a leader with remarkable

clarity. In Part Three, we will review the results from

this study and tell you more about followers’ four basic

needs.

To help you learn about your own strengths as a leader,

you will have the opportunity to take a new leadership

version of Gallup’s Strengths Finder program. (See “Taking

Strengths Finder” in the Additional Resources section of this

book.) FollOWing an online assessment, you will receive a guide

that shows you how your top five strengths fit into the four

domains ofleadership strength (from Part Two). The gUide will

also give you specific suggestions for meeting the basic needs

of those who look to you for leadership (from Part Three).

But as you will learn from some of the most effective leaders

we’ve studied, the path to great leadership starts with a deep

understanding of the strengths you bring to the table.

PART ONE:
INVESTING IN YOUR STRENGTHS

INVESTING IN YOUR STRENGTHS I 7

If you spend your life trying to be good at everything, you

will never be great at anything. While our society encourages

us to be well-rounded, this approach inadvertently breeds

mediocrity. Perhaps the greatest misconception of all is that of

the well-rounded leader.

Organizations are quick to look for leaders who are great

communicators, visionary thinkers, and who can also get things

done and follow through. All of these attributes are desirable

and necessary for an organization to succeed. But of all the

leaders we have studied, we have yet to find one who has world-

class strength in all of these areas. Sure, many leaders can get

by or are above average in several domains. But paradoxically,

those who strive to be competent in all areas become the least

effective leaders overall.

LEADING BY IMITATION

Sarah has a knot in her stomach as she drives to work on

Monday morning. While she rarely looks forward to the start

of a workweek, today the mere thought of going to the office

is making her ill. While driving through traffic, Sarah begins

to wonder why this particular Monday is so much worse. She’s

perplexed because last Friday was one of the best days in the

office she could remember.

8 I STRENGTHS BASED LEADERSHIP

As Sarah pulls into the parking lot, she figures out why the

end of last week was so enjoyable: Her boss, Bob, was out of

town. That was the good news. The bad news is that he was

attending yet another course that would equip him to be a better

leader. As Sarah walks across the parking lot, her stomach

tightens even more when she remembers what happened the

last time Bob went to one of those leadership retreats.

Earlier in the year, Bob had attended a conference that

explored Lincoln’s leadership style during the Civil War. When

he returned, Bob predictably spent the next month trying to

teach everyone on his team to be “exceptional communicators:’

Sarah chuckled at the memory, recalling how awkward this

was for the computer programmers in her office, who usually

prefer typing to talking. Fortunately, like all Bob’s phases, this

one came to an abrupt halt once he read a book suggesting that

the best leaders had humble personalities, and he subsequently

quit pressuring Sarah’s more introverted colleagues to be the

next Lincoln or Kennedy.

When Sarah enters the building, she has no choice but

to pass Bob’s office, and the knot in her stomach tightens. As

if on cue, Bob waves her in. Reluctantly, Sarah leans against

the frame of the open door. In her mind, Sarah is cynically

wondering what flavor will be served up this month. But to be

cordial, Sarah asks Bob about the retreat.

After telling Sarah how peaceful and serene it was in the

small mountain town where the event was held, Bob cuts to the

chase. He declares, “My big takeaway from last week was that

INVESTING IN YOUR STRENGTHS I 9

we all need to be more adaptive to change in order to grow our

business:’ Then Bob leans forward, looking at Sarah earnestly,

and continues, “We went through this activity where each of

us had to map out how quickly we adapt to new market trends.

Well, like everyone else, it turns out that we spend nowhere near

enough time readying ourselves for big change. If we’re going to

lead our industry, we need to not only anticipate, but better yet,

create change:’ Bob rambles on for 10 more minutes, but Sarah

had gotten the message right away: The leadership buzzword

for the next few weeks or months is going to be “change:’

As Sarah walks away from Bob’s office, she is already

anticipating the moans and groans of her peers when they hear

about the latest fad. Then she suddenly realizes something about

Bob that almost has her feeling sorry for him. While he has

spent much of his career in a leadership role, the vast majority

of her boss’ efforts have been focused on trying to mimic traits

of leaders he has known or read about.

The bookshelf in his office is lined with weighty tomes about

famous political and business leaders, dead and alive. When Bob

speaks to groups, he frequently quotes the company’s CEO and

other leaders who have appeared in the media. On occasion,

usually when talking to groups of managers and leaders in the

organization, Bob even puts together a “greatest hits” list of all

the things that he has learned from studying historical leaders

and modern-day corporate chiefs. He describes how all leaders

must be empathetic, creative, diSciplined, strategic, humble,

decisive, and of course, great communicators.

10 I STRENGTHS BASED LEADERSHIP

Sarah can see that Bob has spent most of his career striving

to be just like the leaders he admires. Yet he fails to realize that

the people he looks up to are all very different. There is no

single person who embodies even half of the characteristics on

Bob’s exhaustive list of what makes a well-rounded leader. And

perhaps most strikingly, the one leader that Bob knows the least

about is himself.

FINDING YOUR LEADERSHIP STRENGTHS

“I’ve never met an effective leader who wasn’t aware of his talents

and working to sharpen them.”

– Former NATO Supreme Allied Commander Wesley Clark,

in The New York Times Magazine

Without an awareness of your strengths, it’s almost impossible

for you to lead effectively. We all lead in very different ways,

based on our talents and our limitations. Serious problems

occur when we think we need to be exactly like the leaders

we admire. Doing so takes us out of our natural element and

practically eliminates our chances of success.

If you look at great historical leaders such as Winston

Churchill or Mahatma Gandhi, you might notice more

differences than similarities – and it is the differences that

defined them and led to their success. Churchill’s bold and

commanding leadership succeeded in mobilizing a war-ravaged

nation. It is unlikely he would have had as much success if he

had tried to emulate Gandhi’s calm and quiet approach. Yet

INVESTING IN YOUR STRENGTHS I 11

Gandhi’s leadership, during India’s struggle for independence,

was much more effective because he did not try to emulate the

domineering leaders of the past. Both men knew their strengths

and used them wisely.

All too often, leaders are blind to the obvious when it

comes to something of critical importance to them – their

own personality. Many political and business leaders have self-

concepts that are miles away from reality. They simply don’t

know their own strengths and weaknesses.

This is the stuff of parody for late-night talk shows, sitcoms,

movies, and stand-up comics. And this problem goes far beyond

the boss who thinks he’s funny, even though people only laugh

at his jokes out of obligation. Most people have encountered

a leader who is completely unaware of a glaring weakness.

We have spoken with several leaders who claim to be great at

developing their people, but when we interview the people they

lead, we hear a very different story. In some cases, the leaders in

question may be better at demoralizing than developing people.

At its worst, this lack of self-awareness can lead to masses of

disengaged employees, unhappy customers, and undue stress

beyond the workplace.

Although less noticeable, another serious problem occurs

when people try to lead while having no clue about their natural

strengths. Unfortunately, few people have discovered the place

in life where they have the most potential for growth. Based

on an analysis of Gallup’s 2007 global client database, the vast

12 I STRENGTHS BASED lEADERSHIP

majority of people do not have “the opportunity to do what they

do best every day” in their current job. (See chart below.) This

problem runs rampant in workplaces throughout the world.

CHINA

INDIA

U.K.

JAPAN

GERMANY

FRANCE _ ••• 13%

• Percentage reporting they have “the opportunity to do what they do

best every day· at work. Based on Gallup’s 2007 glob.1 cUent det”bue,

It was this problem that led the late leadership researcher

and Father of Strengths Psychology, Dr. Donald O. Clifton, to

begin studying the unique strengths of leaders. Beginning in

the 1960s, Clifton, along with his colleagues from Gallup and

the academic world, conducted more than 20,000 interviews

with people in leadership roles across almost all industries and

occupations, including former heads of state and other global

leaders.

INVESTING IN YOUR STRENGTHS I 13

Each of these 90-minute interviews was carefully structured;

for most of the interviews, the various leaders were asked the

exact same questions. This allowed for side-by-side comparisons

of leaders’ responses. For many business leaders in this study,

data on the leader’s actual performance were available. This

allowed Clifton and his team to compare the best leaders to

those who were less successful, based on objective measures.

After all of this research, you might think that a team of

scientists would find at least one strength that all of the best

leaders shared. But when Clifton was asked, just a few months

before his death in 2003, what his greatest discovery was from

three decades of leadership research, this was his response:

A leader needs to know his strengths as a carpenter knows his

tools, or as a physician knows the instruments at her disposal.

What great leaders have in common is that each truly knows

his or her strengths – and can call on the right strength at

the right time. This explains why there is no definitive list of

characteristics that describes all leaders.

To help aspiring leaders identify their strengths,

Clifton and his team created a web-based program dubbed

“StrengthsFinder:’ As a part of this book, you will have

an opportunity to take a new leadership version of the

StrengthsFinder program. In addition to helping you discover

your own strengths to lead, this new version will provide

14 I STRENGTHS BASED LEADERSHIP

you with several strategies for leading others based on their

unique strengths. As you can see in the chart below, if you

are able to help the people you lead focus on their strengths,

it will dramatically boost engagement levels throughout your

organization.

ORGANIZATION’S
LEADERSHIP DOES NOT
FOCUS

ON STRENGTHS

ORGANIZATION’S
LEADERSHIP FOCUSES

ON STRENGTHS

A lONG-TERM INVESTMENT

As one top executive summarized, “If you focus on people’s

weaknesses, they lose confidence:’ At a very basic level, it

is hard for us to build self-confidence when we are focused

on our we~esses instead of our strengths. Over the past

decade, Gallup scientists have explored in much more detail

the mechanism through which a strengths-based approach

influences our lives. These studies revealed that people

experience significant gains in self-confidence after taking

INVESTING IN YOUR STRENGTHS I 15

Strengths Finder and learning more about

their strengths.

This

increase in confidence at an individual level may help explain

how strengths-based programs boost an organization’s overall

engagement and productivity.

The awareness of one’s strengths and the subsequent

increase in self-confidence it produces might have longer term

implications as well, according to a landmark 2008 study led by

the University of Florida’s Tim Judge. Judge and his colleague

Charlice Hurst studied the self-evaluations of 7,660 men and

women who were between ages of 14 and 22 when they were

first studied in 1979. These 7,660 participants were followed for

the next 25 years, and the measures (which included questions

about career success, job status, education, and health) were

repeated in 2004.

What Judge and Hurst discovered from this 25-year

longitudinal study was quite profound. They found that people

with higher self-confidence in 1979 ended up with higher

income levels and career satisfaction in 2004. But what was even

more striking was the fact that people with high self-confidence

in 1979 saw their income increase at an entirely different rate

compared to those with lower levels of self-confidence.

The people who had more confidence in their abilities at a

young age (between 14 and 22) started off with slightly higher

income levels – making, on average (in 1979), $3,496 more per

year than the low-confidence group. As each year went by, this

gap continued to widen. When the researchers reviewed follow-

up studies from 2004, the group with higher self-confidence

16 I STRENGTHS BASED LEADERSHIP

was making $12,821 more annually compared to the average

annual income for the lower self-confidence group. The people

with higher self-confidence in 1979 continued to capitalize on

their disproportionate gains as each year passed.

In addition to the income and career benefits, what Judge

and Hurst discovered about the link between early self-

confidence and physical health may be even more surprising.

When asked about the number of health problems they

have that interfere with their work, the group with low self-

confidence in 1979 reported almost three times as many health

problems 25 years later in 2004. Almost unbelievably, the

group with high self-evaluations in 1979 reported havingfewer

health problems in 2004 than they did 25 years before.

The results of this study suggest that people who are aware

of their strengths and build self-confidence at a young age

may reap a “cumulative advantage” that continues to grow

over a lifetime. A preliminary Gallup analysis (using the same

longitudinal panel from Judge and Hurst’s study) suggests that

people who report having a chance to use their strengths in the

workplace gain a similar advantage. Our research team found

that people who had the opportunity to use their strengths

early on (between the ages of 15-23) had significantly higher

job satisfaction and income levels 26 years later.

These outcomes highlight the value of leaders knowing

their own strengths and also reveal how important it is for

leaders to help others uncover their strengths as early as

possible. If an organization’s leaders are able to help each

INVESTING IN YOUR STRENGTHS I 17

person capitalize on this cumulative advantage, it is likely

to create more rapid individual and organizational growth.

These studies also reveal a mechanism through which a

truly strengths-based organization may be able to grow at an

entirely different rate for decades to come.

PART TWO:
MAXIMIZING YOUR TEAM

MAXIMIZING YOUR TEAM I 21

Effective leaders surround themselves with the right people and

build on each person’s strengths. Yet in most cases, leadership

teams are a product of circumstance more than design.

Among the executive teams we have studied, team members

were selected or promoted based primarily on knowledge or

competence. So, the best salesperson becomes the chief sales

manager, even ifhe is not a great people manager. The smartest

person in IT winds up as the CIO. The top financial expert gets

promoted to CFO, and so on.

Rarely are people recruited to an executive team because

their strengths are the best complement to those of the existing

team members. When is the last time you heard a leader talking

about how your team needed to add a person who not only

had the technical competence but who could also help build

stronger relationships within the group? Or someone who

could help influence others on behalf of the entire team? The

vast majority of the time, we recruit by job function – and all

but ignore individuals’ strengths.

What’s worse, when leaders do recruit for strength, they all

too often pick people who act, think, or behave like themselves,

albeit unintentionally in most cases. It’s an age-old dilemm

a.

How is a company supposed to grow, adapt, and change if a

domineering CEO continues to pick people who agree with

him and who have a similar background and personality?

22 I STRENGTHS BASED LEADERSHIP

Israeli President Shimon Peres expressed his views on this

topic in an interview with Gallup:

What you have to think of is the potential of the person, not his

appearance. And if you can discover hidden potentials, that
can make a great difference to your organization. You have

to distinguish between loyalty and brilliance. Most leaders

prefer loyalty over brilliance; they’re afraid that they’re going

to be undercut. My view is different.

Peres went on to describe the importance of getting talented

people on his leadership teams and helping them discover more

about their unique strengths.

WHAT MAKES A GREAT LEADERSHIP TEAM?

Over the years, Gallup has studied thousands of executive teams.

In most cases, our leadership consultants conduct an in-depth

interview with a team’s formal leader (usually the CEO) and

also conduct interviews with each member of the leadership

team. This enables us to compare the strengths of each person

sitting around the table so that we can start thinking about each

one’s individual development and succession planning – and

perhaps most importantly, how the team looks as a whole.

As we worked with these leadership teams, we began to see

that while each member had his or her own unique strengths,

the most cohesive and successful teams possessed broader

groupings of strengths. So we went back and initiated our most

thorough review of this research to date. From this dataset, four

MAXIMIZING YOUR TEAM I 23

distinct domains of leadership strength emerged: Executing,

Influencing, Relationship Building, and Strategic Thinking.

While these categories appear to be general, especially

when compared to the specific themes within StrengthsFinder

(which you can learn more about in the Additional Resources

section), it struck us that these broader categories of strengths

could be useful for thinking about how leaders can contribute to

a team. A more detailed language may work best for individual

development, but these broad domains offer a more practical

lens for looking at the composition of a team.

1he Four Domains of Leadership Strength

EXECUTING

INFLUENCING

RELATIONSHIP BUILDING

STRATEGIC

THINKING

We found that it serves a team well to have a representation

of strengths in each of these four domains. Instead of one

dominant leader who tries to do everything or individuals who

all have similar strengths, contributions from all four domains

lead to a strong and cohesive team. Although individuals need

not be well-rounded, teams should be.

This doesn’t mean that each person on a team must have

strengths exclusively in a Single category. In most cases, each

24 I STRENGTHS BASED LEADERSHIP

team member will possess some strength in multiple domains.

A tool like Strengths Finder can be useful in determining how

all team members can maximize their contribution to the

group’s collective goals. According to our latest research, the

34 Strengths Finder themes naturally cluster into these four

domains of leadership strength based on a statistical factor

analysis and a clinical evaluation by Gallup’s top scientists.

(See the table below for how the 34 themes sort into the four

domains of leadership strength.) As you think about how you

can contribute to a team and who you need to surround yourself

with, this may be a good starting point.

E . I fl . Relationship Strategic xecutmg n uencmg B ild’ Th’ ki

ACHIEVER ACTIVATOR

ARRANGER COMMAND

BELIEF COMMUNICATION

CONSISTENCY

COMPETITION

DELIBERATIVE MAXIMIZER

DISCIPLINE SELF-ASSURANCE

FOCUS

SIGNIFICANCE

RESPONSIBILITY

WOO

RESTORATIVE

u 111g 111 ng

ADAPTABILITY I

ANALYTICAL

I

CONTEXT

CONNECTEDNESS I

FUTURISTIC

DEVELOPER

EMPATHY

HARMONY

INPUT

II

IDEATION

I

INTELLECTION

i

INDIVIDUALIZATION I

LEARNER

INCLUDER

POSITIVITY

STRATEGIC

RELATOR

Leaders with dominant strength in the Executing domain

know how to make things happen. When you need someone

to implement a solution, these are the people who will work

tirelessly to get it done. Leaders with a strength to execute have

the ability to “catch” an idea and make it a reality.

MAXIMIZING YOUR TEAM I 25

For example, one leader may excel at establishing a quality

process using themes such as Deliberative or Discipline, while

the next leader will use her Achiever theme to work tirelessly

toward a goal. Or a leader with strong Arranger may determine

the optimal configuration of people needed to complete a task.

Those who lead by Influencing help their team reach a

much broader audience. People with strength in this domain

are always selling the team’s ideas inside and outside the

organization. When you need someone to take charge, speak

up, and make sure your group is heard, look to someone with

the strength to influence.

For example, a leader with a lot of Command or Self-

Assurance may use few words, but her confidence will continue

to project authority and win followers. In contrast, a leader

using Communication or Woo might get people involved by

helping individuals feel comfortable and connected to the issue

at hand.

Those who lead through Relationship Building are

the essential glue that holds a team together. Without these

strengths on a team, in many cases, the group is simply a

composite of individuals. In contrast, leaders with exceptional

Relationship Building strength have the unique ability to create

groups and organizations that are much greater than the sum

of their parts.

Within this domain, a leader with Positivity and Harmony

may work hard to minimize distractions and to keep the

26 I STRENGTHS BASED LEADERSHIP

team’s collective energy high. On the other hand, a leader with

Individualization might use a more targeted approach to getting

people involved. Or a leader with strong Relator or Developer

may be a great mentor and guide as he pushes others toward

bigger and better achievements.

Leaders with great Strategic Thinking strengths are

the ones who keep us all focused on what could be. They are

constantly absorbing and analyzing information and helping

the team make better decisions. People with strength in this

domain continually stretch our thinking for

the future.

Within this domain, a leader using Context or Strategic

might explain how past events influenced present circumstances

or navigate the best route for future possibilities. Someone with

strong Ideation or Input may see countless opportunities for

growth based on all of the information she reviews. Or a leader

drawing from his Analytical theme might help the team drill

into the details of cause and effect.

LEADERSHIP STRENGTHS IN ACTION

In recent years, we have studied leaders who built great schools,

created major nonprofit organizations, led big businesses, and

transformed entire nations. But we have yet to find two leaders

who have the exact same sequence of strengths. While two

leaders may have identical expectations, the way they reach

their goals is always dependent on the unique arrangement of

their strengths.

MAXIMIZING YOUR TEAM I 27

To help you see how different effective leadership strengths

can be, we asked a few of the top organizational leaders we

interviewed if they would be willing to share their strengths

and their stories. We selected four leaders – one to illustrate

each of the four domains ofleadership strength. You will notice

that these leaders have multiple strengths in the domain they

represent.

Throughout the next four sections, you will see how

these leaders have leveraged their dominant strengths to

drive organizational growth. You will hear from the founder

and CEO of one of the most legendary nonprofits of the past

century, the president of one of the most respected brands ever,

the chairman of one of the world’s largest banks, and the chief

executive of the largest consumer electronics retailer in the

world. As you read each of these stories, you will realize just

how different four leaders can be, even at the highest levels of

an organization.

ACHIEVER

ARRANGER

BELIEF

EXECUTING

Executing Themes

CONSISTENCY FOCUS

DELIBERATIVE RESPONSIBILITY

DISCIPLINE RESTORATIVE

N\N..IN\IZING ,(OUR ! ‘tANI \ 3’

Top Five Strengths

ACHIEVER·

COMPETITION

RESPONSIBILITY·

RELATOR
STRATEGIC

• EXECUTING THEME

During her senior year at Princeton, Wendy Kopp was simply

trying to figure out what to do after she graduated. The last

thing on Kopp’s mind was starting her own business, let alone

launching a national movement. Then in late 1988, while

seeking a subject for her senior thesis, Kopp found a topic that

piqued her interest: educational inequity.

Throughout her time at Princeton, Kopp had noticed two

distinct and divergent camps of students, even within that

elite institution. One group, composed of students who had

attended top-flight East Coast prep schools, often referred

to their experience at Princeton as a “cakewalk:’ The other

32 I STRENGTHS BASED LEADERSHIP

group, made up of students who had grown up in urban public

schools, struggled to meet the academic expectations at the Ivy

League university. If it was this bad at Princeton, Kopp thought,

then this inequity must be much worse in other parts of the

country.

She decided to gather a group of fellow students to discuss

the broader problem of why it was so hard for most children

to get the education they deserved. When the group convened,

she heard student after student express interest in teaching, but

she also heard them describe how there was no mechanism for

attracting top students to the profession, especially in urban

areas that had the most dire need.

It was during this meeting that Kopp’s Responsibility

theme kicked in. She felt a need to take action, and she started

thinking about how she could fix this massive problem.

Inspired in large part by the Peace Corps, which was launched

by President John F. Kennedy in 1961, Kopp was determined

to create a national teacher corps. So, like many idealistic

young people, Wendy Kopp wrote a letter to then-President

George H.W Bush, suggesting that he create this new corps.

She recommended that recent college graduates commit to

two years of teaching in underprivileged areas. Kopp didn’t

hear back from the White House about her idea.

But it was her next move that truly separated this big

idea from the millions of good thoughts that never make it

to fruition: the super-achieving, hands-on undergrad decided

that she would build this national teacher corps herself. In

MAXIMIZING YOUR TEAM I 33

addition to making educational inequity the focus of her

senior thesis, Kopp began researching what it would take

to create a national corps of teachers. As she was reviewing

recommendations that had been made to President Kennedy

about what it would take to establish the Peace Corps, she

found a paper from one of Kennedy’s advisors that suggested

that a minimum of 500 people were necessary (on day one)

to convey the sense of urgency and national importance. This

paper inspired Kopp’s incredibly ambitious goal: She would

find 500 new corps members in the first year to make her

dream of a national teacher corps a reality.

As Kopp began to run the numbers in terms of what it

would take to recruit all of these high-achieving students to

volunteer for two years, she realized it would require at least

$2.5 million, for the first year alone, to get her project off the

ground. She knew this was an ambitious goal, but she felt an

immediate responsibility to do it. When Kopp mentioned this

figure to her thesis advisor, he exclaimed, “Do you know how

hard it is to raise twenty-five hundred dollars?” Kopp actually

didn’t know just how hard it would be, but she was about to

find out.

Kopp started by building her core team – for recruiting,

training, and meeting her aggressive fundraising goal. She

enlisted a few of the brightest people she knew, although it took

a lot of convincing to get them to commit to this underfunded

start-up. Over the next 12 months, Kopp’s leadership team

went through a series of extraordinary challenges and found

34 I STRENGTHS BASED LEADERSHIP

themselves on the brink of quitting on several occasions. But

great Achievers rarely give up.

To make things even more difficult, while Kopp was

serious about starting with 500 teachers, she was not about to

accept just anyone who applied. She wanted this new program,

dubbed “Teach For America;’ to be very selective. This meant

that the organization had to recruit, interview, and screen more

than 2,500 applicants just to get 500 of the best and brightest

graduates. Kopp felt that the organization had a responsibility

to hire graduates who could have an immediate impact in the

schools they joined.

This series of daunting challenges was no match for Wendy

Kopp’s extraordinary determination and ability to execute. By

April of 1990, a year after Kopp graduated from Princeton, the

first 500 members of Teach For America gathered for their

orientation session at the University of Southern California.

Kopp had managed to raise the $2.5 million and build the

organization from scratch – over the span of a single year.

Then, as if events simply followed the script Kopp had

written in her senior thesis, the nation took notice of her bold

launch. Her efforts were featured on Good Morning America and

in TIME magazine. A New York Times headline read: “Princeton

Student’s Brainstorm: A Peace Corps to Train Teachers:’ Teach

For America’s first year was a remarkable success, but Kopp

knew she had a responsibility to keep the organization alive and

to prepare it for long-term success.

MAXIMIZING YOUR TEAM I 35

In 2008, we followed up with Wendy Kopp to see how

things were going at Teach For America almost two decades

after its inception. Upon entering the organization’s New York

headquarters, we noted that the offices still had the feel of a

small start-up aiming to change the world. The building was

abuzz with young people rushing around close quarters and

filled with small cubicles and plywood desks. The water heaters

in the makeshift restrooms doubled as toilet paper holders. Even

in 2008, Teach For America’s humble environment certainly

didn’t convey that of one of the most successful start-ups of the

past century.

And when we sat down with Kopp, it was clear that the

super achiever remained in overdrive. Kopp was just days

away from giving birth to her fourth child, yet she was in the

midst of a full day at Teach For America. Although in obvious

discomfort, Kopp was not about to slow down. You could tell

from the look in her eyes and the passion in her voice that she

is never quite content with where things are today.

Kopp described how hard it had been to build an

organization that now has a stable – and robust – flow of

funding and applicants. She described her most fundamental

challenge, quite succinctly, as “finding talent:’ To keep the

organization growing, Kopp had to surround herself with the

best teachers, fundraisers, and leaders for the future. In her

own words, talent was the key element because it “solves all the

other problems:’

36 I STRENGTHS BASED LEADERSHIP

It was clear from our discussion that Kopp had found the

right people – not only to expand Teach For America, but

also to make an impact on an entire nation. When we asked

about the outcomes of all this hard work, Kopp told us that

her organization’s fundraising goal for the current year was

a whopping $120 million. What’s more, in the previous year,

Teach For America had more than 25,000 applicants and is

now regarded as one of the most selective and prestigious jobs

in the United States, even for Ivy League graduates. In 2005,

one in eight Yale graduates applied for a Teach For America

position. Year after year, thousands of students are now passing

up six-figure salaries at high-prestige companies such as GE

and Goldman Sachs to spend two years teaching in an inner-

city school.

Yet what might be an even greater legacy are the future

community leaders who emerge among Teach For America’s

alumni. Many of to day’s brightest young politicians,

businesspeople, and school superintendents got their start in

the organization that Kopp built. We interviewed a former

member from Washington, D.C., who described how the head

of that city’s school system and half of her staff were Teach For

America alumni. Nevertheless, when we asked Kopp about

the leadership legacy she would leave, it was clear she had yet

to give the question much thought. Perhaps she was too busy

making things happen to wax philosophical.

One of the more revealing questions we asked Kopp was

about how she prioritizes her time. She quickly described how

MAXIMIZING YOUR TEAM I 37

she starts each year with a structured list of all the things she

needs to accomplish in the next 12 months; then she breaks that

list down by month and week. From the weekly list, she creates

a daily to-do list that she follows rigorously. As Kopp talked

about how she has all of this “systematized:’ it sounded like she

assumed that we all do this. For her, this level of organization is

natural. Kopp told us, “I couldn’t exist without that – or at least

1 couldn’t be doing this job without that system:’

As we listened to Kopp, it was easy to hear how her top five

strengths played a role in the remarkable success of Teach For

America. When she spoke about all the children who deserve a

better education, you could hear how her Responsibility theme

motivates her. As one Teach For America alumnus recounted,

“Wendy conveys more than her vision for educational equity

– the responsibility to do something about it. To simply be the

best new teacher isn’t enough. Winning for the sake of students

is the only option:’

And while Kopp’s Competition theme wasn’t quite evident

on the surface, it manifested in the context of “winning”

for students in the face of the status quo. For Kopp, her

Competition was more organizational and societal than it was

personal. She did everything in her power to ensure that the

teachers her organization placed in schools were even better

than the top teachers hired through the conventional system.

Yet of all the leaders we have studied, Wendy Kopp may be

the best example of how you can take one dominant strength,

Achiever, and spend a lifetime applying it. From her detailed

38 I STRENGTHS BASED LEADERSHIP

task lists to building a national movement from scratch in one

year, Kopp’s ability to make things happen is without parallel.

While her organization has already reached more than three

million students, it is unlikely that she will rest until children

around the world have access to the education they deserve.

INFLUENCING

Influencing Themes

ACTIVATOR COMPETITION

COMMAND MAXIMIZER

COMMUNICATION SELF-ASSURANCE

SIGNIFICANCE
WOO

I

MAXIMIZING YOUR TEAM I 41

Simon Cooper

President
The Ritz-Carlton

Top Five Strengths

MAXIMIZER·

WOO·

ARRANGER

ACTIVATOR·

SIGNIFICANCE·

• INFLUENCING THEME

When Simon Cooper assumed his role as president of The Ritz-

Carlton Hotel Company in 2001, he faced a unique challenge.

Whereas Wendy Kopp essentially had to create an

organization

from scratch, Cooper’s charge was to take one of the world’s

greatest brands to a new level of excellence. While it’s debatable

which assignment had a higher degree of difficulty, Cooper

clearly had the most to lose.

The Ritz-Carlton brand was already as synonymous with

luxury as Kleenex is with tissue. Their employees were satisfied.

Customers were engaged. Quality was ingrained in almost

every aspect of the business. Expectations were sky high.

42 I STRENGTHS BASED LEADERSHIP

And on a more personal level, Cooper was taking over for a

charismatic leader, Horst Schulze, who was the brand for nearly

two decades. According to Cooper, Schulze “walked on water”

in the eyes of Ritz-Carlton’s people. With this venerable brand

firing on all cylinders, Cooper faced a situation in which there

was almost nowhere to go but down. But nothing energizes a

Maximizer more than the challenge of taking a company from

great to world-class.

When you sit in a room with Cooper, you can almost feel

the power exuding from his weathered skin. Born just outside

of London, Cooper once sailed charter yachts for a living and

played competitive rugby until he was 45. It’s still easy to see

the former athlete in Cooper’s stature and build. Yet his voice

and accent are as sophisticated as the brand he leads. Until you

get to know Simon Cooper, this refinement seems to mask his

intensity and confidence.

From the moment Cooper took the helm at Ritz-Carlton in

2001, he was determined to leave his mark. Like many who lead

with the Significance theme, the last thing he wanted to do was

simply follow in the footsteps of his predecessor. As Cooper

reconstructed the situation, he explained how careful he was

to be clear from the outset that he was not planning to walk

in someone else’s shoes. In his mind, this was the one sure kiss

of death for anyone entering a new leadership role. Although

his predecessor was widely revered, Cooper knew that the last

thing people wanted was a pretender leading the organization.

MAXIMIZING YOUR TEAM I 43

He also realized that the brand had to grow far beyond the

personality of its leader.

Instead of trying to remake a brand that was already at

a pinnacle, Simon Cooper aimed to broadly expand Ritz-

Carlton’s global influence. He started by studying exactly what

Ritz-Carlton’s customers already loved, and he then sought to

maximize this opportunity. For Cooper, the key was building

on the strengths of the brand. He quickly realized that none

of his customers truly needed to stay at a Ritz-Carlton. They

could easily frequent others properties for half the price, yet

they continually returned to the Ritz. So Cooper dedicated

even more of his time and attention to studying the unique

experience that Ritz-Carlton created for its customers.

As Cooper studied his customers’ attachment to the brand,

he estimated that 90% of its image was emotional – it was how

Ritz-Carlton’s employees “bring the brand to life” every time

they interact with a guest. Cooper described:

People create memories, not things. If we ask guests what
color the carpet was in their guest room, they probably won’t

know. The real value comes from the ladies and gentlemen

[employees] who bring that hotel to life. Ten percent is the

platform, but the rest is people.

Perhaps this is why Cooper finds himself in his element

when spending time with Ritz-Carlton’s frontline employees.

During his visits, one thing Cooper loves to do is ask his

associates what their guests like to buy. While he writes down

44 I STRENGTHS BASED LEADERSHIP

their responses, which usually consist of the room, food

service, or spa treatments, Cooper has another lesson in mind.

His follow-up question is somewhat unorthodox: «Now tell me

what they can’t buy:’

This is what Cooper sees as his company’s core value

proposition: delivering the intangibles like smiles, relationships,

and caring service. In a world where many guests can purchase

just about anything they desire, it is the things they can’t buy

that create true engagement with the Ritz-Carlton brand.

Cooper described how he compensates his leaders based on

their ability to foster this kind of true engagement, instead of

basic loyalty, because they are «in the business of trying to win

the hearts and minds” of each guest. If they are able to do so,

Simon Cooper hopes to leave behind a legacy of what he calls

«guests for life:’

Once again making the most of his top theme, Maximizer,

Cooper was determined to take a legendary guest experience

to an entirely different level. Gallup’s initial measures of Ritz-

Carlton’s employee engagement levels placed them in the top

quartile of Gallup’s worldwide database. But this was nowhere

near «good enough” for Ritz’s leadership team, who viewed this

as a minimum standard. When Gallup audited Ritz-Carlton’s

customer engagement, they set an even higher bar. While most

of their properties are above the 95th percentile in our customer

engagement database – a level that most organizations would

consider world-class – Ritz-Carlton challenged its properties

to be in the 98th to 99th percentile. If they had a property in the

MAXIMIZING YOUR TEAM I 45

94th or 95th percentile, it was considered to be in the “red” zone.

A hotel in the 96th or 97th percentile was classified as “yellow:’

and a property could only get to “green” when it reached the

98th percentile. When it comes to a guest’s engagement with the

brand, Cooper and team were determined to set a new gold

standard.

The second major initiative Simon Cooper launched was

also aimed at creating lifelong guests, albeit in a bit more direct

manner. In the face of resistance, Cooper made the case for Ritz-

Carlton to move into selling private residences and fractional

ownership. When Cooper introduced this concept in 2002, his

judgment was called into question by The Wall Street Journal

and others. They wondered if placing the iconic Ritz-Carlton

logo on residences and time shares would dilute the brand. But

Cooper would hear nothing of it.

Cooper had more than enough confidence to sell this

concept to the world. When questioned in a 2002 interview

about the 11 residences atop New York’s Battery Park Hotel,

Cooper quickly explained how units selling for a minimum of

$25 million – which were occupied by high -profile and celebrity

types – didn’t exactly “hurt the Ritz-Carlton image:’ By 2008,

Ritz-Carlton’s residences and clubs (fractional ownership) were

the fastest growing segment of the business, with more than

40 new locations planned around the globe. As evidenced by

the financial results, this went on to become one of the best

business moves in the company’s storied history.

46 I STRENGTHS BASED LEADERSHIP

A great financial success alone was probably not enough

to satisfy Cooper’s need to have a significant impression on the

world. When we interviewed him in 2008, it was clear that he

took even more pride in the global impact of his organization.

Cooper casually talked about visits with kings and heads of state

as if they were old friends. And he reveled in telling the story

of how he asked rock star/philanthropist Bono to join him in

a morning meeting with the housekeeping staff during one of

his recent stays. You could see how much pride Cooper took in

doing little things like this to win others over.

When Cooper steps back and looks at his influence leading

Ritz-Carlton, he regards it in a way that may be too big for most

chief executives to get their minds around. His influence is not

just about maximizing one of the world’s greatest brands. Nor

is it about doubling the total number of Ritz-Carlton properties

in a mere seven years. And it’s not just about the records he set

in profits, quality, or employee and customer engagement.

Rather, Simon Cooper’s talent for influencing serves the

greater purpose of running an organization upon which the

well-being of more than 40,000 families depends. As Cooper

described how the paycheck of one of his frontline employees

in Asia often subsidizes the food and shelter for an entire family,

you could hear his Significance theme resonate. Then when he

talked of the night-and-day difference that a job at Ritz-Carlton

could make for a housekeeper in the Persian Gulf, you get a

sense that this is one man who realizes that he can change the

world – even if that means influencing one person at a time.

RELATIONSHIP BUILDING

Relationship Building Themes

ADAPTABILITY EMPATHY INDIVIDUALIZATION

DEVELOPER HARMONY POSITIVITY

CONNECTEDNESS INCLUDER RELATOR

MAXIMIZING YOUR TEAM I 49

Mervyn Davies

Chairman
Standard Chartered Bank

Top Five Strengths
ACHIEVER
FUTURISTIC

POSITIVITY·

RELATOR·

LEARNER

• RELA TIONSHIP BUILDING THEME

If you try to imagine what the chairman of one of the world’s

largest banks might look like, Mervyn Davies would fit the

bill. With his elegantly tailored suit, wire-rimmed glasses, and

athletic build, Davies resembles a polished executive right out

of central casting. Yet when you speak to Mervyn Davies and

study his track record, it becomes clear that he’s nothing like the

stereotypical chief executive.

From the day that Davies took over as CEO of Standard

Chartered, a bank with more than 70,000 employees spread

across 70 countries, he relentlessly went against the grain.

Instead of thinking solely about the near term, Davies’

50 I STRENGTHS BASED LEADERSHIP

Futuristic theme kept him focused on where world markets

would be several years down the road. While all of his

competitors were emphasizing the then-lucrative markets in

Europe and North America, Davies was more interested in

diversifying throughout Africa, India, and the Middle East.

When other banks were investing in ways to replace people

with technology, Davies wanted to invest even more time and

money in developing his people.

At almost every turn, Davies was leveraging his Relator

theme to build stronger connections throughout the

organization. In an era when banking CEOs were overly

cautious about what they said, Davies instead opted to

overcommunicate whenever possible. And while other

chief executives were focused almost exclusively on their

bottom lines, Davies was just as concerned with building an

organization that had “a heart and a soul.”

Before he could run Standard Chartered in such an

unconventional way, Davies had to begin his tenure by building

an extraordinarily diverse leadership team composed of people

with vastly different backgrounds and personalities. Given

that his company derived more than 90% of its revenue from

emerging international markets, Davies felt that he had no

choice but to ensure that the bank’s leadership group was as

diverse as the customers it served. Acutely aware of his own

strengths and limitations, Davies set out to surround himself

with people who could do specific things much better than he

ever could.

MAXIMIZING YOUR TEAM I 51

Throughout this process, Davies was very candid about

his own personality, even placing a coffee cup with his top

five themes – Achiever, Futuristic, Positivity, Relator, and

Learner – on his desk. He then spent an extensive amount of

time analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of people around

him, mapping out how they might fit on different teams. This

led to some unorthodox leadership choices early on. Just one

month into the job, Davies replaced the existing CFO, who had

an extensive accounting background, with a young consultant

who had no formal accounting experience. What’s more, this

consultant was still in his thirties. The people around Davies

thought he had gone mad.

Fortunately, Davies made concerted efforts to be candid

and to overcommunicate about everything he was doing and

why he was doing it. This helped him quickly form relationships

with key shareholders, business partners, customers, and

employees. Then to communicate with his tens of thousands

of employees, Davies tried a bit of everything, from videos and

cartoons to countless handwritten notes of recognition. He also

created more structured communication programs; he would

send regular messages to his top 20, 50, and 150 leaders. Davies

then made sure to send monthly e-mail updates to all 75,000

employees around the globe. As a result, Standard Chartered’s

employees always knew what the boss was

thinking.

On more than one occasion, Davies was criticized for being

too open with his communication. But this didn’t quiet him.

On the contrary, when Davies’ wife of 29 years had a bout with

52 I STRENGTHS BASED LEADERSHIP

breast cancer during his time as CEO, he sent a candid e-mail

to 400 of his top executives explaining exactly what was going

on, how he felt, and how it would change his schedule in the

upcoming months. And this was not just because it was about

his personal life – Davies was also widely known for helping

everyone at Standard Chartered put their

family first.

One long-

time colleague described how amazed he was that Davies took

so much time from his busy schedule to be there for him during

a personal crisis.

Davies’ candor extended to what he described as

“courageous conversations;’ or more difficult topics. By his own

admission, Davies could be very direct at times and described

his style as having an “iron fist and velvet glove:’ Davies also

applied this frankness to describing his own personality and

shortcomings. He took ownership for his mistakes, and he

talked freely about what went wrong.

As a result of Davies’ extraordinary openness, Standard

Chartered’s employees could see how much he loved the bank,

and they knew that his heart was in the right place. This created

a culture in which employees took ownership over their work

instead of passing along blame. It also led to an unprecedented

level of trust in their CEO, as they continued to give Davies

latitude when he bucked the conventional wisdom. He built

trust through relationships.

In 2008, when we sat down to talk with Mervyn Davies in his

London offices, he had just moved on from the CEO position to

one of a non-executive chairman of Standard Chartered Bank.

MAXIMIZING YOUR TEAM I 53

By this time, Davies was a regular on The Times’ list of the most

influential businesspeople, and he was widely revered beyond

the business community. At the time of our interview, banks

around the world were in a state of crisis. Almost every major

financial institution was facing substantial losses. But as The

New York Times and The Economist described, Mervyn Davies

had set Standard Chartered up to be about the only bank in the

world that was able to grow through one of the more difficult

economic periods in recent history. It was one of the few shining

gems in the financial services sector.

When Davies began to describe the reasons why Standard

Chartered had thrived in this market, his jovial tone turned

serious. As he spoke of the “real soul” and “wonderful story” of

this ISO-year-old bank that originated in Calcutta, the passion

in his voice turned his fair skin a few shades of red. Davies went

on to describe how he had “bet his career” early on by focusing

on two key things – people and corporate social responsibility

– even though many shareholders couldn’t have cared less

about either one at the time.

While we would have loved to spend even more time

talking to Davies about the latter topic – specifically, his

contributions to battling HIV / AIDS and cancer globally – to

keep our study focused, we attempted to learn more about how

Davies had done such an exceptional job of engaging people.

So we asked him more about himself on a personal level.

As he began to describe his own personality, you could

tell that he was exceptionally comfortable in his own skin. In

54 I STRENGTHS BASED LEADERSHIP

Davies’ opinion, the most important aspect of leading is simply

knowing oneself. In a matter-of-fact tone, he described how,

as a leader, you must “know yourself, know the people around

you, and then get on with if’

As simple as this may sound, Davies reported that the way

he empowered people at times raised red flags. Early on, when

he delegated responsibility to employees who had the right

strengths and gave them free rein, others worried that he did

not have enough personal involvement in key activities. But

placing trust in others to deal with areas in which they had

competence freed Davies to spend the majority of his time

developing talent and coaching future leaders.

Davies described why he opted to use Strengths Finder and

a strengths-based approach throughout Standard Chartered as

part of his plans for developing people. “We try to be a company

that focuses on people’s strengths and not their weaknesses, and

I think that the more people realize what their strengths are, the

more they can really focus on those areas and really specialize

and develop:’ he said. Davies then concluded with what could be

one of the most succinct summaries of the strengths approach

that weve ever heard: “If you focus on people’s weaknesses, they

lose confidence:’

It is clear from the bank’s financial results that Davies was

able to create a culture that engaged people’s strengths on a

daily basis. But one of the most telling parts of our interview

was when Davies talked about the pride he takes from watching

other people learn and grow. When we asked about his greatest

MAXIMIZING YOUR TEAM I 55

satisfaction at work, he quickly replied that he could go on for

half an hour describing how rewarding it was to see people

around him develop and to share in their success.

Davies then took on a more personal tone, describing how

he had both of his children take Strengths Finder and how

differently he had developed each of them based on their natural

strengths. It was easy to hear the passion in Davies’ thick Welsh

accent when he spoke of the young people he has had a chance

to mentor. When we asked him to talk more about it, he replied,

“I love doing that. I absolutely love it. I love listening to them

and, you know, at the end of the day, I talk a lot, but I think the

greatest skill you’ve got in management is listening:’

Davies then issued a challenge to any aspiring leader. He

explained that the litmus test of a great leader is “whether they

can quickly write down on a piece of paper all of the people

they have developed:’ If they can’t, then Davies thinks those

leaders might just have been in the right place at the right time

– aCcidentally and not by deSign. Not only can Davies assemble

a long list of the people and relationships he has invested in

over his 15 years at Standard Chartered, but he also expects his

people to be able to do the same.

It was clear from our conversation with Davies that

he is a man who is in his element when leading people and

building relationships. At one point in our discussion, Davies

talked about the way people energize him even more than

money. Again, not what you might expect to hear from one

of the world’s most legendary banking executives. Yet during

56 I STRENGTHS BASED LEADERSHIP

Davies’ tenure, in addition to all of the international expansion,

Standard Chartered Bank’s stock price soared, and its market

capitalization nearly tripled.

By doing things his own way, Davies not only achieved

unparalleled financial results, but he also built an organization

in which each of his employees could, as Davies put it, “look back

on their careers and realize how much fun they had working for

the bank:’ At every turn, you could see Mervyn Davies’ keen

strength for relationship building and his relentless positivity

about the future.

STRATEGIC THINKING

Strategic Thinking Themes

ANALYTICAL
CONTEXT
FUTURISTIC
IDEATION
INPUT
INTELLECTION
LEARNER
STRATEGIC

MAXIMIZING YOUR TEAM I 59

Brad Anderson

Top Five Strengths
CONTEXT·

IDEATION*

INPUT·

LEARNER·

CONNECTEDNESS

• STRATEGIC THINKING THEME

As you enter Best Buy’s corporate headquarters in Minneapolis,

you can tell that the company does things a bit differently. The

building is modeled after an airport terminal with a massive

connecting hub in the middle. This hub is always abuzz with

conversations and employees who look like they are genuinely

having fun. The environment feels more like a student union

on a college campus than a Fortune 500 company’s corporate

headquarters. At first glance, it is hard to figure out how it

would be possible to create this kind of atmosphere, let alone in

a company with 150,000 employees.

60 I STRENGTHS BASED LEADERSHIP

But when we spent some time with Best Buy CEO Brad

Anderson in 2008, it all started to make sense. With his round

face, bright eyes, and jovial smile, Anderson certainly doesn’t

look the part of a chief executive. It’s easier to picture him

teaching a high school history class than running a shareholder

meeting. Very few people radiate this level of warmth and

sincerity during an initial introduction. Frontline employees at

Best Buy describe Anderson as one of the most approachable

people they’ve met.

As much as Anderson’s look and demeanor may not fit the

conventional CEO mold, his actions and personality wander

even farther off the beaten path. Yet over the last 25 years,

Anderson took an unknown regional electronics store and

helped make it into the largest consumer electronics retailer in

America. The amazing story of his career’s trajectory is only

overshadowed by the organization’s performance during his

tenure.

If you look at Anderson’s top five themes – Context,

Ideation, Input, Learner, and Connectedness – you might

expect to find someone who was an exceptional student at a

young age. But he was not. Anderson struggled and had poor

grades in high school. That is why it was such a surprise when

Anderson, and his grades, began to thrive in college. Once he

was free to study the topics of his choice, it opened his mind to a

world of endless opportunity. Anderson’s realization in college

– that he could build his life around this innate curiosity and

MAXIMIZING YOUR TEAM I 61

voracious appetite for learning – would prove to be critical

throughout his career.

At the age of 24, Anderson joined Sound of Music, a small

electronics retailer in Minneapolis, as a sales associate. After a

few years, he became a store manager. Anderson was then asked

to join the team at its corporate office. By 1983, the company

had changed its name to “Best Buy” and had seven stores. The

retailer expanded and launched several supercenters over the

next few years.

By 1986, Anderson had jOined the company’s board of

directors and was working very closely with the company’s

legendary founder, Dick Schulze. It was around this time that

Anderson, Schulze, and a few others began to question the

entire model on which electronics retailers operated: Almost

every consumer electronics store paid its salespeople based on

a commission of how much they sold.

As a result, when customers walked into almost any

music or stereo shop prior to 1990, they were mobbed by

pushy salespeople trying to close a deal. What’s worse, these

commissioned sellers were usually hawking the display models

that would put the most cash in their pockets, even though

the televisions and stereos were not in stock. When Anderson

gathered a focus group of customers and asked them which

major electronics retailer they trusted, he recalled how they

would simply “break into laughter:’ People felt less pressure

walking across a used car lot in those days.

62 I STRENGTHS BASED LEADERSHIP

As Anderson looked at successful retailers in other

industries, he noticed very different business models. One of

his early cues came from the experience that grocery stores

provide, where everyone is free to browse and they know

that products will be in stock. Anderson, Schulze, and team

wondered if Best Buy could follow a similar model – one

that they thought would be much more likely to please the

average customer. But there were major obstacles in the way,

from the way manufacturers and distributors operated to the

expectations of the thousands of people in sales roles.

Anderson and Schulze knew that a decision to follow this

new model would send shockwaves through the entire industry.

But they also had a hunch that it might be the only way for their

company to survive. As Anderson later described to us, “That

was a breakthrough moment, and it only happened because the

company was going to go out of business if we played by the

rules:’

So when Anderson and Schulze made the formal

recommendation – that Best Buy move away from a

commissioned sales model – they faced intense resistance.

Even within the company, there were many skeptics. But when

people challenged the idea, Anderson would remind them to

“think about the next fifteen years, not the next five:’

Based on this idea, Best Buy implemented a new strategy

that would forever change the retail sales model. As a result of

this shift, customers no longer felt the pressure of salespeople

breathing down their necks – and were now filing into Best

MAXIMIZING YOUR TEAM I 63

Buy stores just to browse. Shortly thereafter, other consumer

electronics stores and retailers in other industries followed suit.

Anderson’s career continued to advance during this time

of transition, and he was named Best Buy’s president in 1991.

From the day Anderson assumed this leadership role, it was

clear he wasn’t going to fit anyone’s preconceived notions of

a top corporate executive. Instead of conforming to the new

role, this self-described “odd duck” decided to do things quite

differently.

While Wall Street analysts, among others, expected

Anderson to take a more conventional approach as Best

Buy’s new president, that’s not what he did. Much to their

consternation, Anderson would simply disappear for weeks

on end in search of new ideas. Instead of poring through trade

or business books, he read everything from Rolling Stone to

historical biographies. Anderson attended non-electronics

conferences in search of bigger ideas. He brought in countless

outside experts to challenge Best Buy’s thinking. His Ideation,

Input, and Learner themes were always at work. By Anderson’s

own admission, he challenged conventional wisdom to the

point where it was “radically complained about by my peers:’

Anderson’s insatiable curiosity also led to an

unconventional people-leadership approach. He quickly

surrounded himself with leaders who he knew would

challenge his thinking. And he was also careful to select

leaders who could effectively develop the strengths of those

under their charge. Once again breaking the mold, Anderson

64 I STRENGTHS BASED LEADERSHIP

was as concerned about the personal chemistry of the team

members as he was about their experience or technical

competence.

When we spoke with Anderson, he described how his

most senior leaders were “wildly different” from one another.

Yet they found a way to accommodate each other by placing a

great deal of trust in each person’s unique strengths. Anderson

described how he could talk passionately in an executive

meeting about his ideas for the future and turn to see that he

had completely lost his CFO’s attention. And in turn, when

he talked about how his gifted CFO would work through

spreadsheets until 8:00 at night, Anderson said, “You might

as well give me hieroglyphics:’ This was just one of the many

partnerships Anderson formed to complement his strengths

and limitations.

What may be even more remarkable is the degree to

which Anderson was able to stay true to his own strengths

in his role as CEO. When we asked him how he was able to

provide leadership for more than 150,000 Best Buy employees,

Anderson described the critical role of his self-awareness and

authenticity. While Anderson may not be a natural at working

a room or chatting up a store full of frontline employees, he has

developed a unique way to connect with Best Buy’s employees,

customers, and shareholders as he travels around the world: He

simply asks great questions.

As one Best Buy employee described, Anderson can

walk into a store and make each employee feel like “the most

MAXIMIZING YOUR TEAM I 65

important contributor because he asks each person what they’re

doing, what’s getting them excited, and what they’re seeing in

the store:’ She went on to describe how she had never seen a

CEO do this so well and observed how Anderson is genuinely

“curious about people and their own life story:’ Once he has this

context in his mind, it helps him see what needs to happen in

the future.

While studying successful leaders like Anderson, one of

the most revealing items we asked leaders to respond to was:

“Please describe a time when you felt like you were ‘in a zone;

where time almost seemed to stand still:’ Anderson told us that

he feels this way almost any time he is learning something,

whether it is from a person, a book, or solving a puzzle. He

said, “I find it amazing that 1 can be fifty-eight years old and

seem to know less every day. No matter how much you learn,

it just continues to open up more substantial questions and

relationships:’

Anderson went on to tell us about how, the night before our

conversation, he had stepped out of a dinner early so he could

spend some quality time at a nearby Barnes & Noble before

heading home. The voracious learner, who reads several books

each week, said that he found at least 28 books he wanted to

take home that evening. “It’s a disease;’ he said with a smile.

We suspect that there are millions of Best Buy employees,

customers, and shareholders who are glad that Brad

Anderson let this lifelong curiosity run its course. While his

strategic thinking led to a few experiments that did not pan

66 I STRENGTHS BASED LEADERSHIP

out, Anderson’s unconventional approach helped create

unprecedented growth. Had you invested $1,000 in Best Buy’s

stock in 1991, when Anderson took over as president, it would

have been worth $175,000 by 2008. Not bad for a guy who

started at the ground level and spent the next 25 years soaring

with his strengths.

MAXIMIZING YOUR TEAM I 67

THE COLLECTIVE TALENT OF A TEAM

As you can hear in the stories of these four leaders, they have

exceptional clarity about who they are – and who they are

not. If anyone of them had chosen to spend a lifetime trying

to be “good enough” at everything, it’s doubtful they would

have made such an extraordinary impact. Instead, they’ve all

been wise enough to get the right strengths on their teams,

and this has set up their organizations for continuous growth.

Unfortunately, very few teams are truly optimized around their

strengths.

As we learned from working with the top executive team at

Hampton, a U.S.-based hotel chain, once a team understands

how to leverage each person’s strengths, it quickly finds new

ways to drive organizational performance. When we first

met with Hampton President Phil Cordell, his company and

leadership team appeared to be on the right track. With more

than 1,500 locations, Hampton was expanding rapidly and had

developed a strong consumer brand. Cordell had a leadership

team of extraordinarily talented individuals, each of whom

possessed a deep passion about the organization and its brand.

His team was innovative, creative, and had an impressive track

record. Hampton was already well ahead of its competitors, but

Cordell wanted to widen that lead. He also hoped to initiate a

major

international expansion.

Cordell realized that what got his team to that point would

not be sufficient for the future, given his ambitious goals. As we

68 I STRENGTHS BASED LEADERSHIP

conducted interviews with each member of his core executive

group, we discovered that they were fiercely loyal to the brand,

eager to drive performance, and had great respect for Cordell as

the team’s leader. But we also found a few potential land mines.

Interestingly, the leadership team’s loyalty to Cordell had a

major drawback. Team members continually escalated their

issues to Cordell for resolution instead of working them out

among themselves. This eroded trust among colleagues, and it

also meant that Cordell always had to be the one to take action,

thus creating a bottleneck and slowing everything down.

Unbeknownst to his team, Cordell spent the vast majority

of his day in “response mode:’ He had no desire to be in the

middle of all these discussions, nor did he need to be. This was

not just a problem of effective delegation; the main issue was

that his team members didn’t have strong relationships with

each other.

After several discussions with Cordell, it was clear that his

aggressive growth plans were going to stretch, if not break, the

team. To develop a plan and lay the foundation for international

growth, Cordell would need to be absent for significant amounts

of time. And the way the team was functioning, it would all but

collapse if Cordell was taken out of the equation for prolonged

periods. Cordell needed to build a team so strong that it would

hardly skip a beat when he was gone.

But to get there, his group needed to confront major issues

– one of which was that it was composed of extremely talented

individuals who knew how to get things done but who were

MAXIMIZING YOUR TEAM I 69

always “competing to take on more:’ as one member said. While

some of you may be wishing that you had this kind of problem

in your workplace, at Hampton, it led to a more divided than

collaborative team.

After conducting in -depth interviews with each member

of the team, along with looking at a composite of their

StrengthsFinder results, it became clear that the team needed to

build stronger relationships – and do it quickly – if it wanted

to establish trust and meet its ambitious growth plans.

Cordell confronted the team’s problems as candidly as

possible. When members began to talk openly about their

challenges, Cordell bluntly said that they had miles to go in

developing a “shared culture:’ He described how he needed

the team to feel comfortable enough to have tough discussions,

which were not happening. He called the lack of trust a “deal

breaker:’

The entire team then spent a great deal of time talking

about how it could build stronger relationships and trust. Team

members qUickly realized that they simply didn’t spend enough

time together; they were all getting so caught up in trying to

handle day-to-day requests that they were too busy to think

about the team itself, let alone the future.

They also realized that they needed much clearer

expectations to maximize efficiency and avoid overlap. Even

more disturbing was that most of the team members reported

haVing problems balancing their workload with their family

lives because the environment had become ultra-competitive.

70 I STRENGTHS BASED LEADERSHIP

These initial meetings and discussions produced substantial

changes. For example, Scott and Kurt, two members of the team

who had a knack for building relationships, agreed to dedicate

more time to helping strengthen team bonds. Gina passionately

described how she could help maximize the strengths of others,

on the team and beyond, so they have clear expectations and

even more room for growth. Judy decided to leverage her ability

to stimulate dialogue and ideas to keep the group focused on the

future. During one group meeting, the team created “leadership

brand” descriptions that detailed how they planned to leverage

their strengths to help the company

grow.

Soon after these initial discussions, it was clear that

Hampton’s leadership team was headed in a very different

direction. In meetings, instead of getting defensive when Gina

would ask questions, the others knew she was just satisfying

her need for input. When Judy started in with a big idea,

they knew it was a part of her natural instincts, instead of an

annoying challenge to the way they were used to doing things.

As a group, they agreed to discuss issues collectively before

elevating anything to Cordell. In turn, Cordell committed to

“knock down” problems that went to him before going through

this process.

Six months after these intensive discussions, the

relationships, level of trust, and the leadership team as a whole

were thriving. Before these conversations, the team would never

have met as a group if its leader couldn’t be there. But by this

point, thanks in part to Scott taking on the responsibility, the

MAXIMIZING YOUR TEAM I 71

team continued to meet and keep things moving in Cordell’s

absence. From this strong foundation, the team continued to

raise the bar on its own while Cordell focused more time on the

international expansion.

The teams we have worked with report gaining the most

from regular discussions of each person’s strengths in the

context of the team and its current goals. As you can see from

the Hampton leadership group’s experience, whether a team

has been together 15 days or 15 years, each person benefits

from having a basic understanding of the others’ strengths.

When teams are able to use a common language of strengths,

it immediately changes the conversation, creates more positive

dialogue, and boosts the team’s overall engagement.

WHAT STRONG TEAMS HAVE IN COMMON

Once you have the right people on your team, it’s relatively

easy to tell if you’re headed in the right direction. Gallup has

been studying leadership teams for nearly four decades, and we

have witnessed some telltale signs of strong, high-performing

teams:

1. Conflict doesn’t destroy strong teams because strong

teams focus on results. Contrary to popular belief,

the most successful teams are not the ones in which

team members always agree with one another. Instead,

they are often characterized by healthy debate – and

at times, heated arguments. What distinguishes strong

72 I STRENGTHS BASED LEADERSHIP

teams from dysfunctional ones is that debate doesn’t

cause them to fragment. Instead of becoming more

isolated during tough times, these teams actually gain

strength and develop cohesion.

One reason great teams are able to grow through

conflict is because they have a laser-like focus on

results. Top teams seek out evidence and data and try

to remain as objective as possible. As a result, while

people may have different views, they are united in

seeking the truth. Team members can argue, but in

the end, they are on the same side. In sharp contrast,

failing teams tend to personalize disagreement,

creating territorial divides that continue to grow.

2. Strong teams prioritize what’s best for the

organization and then

move forward.

While

competition for resources and divergent points of

view exist, the best teams are able to keep the larger

goal in view. Members of high-performing teams are

conSistently able to put what’s best for the organization

ahead of their own egos. And once a decision is made,

these teams are remarkably quick to rally around it.

One team we worked with had a long, drawn-out

debate over whether they should invest in a major

new idea. After months of intense discussion, it would

have been easy for John, who technically “lost” the

argument, to sit back and sulk after the decision was

made. Yet the exact opposite occurred. Like other

MAXIMIZING YOUR TEAM I 73

great team members we have studied, John got over

the debate quickly and asked, “What resources do you

need from me to make this work?” Once a decision is

made, members of great teams rally around to help one

another (and the organization) succeed.

3. Members of strong teams are as committed to their

personal lives as they are to their work. The best

teams we studied seemed to live a contradiction. Some

of the most productive team members work extreme

hours and endure amazing levels of responsibility. They

sometimes work 60 hours a week and travel frequently.

Yet they consider their lives to be in balance. They

seem to have enough time to do the things they want

to do with their families. As hard as they work for the

company, they seem to bring the same level of energy

and intensity to their family, social, and community life.

When we interviewed Standard Chartered’s Mervyn

Davies, he told us that he takes as much pride in

the amount of time he spends with his wife and

two children as he does in his bank’s extraordinary

performance. While this may seem surprising to an

outside observer, Davies described how he strives to

dedicate 100% of his attention to his family throughout

the weekend. Davies extends this philosophy to all of

his bank’s employees, always encouraging them to put

family first.

74 I STRENGTHS BASED LEADERSHIP

Our evidence suggests that the most successful teams

have members who are highly engaged in their work

and highly satisfied with their personal lives. By setting

this expectation, which so many others perceive as

unattainable, they attract new members who want to

do the same. This high level of engagement then sets a

powerful example for the entire organization.

4. Strong teams embrace diversity. Our work with the

leadership teams of some of the most innovative and

successful companies in the world reveals a simple

truth: Having a team composed of individuals who

look at issues similarly, who have been the product of

comparable educational backgrounds, and who have

experiences with similar track records and approaches

is not a sound basis

for success.

Earlier, we outlined why leadership teams need a

diversity of strengths – ideally, including individuals

who demonstrate a balance of strengths in different

leadership dimensions. But diversity goes well beyond

team strengths. We have also discovered that the most

engaged teams welcome diversity of age, gender, and

race, while disengaged teams may do the opposite.

For example, Gallup’s research revealed that actively

disengaged team members are 33% more likely to plan

on leaving their job if they have a manager of a different

race (when compared to having a manager of the same

race). However, when we study engaged teams, people

MAXIMIZING YOUR TEAM I 75

are actually a bit more likely to stay with the company

if they have a manager of a different race. So whereas a

disengaged employee is more likely to quit his job if he

has a supervisor of another race, an engaged employee

is less likely to leave under the same circumstances.

The most engaged teams look at individuals through

the lens of their natural strengths, not at physical

characteristics. This keeps the team focused on the

potential within each person and minimizes the

influence of superficial barriers.

5. Strong teams are magnets for talent. Another way

to spot a strong team is to look for the teams that

everyone wants to be on. For some people, it may be

hard to understand why anyone would want to join

a team that works longer and harder and that comes

complete with sky-high expectations. This is especially

true when these “it” teams are characterized by intense

competition and extreme accountability for results.

Yet despite all the consequences and pressure, it is your

potential stars who most want to be on these teams.

They see top teams as the most stimulating place

to be – the place where they can demonstrate their

leadership and have a real impact. Instead of being

intimidated by the challenge and responsibility, they

seek out these teams.

76 I STRENGTHS BASED LEADERSHIP

As former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi

Annan described in a leadership interview with Gallup,

building a strong team within an organization requires

the same basic ingredients of a successful soccer squad.

Annan encourages the teams to “play in a coordinated

manner;’ but he is quick to point out that should not

exclude “individual brilliance:’ Annan explains that as

long as the brilliant ones are pulling with us toward the

same goal, this individual talent actually strengthens

the collective team. As a result, successful teams often

have an organization-wide influence.

Building a strong team requires a substantial amount of

time and effort. Getting the right strengths on the team is a

good starting point, but it is not enough. For a team to create

sustained growth, the leader must continue to invest in each

person’s strengths and in building better relationships among

the group members. When leaders can do this, it allows the

entire team to spend even more time thinking about the needs

of the people they serve.

PART THREE:
UNDERSTANDING WHY PEOPLE FOLLOW

UNDERSTANDING WHY PEOPLE FOLLOW I 79

The most effective leaders rally a broader group of people

toward an organization’s goals, mission, and

objectives.

They

lead. People follow. Yet rarely do we examine why people follow.

A majority of the research that has been conducted about

leadership over the years – including Gallup’s work in this area

– could be missing one obvious point: You are a leader only

if others follow. Leaders are only as strong as the connections

they make with each person in their constituency, whether they

have one follower or one million. Yet we continue to focus on

leaders and all but ignore their impact on, and the opinions of,

the people they lead.

One problem is that we have studied leaders in isolation

from the connections that make them great. As legendary

investor Warren Buffett put it, by definition, “A leader is

someone who can get things done through other people:’ So

while a leader’s opinions may be interesting to study, that might

not be the right unit of measurement for understanding why a

person follows one leader and ignores another.

If you wanted to know why the president of the United

States was making a difference in the lives of the American

public, would you look to him for the best answers – or would

you ask his constituents? When companies want to know why

a product is popular, they ask their customers. So, if we want to

know why people rally behind a leader, shouldn’t we ask them

80 I STRENGTHS BASED LEADERSHIP

why they follow – or how a great leader has improved their

lives? If you want to lead, it is critical to know what the people

around you need and expect from you.

WHY DO PEOPLE FOLLOW?

To explore why people follow, Gallup conducted a formal study

from 2005-2008. Our goal was to obtain the average person’s

opinion about leadership – instead of experts, historians,

CEOs, celebrities, and politicians defining leadership for

them. In sharp contrast to other leadership research, which

is primarily based on case studies, interviews, research with

one organization, or convenience samples, this study looked

at a true random sampling of more than 10,000 followers who

were contacted via The Gallup PolL (See Additional Resources

section.) This allowed our team to examine leadership that

extends beyond an organization’s walls – leadership that

is taking place in social networks, schools, churches, and

families.

After conducting preliminary testing with several

questions, we decided to anchor our research around the

following key question:

What leader has the most positive influence in your daily

life? Take a few moments to think about this question if you
need to. Once you have someone in mind, please list his or

her initials.

UNDERSTANDING WHY PEOPLE FOLLOW I 81

If they listed someone, we followed up with this item:

Now, please list three words that best describe what this

person contributes to your life.

a.

b.

c.

Every word in this question was selected with extreme care.

The first part forced each person to identify a specific “leader”

who “has the most positive influence” in his or her daily life.

The word positive was included to ensure that we were not

studying leaders who have a predominantly negative influence.

As Peter Drucker said, “The three greatest leaders of the 20th

century were Hitler, Stalin, and Mao. If that’s leadership, I want

no part of it:’

After identifying a leader in the first part of this question,

each person was asked to list three words to describe what the

leader contributes to the follower’s life. This allowed our team

to collect thousands of followers’ open-ended responses, in

contrast to asking them to select from categories based on

theory, which would bias their responses. Instead of listing

categories such as “vision” or “purpose” – which receive a lot of

attention in the field ofleadership study – we were determined

to let the followers define how leaders make a difference … in

their own words.

82 I STRENGTHS BASED LEADERSHIP

Upon completion of our initial surveys, we studied the 25

most commonly mentioned words. To our surprise, many of

the «usual suspects” like purpose, wisdom, humor, and humility

were nowhere near the top of the list.

As we continued to review the descriptors, distinct patterns

started to emerge. In some cases, more than 1,000 people had

listed the exact same word, without any categories or options

provided. Given that there are more than 170,000 words in the

English language, this was impressive. It seems that followers

have a very clear picture of what they want and need from

the most influential leaders in their lives: trust, compassion,

stability, and

hope.

TRUST

Followers’ Four Basic Needs

TRUST

COMPASSION

STABILITY

HOPE

One of the leaders we interviewed said, «The truth is your bond

– you die keeping your promises. If you send the message

that your word is not worth much, you’ll be paid back on that:’

As various political and business scandals have illustrated,

UNDERSTANDING WHY PEOPLE FOLLOW I 83

followers will not tolerate dishonesty. At any level, whether you

are a manager, CEO, or head of state, trust might be the “do or

die» foundation for leading.

The followers we surveyed also cited honesty, integrity, and

respect as distinct contributions from the leaders in their lives.

A serious breach in honesty can destroy a sitting president, the

CEO of a major corporation, a friendship, or a marriage. At

a less extreme level, people we have interviewed often speak

about the way honesty, trust, and respect also serve as basic

relationship filters that help them determine whom to spend

time with in the workplace.

Gallup’s latest research on trust in leadership also suggests

that this foundation is closely linked to employee engagement

in an organization. One of our national polls revealed that the

chances of employees being engaged at work when they do not

trust the company’s leaders are just 1 in 12. In stark contrast, the

chances of employees being engaged at work are better than 1

in 2 if they trust the organization’s leadership – a more than

sixfold increase.

Trust also increases speed and efficiency in the workplace.

When two people working on a project do not know each

other well, it takes a considerable amount of time for them

to be able to collaborate productively. There can be a long

getting-to-know-you period – a time during which two

people warily look each other over. If you’re unfamiliar with

a colleague, it can take a while to get accustomed to her work

style and personality.

84 I STRENGTHS BASED LEADERSHIP

Once a basic level of trust is established between two

people, they can make things happen in a fraction of the time

that it takes other colleagues who don’t have that bond. Trust

allows people to skip most of the formality and immediately

get to what is most important. As Kofi Annan explained, “If you

don’t have relationship, you start from zero each time:’

When you read organizations’ mission statements, you’ll

notice that many of them espouse integrity, trust, and honesty.

Who could argue – they speak to basic human ethics and

explain how we build lasting relationships. Best Buy’s Brad

Anderson described trust as “the most cherished and valuable

commodity in a work environment:’

To learn more about this fundamental leadership need, we

have been asking thousands of leaders this question for many

years: “How do you convince a person of your honesty?” While

one might expect a great leader to have an insightful answer

to this question, the best leaders actually do not. Instead, they

have a surprising, visceral, and almost hostile reaction to being

asked. Top leaders often spout a response along the lines of “I

just am;’ or, as one leader put it, “People just know. They see my

behavior over time, and they know they can depend on me:’

Brad Anderson’s key to building trust is being authentic, even if

that means letting people see his flaws. As a leader, he feels no

choice but to be very candid – even when delivering difficult

news – because that is the only way to build trust.

UNDERSTANDING WHY PEOPLE FOLLOW I 85

Respect, integrity, and honesty are the outcomes of strong

relationships built on trust. They don’t have to be discussed –

just as top leaders know they should not have to waste time

convincing someone of their honesty. Likewise, one of the

most striking observations from our research on teams was

how little successful teams talked about trust. On the contrary,

the topic of trust dominated the discussions of struggling

teams. This speaks to the fundamentals of how relationships

develop in thriving organizations. Relationship flat -out trumps

competence in building

trust.

COMPASSION

Unfortunately, most leaders are hesitant to show genuine

compassion for the people they lead, at least in the same way

they would with a friend or family member. But the results of

our studies suggest that it might be wise for these leaders to

take a lesson from great managers, who clearly do care about

each of their employees.

Caring,friendship, happiness, and love were other frequently

mentioned words followers used when asked what leaders

contribute to their lives. These words were not that surprising;

Gallup has accumulated a mountain of evidence over the years

on the impact of a caring manager. We have asked more than

10 million people to respond to the item “My supervisor, or

someone at work, seems to care about me as a person:’ And we

found that people who agree with this statement:

86 I STRENGTHS BASED LEADERSHIP

are significantly more likely to stay with their

organization

have much more engaged customers

are substantially more productive

produce more profitability for the organization

Obviously, a major challenge for organizational leaders is

that it is difficult to establish close relationships throughout

an organization with thousands of employees. When we asked

followers more specifically about the “organizational leaders”

and “global leaders” that have a positive influence, we found that

people expect more general positive energy and “compassion”

from high-level organizationallgloballeaders – compared to

much more intimate words (like caring) that followers used to

describe their everyday leaders.

Or as Standard Chartered’s Mervyn Davies explained,

organizational leaders must have “a positive bias” because

employees simply “don’t want to follow negative people around:’

On a personal level, Davies’ compassion was always shining

through to Standard Chartered’s employees. In addition to

being very open with his own challenges as his wife battled

breast cancer, Davies was just as concerned about his employees’

mental and physical health. He initiated several programs

aimed at helping employees boost their overall well-being,

and he always encouraged his direct reports to put their family

first. He knew that for people to truly love their organization, it

needed to have a heart.

UNDERSTANDING WHY PEOPLE FOLLOW I 87

STABILITY

Followers want a leader who will provide a solid foundation.

They reported that the best leaders were the ones they could

always count on in times of need. The people we surveyed also

mentioned the words security, strength, support, and peace. As

a leader, your followers also need to know that your core values

are stable. This will buffer them from unnecessary change and

ensure that they know what is expected.

Our need for stability and security plays into nearly every

decision we make. Politicians work tirelessly to convince us

that we will be more secure if they are elected. Spiritual leaders

are often great promoters of stability, as followers turn to

their messages for strength in times of crisis or elation. Great

teachers who lead in classrooms every day know the value of

giving students constant support and reassurance.

In the workplace, while it’s critical for organizations

to evolve, change, and grow over time, they must also offer

employees stability and confidence. At a very basic level,

employees need a paycheck, and they need to feel secure about

having a job. If managers and leaders do not meet these basic

needs, they are sure to face resistance. Employees who have

high confidence in their company’s financial future are nine

times as likely to be engaged in their jobs when compared to

those who have lower confidence about their organization’s

financial future.

88 I STRENGTHS BASED LEADERSHIP

When we spoke with Ritz-Carlton President Simon Cooper,

it was clear that he viewed putting food on the table for families

around the world as one of the most important elements of

his job. He was as concerned about the general well-being of

his hourly employees in Jakarta as he was about his wealthy

guests. When it came time to think about expansion, Cooper

was careful not to add new jobs that would have to be cut soon

thereafter if there was an economic downturn.

At a company-wide level, nothing creates stability as

quickly as transparency. Followers need to have a basic sense

of confidence about where their career is headed and how

the organization is doing financially. At a large engineering

company we worked with, all of the organization’s data and

financial metrics, with the exception of payroll information,

are easily accessible to everyone in the company. They also

provide employees with regular updates on progress toward

organizational goals. And perhaps most importantly, leaders

throughout the company help each employee see how he or

she can directly affect the organizations key metrics like costs,

profits, and sales. This gives employees stability and confidence

and clears the way for rapid growth.

HOPE

This higher level need poses an interesting challenge; it appears

that followers want stability in the moment and hope for the

future. Followers also mentioned the words direction, faith, and

guidance when describing this basic need.

lll’JlJICPS TAi’JDINC7 WHY PEOPLE FOLLOW I 89

When Gallup studied the impact that leaders can have

throughout an organi/,ation, the single most powerful question

we asked employt~es was ‘Nhc-ther their company’s leadership

made them “feel enthusiastic about the future:’ Sixty-nine

percent of employees who strongly agreed with this statement

were engaged in their johs, compared to a mere 1 % of employees

who disagrct?d or strongly disagreed. Based on these data, it

appears that this may be the one area in which higher level

leaders can haw lhe most influence in their organization.

Instilling hope lltay seem like an obvious requirement for

leading other people. Hope gives followers something to look

j~)rward to, and it helps them see a way through chaos and

complexity. KnO’l”fing that things can and will be better in the

future is a powerful motivator. ‘Alhen hope is absent, people

lost? confidence, disengage, and often feel helpless.

‘nlis makes the role of <1t1 organizational leader even more

important during difficull tililes. And yet the vast majority of

leaders we interviewed did 110/ spend enough time deliberately

creating more hope and optimism for the future. Instead, even

the highestlcvel executives reported that they spend almost all

of their time reactiNg to the needs of the day instead of initiating

for the future.

Whether they realize it or not, leaders who are always

reacting convey to the organization that they aren’t in charge

or control but are being tossed about by the demands of the

day. When leaders instead choose to initiate, the very act can

create hope for the future. 1 n response to a major economic

90 I STRENGTHS BASED LEADERSHIP

downturn, one corporate chief we worked with confronted this

leadership challenge head-on. In an address to thousands of

his employees, he refused to “react to this downturn by cutting

spending or laying people off:’ Instead, he described how the

company planned to “gun it” by hiring even more people than

planned and by pursuing new areas of business even more

aggressively. This kind of initiating creates hope and eliminates

helplessness.

In our research, we regularly ask leaders if they spend more

time initiating or responding. While leaders are more likely to

claim that they initiate, in reality, they spend the vast majority

of their time responding. As part of this research, we provided

leaders with several scenarios to prioritize, and in most cases,

the leaders we studied did not choose the one option (out of

four) that involved initiating. Instead, their priorities were

always dominated by a visceral need to respond. Even when

we prompted leaders beforehand by asking if they spend more

time initiating or responding, it seems that leaders couldn’t

help but be reactive.

One challenge is that our ability to progress in our career

is often determined by our effectiveness in responding to near-

term needs. When high value is placed on solving these kinds

of problems, it creates a culture in which leaders spend little or

no time thinking about what could be done because they receive

more accolades for simply doing what needs to be done.

Another reason we get caught in perpetual response mode

is because it’s easier. Agreeing to take on a small objective –

UNDERSTANDING WHY PEOPLE FOLLOW I 91

for example, cleaning out your inbox by the end of each day

– is much more manageable than embarking on a larger and

more proactive goal – like creating a new product or mapping

out how to double your business in three to five years. Solving

problems and removing barriers comes naturally to many

people, while initiating is much harder work.

While solving difficult problems is an essential part of

effective leadership, identifying opportunities for the future

plays a much more important role in creating hope and

optimism. As Teach For America’s Wendy Kopp demonstrated,

it took a big vision and her activation of that idea to offer hope

to thousands of teachers, students, and an entire nation. “What

I learned, in essence, was that if I was to fulfill my mission, it

would take more than an idealistic vision;’ Kopp wrote in her

book. “In the end, the big idea was important and essential. But

it would work only with a lot of attention to the nuts and bolts

of effective execution:’

One of the greatest challenges for leaders is to initiate new

efforts that will create subsequent organizational growth. If as

a leader, you are not creating hope and helping people see the

way forward, chances are, no one else is either.

CONCLUSION I 93

LEADERSHIP THAT LASTS BEYOND A LIFETIME

When we invest our financial resources, we understand that it’s

best to bet on winning funds, stocks, and companies. Most of

us know better than to sink all of our money into a business

that has consistently struggled. Yet when we think about how

to invest our personal resources, we continue to put more time

and energy into perennial losers. Instead of honing our natural

strengths, we strive to fill in what nature left out.

The most effective leaders know better than to try to be

someone they are not. Whenever they spot an opportunity, they

reinvest in their strengths. Wendy Kopp kept on achieving, just

as Brad Anderson continued to paint new pictures

of the future.

With this acute awareness of their strengths and limitations,

these leaders were able to partner with the right people to create

unprecedented growth.

Leaders stay true to who they are – and then make sure

they have the right people around them. Those who surround

themselves with similar personalities will always be at a

disadvantage in the long run to those who are secure enough

in themselves to enlist partners with complementary strengths.

As you could hear from the leaders we interviewed, they were

always looking for people who could do specific things much

better than they ever could.

94 I STRENGTHS BASED LEADERSHIP

The most effective leaders also get people to follow.

Reaching the level where your life’s work and mission continue

in perpetuity requires not only being a leader yourself, but

developing the people who follow you to be effective leaders as

well. As Standard Chartered Chairman Mervyn Davies put it,

unless you can, on command, write down a list of the people

you have developed, you may just be in a leadership position by

accident. This is why Davies challenges all of his direct reports

to list the people they have developed, and he expects them to

ask the same of the people they lead. He understands that the

only way to have a broad impact is to create a network of strong

leaders that begins to grow on its own.

Perhaps this is why the most extraordinary leaders do not

see personal success as an end in itself. They realize that their

impact on this world rests in the hands of those who follow.

Martin Luther King Jr. preached on the evening of April 3,

1968, “I may not get there with you. But 1 want you to know

tonight that we, as a people, will get to the Promised Land:’ The

next day, Dr. King was assassinated. Yet his influence on the

world had just begun.

The day after his death, millions already stood on King’s

shoulders. By the turn of the 20th century, that number had

increased to hundreds of millions. At the end of this century,

whether they realize it or not, billions will lead better lives due

to Dr. King’s efforts during his all-too-brief 39 years.

CONCLUSION I 95

Perhaps the ultimate test of a leader is not what you are

able to do in the here and now – but instead what continues to

grow long after you’re gone.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES I 99

TAKING STRENGTHSFINDER

As human beings, we have vast individual differences, and leaders

are no exception. The best leaders have an acute awareness of their
natural strengths – and their limitations. They understand where to
invest their time to get the greatest return on their strengths. And they
know the areas where they lack natural talent and need to reach out

to others.

To help you build on your strengths and the strengths of the people
around you, we have included access to a leadership-specific version

of the Clifton StrengthsFinder program with this book. You may be
familiar with StrengthsFinder from the bestsellers Now, Discover Your
Strengths; StrengthsFinder 2.0; or a host of other popular books that
feature the assessment. Over the past decade, this assessment has
helped millions of people in more than 50 countries discover and
describe their strengths.

In the back of this book, you will find a packet with a unique
access code that will enable you to take the latest version (2.0) of

StrengthsFinder. Upon completion of the assessment, you will receive
a highly customized Strengths-Based Leadership Guide that lists your

top five themes of strength as well as several suggestions for leading
with each theme and illustrations of each theme in action. (If you have

already taken StrengthsFinder, you can log on to the website using
this new code; follow the instructions to receive the new leadership
guide based on your existing results.)

In the next section of this book, for each of the 34 themes, you

will find a brief definition of the theme, strategies for leveraging that
theme to meet followers’ four basic needs, and tips for leading others
who are strong in that theme. While the guide you receive online will

be more customized to your strengths, the sections that follow can be
used as a reference for building on the strengths of your team and the

people around you.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES I 101

LEADING WITH YOUR STRENGTHS:
A GUIDE TO THE 34 THEMES

34 Strengths Finder Themes

ACHIEVER FUTURISTIC

ACTIVATOR HARMONY

ADAPTABI LlTY IDEATION

ANALYTICAL INCLUDER

ARRANGER INDIVIDUALIZATION

BELIEF INPUT

COMMAND INTELLECTION

COMMUNICATION LEARNER

COMPETITION MAXIMIZER

CONNECTEDNESS POSITIVITY

CONSISTENCY RELATOR

CONTEXT RESPONSIBILITY

DELIBERATIVE RESTORATIVE

DEVELOPER SELF-ASSURANCE

DISCIPLINE SIGNIFICANCE

EMPATHY STRATEGIC

FOCUS WOO

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES I 103

LEADING WITH ACHIEVER

strong in the Achiever theme have a great deal of stamina

work hard. They take great satisfaction from being busy and

BUILD TRUST

o Others respect your work ethic and dedication. Hard work
and productivity are visible signs that you are someone who
can be trusted to do things right. Live up to that trust. Deliver
when you say you will.

o Establish relationships with others by working alongside
them. Working hard together can be a bonding experience.
When others see that you’re willing to put your shoulder to
the wheel and work beside them, you’ll make a connection.

Showing people that you see yourself as an equal, not a
superior, can inspire feelings of trust and respect.

SHOW COMPASSION

o Because setting and achieving goals is of paramount
importance to you, apply this way of living to more areas.

Not spending enough time with the significant people in
your life? Choose someone you care about, take on a project
that both of you would like to accomplish, and set a timeline.
You’ll feel good about what you get done and about the time

you spend together.

o Every day, put at least one personal relationship goal on your
list of things to do. You’ll make people feel worthy of your

time and investment – plus you’ll have the satisfaction of
checking the “done” box daily.

PROVIDE STABILITY

o Others can count on your belief in the importance of hard
work and diligent effort, and they come to expect this from

104 I STRENGTHS BASED LEADERSHIP

you. They see your consistency and effort as an example of

what it takes to create a steady, secure life, and this gives
them a sense of stability. Talk to people about how it feels
to always give everything you have. Strive to help them see

that the one thing they can control in life is their own effort.

D Your stamina causes others to see you as a “rock:’ You are
always working; you never seem to tire. People may even feel
sorry for you because you put in such long hours. Gently

explain to these people that while others may not work this
way, it’s what feels good to you. Ask them what makes them

feel good about their approach to work. Strive to understand
and support others by giving them confidence in their own
approach to their work.

CREATE HOPE

D Your tremendous energy and desire to accomplish as much
as possible serves as an inspiration to others. You can
encourage people by knowing what they want to accomplish

and asking about their progress. By helping others put
together timelines and checklists, you can help them achieve

their plans and dreams.

o Setting goals and deadlines, so motivating for you, can also
help others manage massive projects they undertake. You
can make a large, complicated endeavor seem manageable
by breaking it down and creating milestones along the way.
When someone seeks you out for guidance about a colossal
task, share your systems for managing the whole in a piece-
by-piece manner.

LEADING OTHERS WITH STRONG ACHIEVER

D When you have projects that require extra work, call on this
person. Remember that the saying “If you want to get a job
done, ask a busy person” is generally true.

D Recognize that this person likes to be busy. Sitting in
meetings is likely to be very boring for him. So either let

!\lJDIT!Oi’~/\L RESOURCES I 105

tu hvc him attend only

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1;11 dill!,,, ,,’\\,., I(i he W”, ,;i3, l vnH he much more motivated

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“Y’F.j] i, • ..1 I,,:;s :,keD aWl get np earlier than

!-;Ilfj ,/lJ ,-n 1h;-:::\.? <"{)'Dc)icions Hre required on

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~’/Utl In:ly’ b

he i:~ :,~ :.;\ “H

.l i:’ \’Iill ,’III)I\:U:,lO,’,: ihis kind of attention.

tu pn,rflotc this person simply because

lli~; “Id”y b:.·? mistake ifit leads him away

bel; ‘.’1’ UJUl’SC would be to pinpoint

and look for opportunities

Ch)le’S well.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES I 107

LEADING WITH ACTIVATOR

People strong in the Activator theme can make things happen by
thoughts into action. They are often impatient.

BUILD TRUST

o Action is what you are all about. Show people that you are
someone whose ideals and principles are not just talk. Do
something that promotes the values that are important to
you. Make a difference. Demonstrate your integrity. Make
your actions a reflection of your words.

o Action for action’s sake is not enough. Honoring the desires
of others is a way of demonstrating respect. Is this the
direction they want to take? Are they willing to carry out
what you start? Making certain that you are truly on their
side, not merely promoting your own agenda, will build the
trust and respect that allow you to lead.

SHOW COMPASSION

o Activator talents can be a catalyst for creating one-on-one
relationships and then taking them to the next level. Is there
someone you can help? Reach out and offer. Make the first
move, and you can boost the number of people in your
network or deepen a connection that leads to an important
friendship.

o Your rapid actions, on behalf of another person, send a
powerful message. By showing that you care, you can create
bonds much more rapidly than idle words.

PROVIDE STABILITY

o Stability may not be the first thing that comes to mind when
thinking about activation. However, consistency is part of
stability – and you are consistently there to help others
overcome hurdles and blast through resistance. Say it out

108 I STRENGTHS BASED LEADERSHIP

loud: Let others know that you enjoy moving an objective
forward and breaking bottlenecks. Knowing that you are

there as a resource is a comfort to people who lack your
talent for action.

o Perhaps courage is the part of stability you can offer. When
others are reluctant to act and know they can count on you
to help push them or their idea forward, they feel a sense
of confidence that they do not have to go it alone. They can
count on you to get them there faster.

CREATE HOPE

o You can help others by reducing their fear of failure. “You
never know until you try” is an Activator attitude. Your ability
to boost people’s belief in a positive outcome and reduce the

trepidation of a negative one can be very productive. “What’s
the worst case scenario?” you might ask. Helping others see
that even the downside isn’t so terrifying can be one way to

lead them and help move them toward their dreams sooner
than they would have gotten there without you.

o Sometimes others simply need your energy to move them
from fear to action. Getting started can be daunting, especially
when uncertainty looms. Your “put one foot in front of the
other” approach can help lessen the intimidation factor.

Boost others’ confidence that they can launch initiatives and
new projects. Cheer them on by sharing your enthusiasm,
and help them gain momentum.

LEADING OTHERS WITH STRONG ACTIVATOR

o Give this person the responsibility for initiating and
organizing a project that fits within her area of expertise.

o Tell this person that you know she is someone who can make
things happen and that you will be asking her for help at key
times. Your expectations will energize her.

o Assign this person to a team that is bogged down and talks
more than it performs. She will stir them into action.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES I 109

i.J When this person complains, listen carefully – you may
learn something. Then get her on your side by talking about
new initiatives that she can lead or new improvements that

she can make. Do this immediately, because unchecked, she
can quickly stir up negativity when she gets off track.

i.J Examine this persons other dominant themes. If she is

strong in Command, she may have the potential to sell and
persuade very effectively. If she is also strong in Relator or
Woo, she may become an excellent recruiter for you, drawing
in recruits and then pressing them to commit.

o To prevent this person from running into too many
obstacles, partner her with people who are strong in

Strategic or Analytical. They can help her look around the
corner. However, you may have to intercede for her in these

partnerships so that her instinct to act is not stymied by their
desire to discuss and analyze.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES I 111

LEADING WITH ADAPTABILITY

People strong in the Adaptability theme prefer to “go with the
flow:’ They tend to be “now” people who take things as they come
and discover the future one day at a time.

BUILD TRUST

o Sometimes all you can do is help people learn to trust
themselves and find their own ability to cope. When others
feel like their power over a situation is lost, you can help
them see that they still create the outcome by how they react.
By trusting in their ability and helping them believe in what
they can do, you can give them confidence in themselves.

o You don’t grab the reins and try to take control. Rather,
you are a co-traveler on the road of life. Your very lack of a
personal agenda helps others come to trust that you are truly
there to participate with, rather than manipulate, them. Ask
questions about where people want to go, and help them get
there. They will know that you are truly on their side.

SHOW COMPASSION

o Others have such an appreciation for the way you are “in the
moment” when you are together. Make it a priority to focus
on them – their feelings, their needs. Things may change
in the future, but where they are right now is real. You can
honor that and make them feel special by focusing your
attention on what is important to them when you spend
time together.

o Your ability to go with the flow creates a certain freedom
from anxiety and allows frustrations to become more
fleeting. This is good medicine for a number of other talent
profiles. When others get stressed out, you’re able to put
things in perspective. Help others find the comfort that
comes from releasing a need to control every aspect of

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ADDITIONAL RESOURCES I 1 13

terms with something you could not control. How did you
feel? What did you do? Can you help others do the same?

LEADING OTHERS WITH STRONG ADAPTABILITY

o This person lives to react and respond. Position him so that
his success depends on his ability to adjust to the unforeseen

and then run with it.

o Let this person know about the plans you’re making, but
unless he is also strong in Focus, don’t expect him to do the
planning with you. He is likely to find much preparation

work boring.

o Examine this person’s other dominant themes. If he also has
strong talents in Empathy, you might try to position him

in a role in which he can be sensitive to and accommodate

the varied needs of customers or guests. If one of his other
strong themes is Developer, cast him in a mentor role.

D Be ready to excuse this person from meetings about the
future, such as goal-setting meetings or career-counseling
sessions. He is a “here and now” person and will find these

meetings rather irrelevant.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES I 115

LEADING WITH ANALYTICAL

People strong in the Analytical theme search for reasons

causes. They have the ability to think about all the factors
might affect a situation.

BUILD TRUST

D Think about what you endorse. Because others trust your
analytical mind, they may follow your recommendations

without investigation of their own. This may be just fine, but
at times, others may need your help to realize that what’s
right for you may not be what’s right for them. Help them
sort out the factors that make an action or product likely to

be successful for their individual needs and desires rather
than allowing them to base their analysis on yours. Help

them know that you want what’s best for them, and they will
trust you even more.

D You automatically uncover what’s real, true, and honest.
Others will count on you to be the “truth finder” in any

information that may conflict or confuse. Think of this as a
way you can support others, and don’t wait for them to ask

for help. Extend yourself; they will respect and trust your
proactive analysis.

SHOW COMPASSION

D Others who love to scrutinize ideas will be drawn to your
analytical, truth-seeking approach. Stimulate debates,
the tug-of-war of ideas that challenge one another. Make

it fun to explore new ideas and sort out what is fact and
what is conjecture. When you find a kindred spirit, take a
gamesman’s approach to discussion and debate, and forge a

relationship that you will both enjoy.

D Responding to people in crisis is an obvious way to extend
compassion and caring. When others are overwhelmed by

116 I STRENGTHS BASED LEADERSHIP

data and decisions, you can step in to help sort what’s real
and what can improve their odds in a difficult situation.

PROVIDE STABILITY

o Data are a source of security for many people; if the research
backs it, then they are willing to accept a plan and its
consequences. Because you carefully examine all possibilities
and non-possibilities, you provide the sense of security that

many people seek. Do your homework carefully, and know
that others are looking to follow your lead.

o Your endorsement can be a source of confidence that allows
others to trust their own judgment. Thus empowered, they
can move forward and make things happen. When you
believe others are making good decisions, tell them. Your

belief in their opinions and reasoning can give them the
certainty and strength they need to proceed.

CREATE HOPE

o Cheer for others when they are doing something difficult
that you believe is right. They may be trying to guess how you
feel or what you would do. Give praise for wise judgment,

and offer encouragement that they can face what’s ahead. If
you believe they will be successful, tell

them.

o If others seek you out for advice in making decisions, offer
to break down your thought process, and show them how it
helps you sort information. Be aware that many people may
not be capable of following suit. However, some will want

to be students of your approach. Though it may be so well-
practiced that it’s automatic for you, try to articulate the steps
you use for analysis. If you have a willing student, teach.

o Guidance can be a mutual endeavor. Partner with someone
who has action-oriented talents. You can help them make
wise, considered decisions. They can help you turn your

analysis into action. Both of you will benefit and be inspired
to grow.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES I 1 17

LEADING OTHERS WITH STRONG ANALYTICAL

D If you are explaining a decision that has already been
made to this person, remember to layout the logic of the

decision very clearly. To you, it may feel as though you
are overexplaining things, but for her, this level of detail is
essential if she is to commit to the decision.

D Every time you have the opportunity, recognize and praise
this person’s reasoning ability. She is proud of her disciplined
mind.

D Remember that this person has a need for exact, well-
researched numbers. Never try to pass shoddy data to her as
credible evidence.

D Discovering patterns in data is a highlight in this person’s

life. Always give her the opportunity to explain the pattern
in detail to you. This will be motivational for her and will
help solidify your relationship.

D You will not always agree with this person, but always take
her point of view seriously. She has probably thought through
her points very carefully.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES I 119

LEADING WITH ARRANGER

People strong 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.

BUILD TRUST

o You want people to tell you the truth because you depend on
honest feedback to make important midcourse corrections if
necessary. Make sure people know that you expect the truth
and that they will not be penalized for telling you exactly
what they are thinking. Likewise, foster mutual respect by

being honest with them.

o When you create new systems, plans, or ways to execute, do
so with extreme transparency. Being very open about your

thought process will help people understand and follow your
reasoning.

SHOW COMPASSION

o When you invest your time considering what’s right for other
people and how to position them for success, they can’t help

but love you for it. You may see far more dearly than they do
what they can do easily and well. Tell them what you see, and
give them “permission” to be who they are and to do what
they do best. You will free them to have a more satisfying life
if you can minimize the frustrations and maximize the joys.

o Sometimes others simply need you to come to the rescue.
Overwhelmed with confusion and dissonance, they may

be rendered emotionally helpless. When you see someone
going into overload, step in and help her simplify her world.

Show her how all the pieces can be arranged to fit together
– and reduce the chaos.

120 I STRENGTHS BASED LEADERSHIP

PROVIDE STABILITY

o Your ability to deal with fluid complexity is a comfort to
people who need a definitive agenda or plan. When you
can keep the confusion as far away from them as possible

and sort through myriad information to tell them what they
need to know and do, they will feel safer and far more certain

that all will be well.

o Sometimes the best laid plans spiral into chaos. By addressing
problems before others even know any disruption happened,
you help them remain in their comfort zone. Running a tight
ship may not be so important to you, but running a steady
one is. Many people need that kind of leadership to feel

secure, and you provide it.

CREATE HOPE

o Not only can you help people get involved in activities that
are right for them, you can also help them figure out what
they shouldn’t be doing and encourage them to stop doing it.

They may feel trapped by calendars and commitments; you
can free them. Inspire them to think about how to rearrange

their responsibilities to make their lives more satisfying and

productive.

o Before people can reorganize their time and responsibilities
for a more fulfilling future, they may need a clear and

concrete view of their current situation. Encourage them to
fill out a calendar that shows everything they do in a week.
Have them account for every hour. Then help them see ways
to combine, eliminate, or add activities to enhance their

quality of life.

LEADING OTHERS WITH STRONG ARRANGER

U This person will thrive when given a new challenge, so give
him as much as you are able to, according to his knowledge

and skill levels.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES I 121

o This person may well have the talent to be a manager or
supervisor. His Arranger talents enable him to figure out
how people with very different strengths can work together.

D Pay attention to this person’s other top themes. Ifhe also has

strong Discipline talents, he may be an excellent organizer,
establishing routines and systems for getting things done.

D Understand that this person’s modus operandi for team
building is through trust and relationship. He may well reject
someone who he believes is dishonest or does shoddy work.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES I 123

LEADING WITH BELIEF

People strong it the Belief theme have certain core values that are

unchanging. Out of these values emerges a defined purpose for
their life.

BUILD TRUST

o Ethical behavior is the foundation of respect and trust.
Integrity is an expectation. To ensure fairness and promote

unity, clearly communicate to others the behaviors you will
and will not tolerate. Clarity on the front end can prevent
misunderstandings and damage to relationships.

o The talent of Belief is more about an attitude of service
than it is about a certain set of moral or spiritual beliefs.
Show others what it means to be a servant leader. Get a

team involved in doing something outside of themselves –
something they do for the sole reason of helping another
person or group. Demonstrate your Belief talents in actions
that speak far louder than your words ever can. That level of

integrity will earn you true respect.

SHOW COMPASSION

o Your values are a deep source of meaning for you. Talk with
others about what’s most meaningful in their lives. Just being
a sounding board about something as important as core
values builds relationships. Learn what’s most important to
the people in your life, whether you’ve known them a long
time or just met them. Recognize that we all come from
different backgrounds and go through various stages in

our lives, and be accepting. Relationships can always grow.
Listening creates a connection.

o Some bonds will be almost instantaneous. Common values
will bring you close to some people quite rapidly – and
sometimes for life. This can be a source of great joy in your

124 I STRENGTHS BASED LEADERSHIP

life and theirs. Explore beliefs together, ask questions, and
have conversations about what matters most in your lives. In
these situations, relationships can grow surprisingly fast and

remarkably deep.

o Take care not to create an “in” and an “out” crowd based on
belief systems. Though you can never be “values neutral;’
nor should you be, you should consider the messages you
send with the judgments you make.

PROVIDE STABILITY

:J Some of your beliefs are etched in stone. Even in this ever-
changing world, they never sway. This firm foundation can

be a cornerstone of relationships, activities, and the work
environment you create. Whether or not people believe as

you do, they know where you stand and can be confident of
the stability of those beliefs.

o Your passion equips you to fight. In these battles, strive to
be seen as a leader who is fighting for something rather than
one who is fighting against something. Being seen in a more
positive light may help you enlist, engage, and retain more

support for your cause. People will trust that you will fight

for what’s right. They take confidence in the strength of your
convictions.

CREATE HOPE

o The meaning and purpose of your work will often provide
direction for others, so talk about it; share its importance

in your life. Remind people why their work is important
and how it makes a difference in their lives and in the lives

of others. Learn more about how they can live their talents
and values through their work, and support them in finding
those connections.

o Others may be less sure of their values than you are. If they
are searching, ask them to take account of where they spend

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES I 125

their time and money. The actual use of our time, talent, and
treasure speaks volumes about what we really value.

LEADING OTHERS WITH STRONG BELIEF

D This person will have some powerful bedrock values. Figure
out how to align her values with those of the organization.

For example, talk with her about how your products
and services make people’s lives better, or discuss how

your company embodies integrity and trust, or give her
opportunities to go above and beyond to help colleagues
and customers. This way, through her actions and words,
she will make visible the values of your organization’s

culture.

D Realize that this person may place greater value on
opportunities to provide higher levels of service than on
opportunities to make more money. Find ways to enhance
this natural service orientation, and you will see her at her
best.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES I 127

LEADING WITH COMMAND

strong in the Command theme have presence.

control of a situation and make decisions.

BUILD TRUST

o Because you’re known for saying what you think, others trust
that you won’t play games. They can take what you say at face
value, and they can be confident that you won’t change your
stripes once they’ve left the room. This directness builds
trust, and trust builds relationships.

o Examine the correlations between your stated values and
your actions. Are they consistent? Do they demonstrate

integrity? Jot down the values that are most important to you.
Can you think of recent examples of actions you have taken
that confirm the integrity of your beliefs? Make this “walk
the talk” checklist a regular part of your self-assessment, and
ensure that others should trust what you say and respect
your actions.

SHOW COMPASSION

o You feel things intensely and are capable of expressing great
emotion. Do what you do naturally. Tell people how you feel
and why they are important to you. Express the connection
that others may be too reserved to say out loud. Your saying
it first may free them to acknowledge that the feeling is
mutual. And even if they are not there yet, you can launch
the opportunity for a meaningful relationship. An expression

of genuine caring, affection, or regard can be a powerful step
toward initiating or deepening a bond between a leader and
a follower.

o You use strong words. Express your sentiments to form
a bond with others who will value what you stand for as a
human being. Significant relationships are often formed on

128 I STRENGTHS BASED LEADERSHIP

the basis of shared values, so stating your beliefs or passions

can be a way for others to “find” you as a potential friend and
champion. Invite others to join you based on your strong
feelings and passionate beliefs – they may need the nudge.

D Sometimes others see the tough exterior of an individual
with high Command and assume it’s an impenetrable
shell that protects him or her from all hurt. They may feel
vulnerable and see you as invulnerable. Yet relationships

depend on mutual vulnerability. Be open. Share your own
pain and struggles. Letting others see the soft underbelly
gives them equal power in the relationship and demonstrates

trust.
PROVIDE STABILITY

D People know where you stand. The security of understanding
that your convictions are not built on sinking sand allows
people to feel confident that you will always be there for

them and always stick to what you believe.

D Others come to you when they need someone to be strong
for them – perhaps to shore up their own flagging courage

or to step in and be a spokesperson for their needs. When
their courage falters, they seek to “borrow” yours. Be
aware of this need you fulfill, and ask others if they would

like you to intervene on their behalf or accompany them
on a difficult mission. Your “take charge” attitude steadies
and reassures others in times of crisis. When faced with a

particularly trying challenge, use your Command talents
to assuage others’ fears and convince them you have things

under control.

CREATE HOPE

D Because you call it like you see it, others seek you out
when they feel they can handle the truth. They might turn
to others for support, but they go to you for an honest
assessment of what they can and can’t do, or should and

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES I 129

shouldn’t do. You don’t shy away from offering advice. Ask
them how committed they are to their current plan. Ask if
they want your honest opinion. If they say yes, give it gently,
but truthfully.

o Your powerful words inspire. Talk about the “why” of each
mission without fearing to appear corny or sentimental.

Your emotion allows others to rise to the occasion and give
of themselves. They may be counting on you to give voice
to the emotions that surround the cause. Paint an inspiring
picture with your words.

LEADING OTHERS WITH STRONG COMMAND

o As much as you can, give this person room to lead and make
decisions. He will not like to be supervised closely.

o When confronting this person, take firm action. And if
necessary, require immediate restitution. Then arrange for
him to be productive as soon as possible. He will get over his
mistake quickly, and so should you.

o This person may intimidate others with his upfront,
assertive style. You may need to consider whether or not his
contribution justifies the occasional ruffled feathers. Rather

than pushing him to learn how to be empathetic and polite,

you’d make better use of your time by helping his colleagues
understand that his assertiveness is part of what makes
him effective – as long as he remains assertive rather than
aggressive or offensive.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES I 131

LEADING WITH COMMUNICATION

People strong in the Communication theme generally find it easy
to put their thoughts into words. They are good conversationalists

and presenters.

BUILD TRUST

o You are able to use language to “spin” and to manipulate. But
this is wearying over time. Remember that while spin can
be persuasive in the short term, it exacts an emotional price.

Make sure that you are not only effective, but ethical.

o Mutual respect is yours to build. Help people appreciate
each other. Spend time “advertising” what they truly do

well and what they are capable of contributing. Bear in
mind that genuine praise encourages people, but false praise
undermines them and is not taken seriously.

o Speak the same way about people to their faces as you do
when they are not around. The consistency and honor of

your words convey your integrity and shape the trust you

build.

SHOW COMPASSION

o You have the power to capture people’s emotions and put
words to what they feel – sometimes words they cannot
find themselves. This naturally draws others to you. So ask

questions. Try to pinpoint the key issues people are trying
to communicate, what joys or struggles they want to convey.
Then give voice to those feelings. Helping people find the
words to describe feelings is a powerful way to get them to

express and process their own emotions, and it can support
them on the way to making a plan of action.

o Language is a clue to culture. In any group, from a family to
a corporation, think about what the words you use suggest.
Names convey expectations. Do you tag your weekly

132 I STRENGTHS BASED LEADERSHIP

meetings “department meetings;’ “staff meetings;’ “team

meetings;’ “quality meetings”? Are they held in a “meeting
room;’ a “conference room;’ a “break room;’ a “training

center;’ or a “learning center”? Do you frame questions
positively to help others see how much you care?

PROVIDE STABILITY

o Capture the successes of others in words, and relate those
words back to them, preferably in writing. Use your talent
for finding just the right words to praise, give feedback, and
reassure. Your positive support of others’ achievements will

help them feel secure in their roles.

o Think about how you express time. Are we here for the long
haul? Are we seeking immediate results or building a long-

term reputation? Give people the sense that the big picture
is what matters, and they will be free to experiment a little
– even fail a little – to make things better for the future. As

you choose your words, consider that stability is confidence

in the long-term picture.

D Besides being the spokesperson, become the collector of
your group’s success stories. Create a brand for your group

based on accumulated triumphs. This solid foundation will
bolster your group’s confidence for the future.

CREATE HOPE

o In an organizational setting, offer to be the person who
composes any “wrap-up” communication. After meetings,

send a summary e-mail. Capture the key points, and outline
the actions people must take. Summarize successes. Express
kudos to those who have done good work. You can encourage

and inspire positive activities and outcomes as well as future

accomplishments.

U Your words influence the impressions and expectations

that people form about individuals and groups. Are you
enhancing or undermining their image? When you speak

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES I 133

to or about others, consciously choose words that offer
encouragement, inspiration, and

optimism.

o What terms and expressions do you use to paint pictures
of the future? Your words can guide others. Consider the
direction your words take people, and select them well.
Those words may continue to inspire people longer than you

imagine.

LEADING OTHERS WITH STRONG COMMUNICATION

o Ask this person to learn the folklore – the stories of
interesting events in your organization. Then give her the
opportunity to tell these stories to her colleagues. She will
help bring your culture to life and thereby strengthen it.

o Ask this person to help some of the specialists in your
organization make more engaging presentations. In some
situations, you could ask her to volunteer to make the

presentation for the specialist.

o If you send this person to public-speaking training, make
sure to place her in a small class with advanced students and
a top-level trainer. She will be irritated if she’s in training

with beginners.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES I 135

LEADING WITH COMPETITION

People strong in the Competition theme measure their progress
against the performance of others. They strive to win first place

revel in contests.

BUILD TRUST

o Cheaters never prosper. Remember that winning at all costs
isn’t winning; it’s defeating yourself. The price of winning

can be greater than the pain of losing, so make sure your
integrity remains intact when you push for that ultimate
victory.

o Protect the trust that you have created with others.
Sometimes you may need to “walk off the court” to keep your
competitive emotions from damaging the respect you seek
from others. Do it. Give yourself the release of an emotional
reaction, but make sure you do it where the “judges” won’t
see you.

SHOW COMPASSION

o Competitors recognize one another almost immediately.
When you find someone who shares your desire to win,

you might choose to compete and push each other, or you
might combine forces to create a championship team. Either
way, it’s an opportunity to form a bond based on a shared
outlook.

o Can you engage others in a weekly competitive activity they
enjoy? This is a way to create a lasting connection based on

mutual interests and a shared approach to life’s challenges.
Engage the competitor, and build on that relationship
opportunity.

o Competition, despite all the effort it produces, can leave a
bad taste in the mouths of many. Try to bring out the fun
side of competition; help it create emotional bonds rather

136 I STRENGTHS BASED LEADERSHIP

than barriers. Remember that not everyone assigns the same
emotional intensity to every activity they undertake, and
remember to show that you accept and respect that they may
have different reasons for being in the “game:’

PROVIDE STABILITY

D A winning team promotes confidence. How can you help
individuals or a team be their best? Position players so
that they’re building on their strengths; this gives them the
best possible chance for success and security. Show people

their capacity for peak performance based on their natural

abilities.

D If you’re in a lOSing battle now, remember your ultimate goal.

Keep in mind that you’re in it for the long haul, and help

others see that too. Give them the peace of mind that this is
an ongoing effort rather than a failure.

CREATE HOPE

D Champion others. Verbalize your belief that they can be the

best at something. You may see potential in them that they

cannot see. Point out the talents you notice in them, and help
them learn how to turn those talents into strengths.

D What are the measures to beat in your organization? Put
them out there so everyone has a clear target.

D Number one is the only position that counts in your book,
so you tend to confine yourself to areas where you know you

can win. As a leader, identify the market niches in which your
group truly excels, and define its strengths and competitive
edge in specific terms. In doing so, you set the group and the
organization up for unparalleled success, which naturally
increases your group’s optimism.

o You are naturally attuned to real-world measures that
assess achievements. Use this talent to identify world-class

performance within and outside your organization and to
identify industry benchmarks that truly count. Evaluate

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES I 137

your organization against these standards, and inspire others

to exceed them.

LEADING OTHERS WITH STRONG COMPETITION

o Measure this person’s accomplishments against other
people’s – particularly other competitive people. You may

decide to post the performance records of all your staff,
but remember that only your competitive people will get a
charge out of public comparison. Others may resent it or be
mortified by the comparison.

o Set up contests for this person. Pit him against other
competitors even if you have to find them in business

units

other than your own. Highly charged competitors want to

compete with others who are very close to their skill level;
matching them against modest achievers won’t motivate
them. Consider that one of the best ways to manage this

person is to hire another competitive person who produces
more.

o Talk about talents with this person. Like all competitors, he
knows that it takes talent to be a winner. Name his talents.
Tell him that he needs to marshal his talents to win. Do not
“Peter Principle” this person by suggesting that winning

means getting promoted.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES I 139

LEADING WITH CONNECTEDNESS

People strong in the Connectedness theme have faith in the links
between all things. They believe there are few coincidences and
that almost every event has a reason.

BUILD TRUST

o Your philosophy of life compels you to move beyond your
own self-interests. Give voice to your beliefs. Take action on
your values. When you move beyond self and give of what
you have, others see the respect you have for every other
human being, despite your differences. Respect is a natural
byproduct of selfless acts.

o Seek out global or cross-cultural responsibilities that
capitalize on your understanding of the commonalities
inherent in humanity. Build global capability, and change
the mindset of those who think in terms of “us” and “them:’
Behaving in the best interests of all parties is a sign of good
faith and trustworthiness.

SHOW COMPASSION

o You seek the mutual bond. Develop good questions to ask
so that you can quickly find common ground between you
and each person you meet. Keep asking these questions until
you find the interests you share. Affirm and celebrate the
connections you find, and start there to build a foundation
for a relationship.

o Once you have discovered areas of commonality with
someone, show that you care by remembering to inquire
about the belief or activity you share with her. Use this as a
point of entry into deeper conversations about other parts
of her life. Get to know her as a whole person, rather than
limiting your connection to only one aspect of who she is.

140 I STRENGTHS BASED LEADERSHIP

o Your ability to bring people together around shared dreams
and meanings is significant. You see the common thread in
the greater whole. Take an active role in linking the lives of

disparate individuals based on the connections you dis

cover.

Make others aware of the bonds they don’t even know
exist, and pave the road for friendship by helping strangers
recognize the commonalities they have. You can help others

make connections that influence the rest of their lives.

PROVIDE STABILITY

o Your sense of the bigger picture can bring calm in chaos.
Point out the greater meaning you find in the events around
you. Show others that a bump in the road is but a small part
of a greater whole. Help them see the difference between
what is constant in life and what is transitory. Put current
difficulties in perspective.

o People feel safe when they are surrounded by what is
comfortably familiar. When others need that sense of
security, you can remind them of what is constant, what is

shared. Help people remember that a network surrounds

them. Simply knowing that they are not alone during
difficult times can bring peace and confidence.

o Faith can be a foundational strength when it is shared. If
faith is part of your relationship with another person, your
support may be very important in times of uncertainty or
fear. Reach out when you know someone needs the assurance

that shared faith can provide.

CREATE HOPE

o It may surprise you when others are slow to discover the
connections that you so easily see. Help them understand
the interrelatedness you find in events and people. Broaden

their worldview by helping them see a bigger picture. How
could they take their own talent to a new level by applying
it somewhere they’ve never thought to apply it? How might

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES I 141

they partner with someone they see as much different from

themselves? Get them thinking in new ways by sharing your
broader vision.

o You are aware of the boundaries and borders created by
organizational structure, but you treat them as seamless and

fluid. Use your Connectedness talents to break down silos
that prevent shared knowledge across industry, functional,

and hierarchical divisions within or between organizations.
Encourage different groups to work together for their shared
goals.

o Help people see the links among their talents, their actions,
their mission, and the success of the larger group or
organization. When people believe in what they are doing

and feel like they are part of something bigger, commitment
to achievement is enhanced.

LEADING OTHERS WITH STRONG CONNECTEDNESS

o This person is likely to have a spiritual orientation and
perhaps a strong faith. Your knowledge and, at the very
least, acceptance of her spirituality will enable her to become

increasingly comfortable around you.

U This person may be receptive to thinking about and

developing the mission for your organization. She naturally

feels like she is part of something larger than herself, and she
will enjoy contributing to the impact of an overall statement
or goal.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES I 143

LEADING WITH CONSISTENCY

People strong in the Consistency theme are keenly aware of the
need to treat people the same. They try to treat everyone in the
world with consistency by setting up clear rules and adhering to
them.

BUILD TRUST

D Cultivate trust by subjecting yourself to whatever rules or
programs you approve for your group or organization.
When you live by the rules, it demonstrates your respect for
principle, sets the tone for equality, and encourages peaceful
compliance.

D Though others may take advantage of the perks of their
position, your egalitarian mindset likely rejects them and
prefers to live by the same set of expectations and standards
as the larger population in your organization. Fully adapt
this “equal footing” policy to win respect and solidify your

constituency.

SHOW COMPASSION

D Being able to predict how another person will act – and react
– helps us confidently plot the course for a relationship.
Think about how Consistency influences the relationships
others are able to build with you. Are you always there in
times of need? Do you consistently show compassion and
caring? Analyze the foundations of your closest relationships,
and see what you discover about the role your Consistency
talents play. Then consider how you can use this pattern to
expand the number of friendships in your life.

D When you show your appreciation for the value another
person places on fairness and equity, you validate who
he or she is and form the foundation of support and
understanding. You may fare best in relationships with

144 I STRENGTHS BASED LEADERSHIP

others who live their lives according to similar principles.
Seek out opportunities to commend those whose values

and ideals you admire. Tell them how they make the world
a better place. By doing so, you show them that you notice
what they do best and that you care about them.

PROVIDE STABILITY

o Others find comfort in knowing what is expected and what
is not tolerated. Let people know the norms so that they do
not unintentionally violate them.

o When others know your codes of behavior, they can count
on you to be constant in your application of them. Verbalize
the importance of consistency in your expectations of
yourself and others. By doing this, people will not only know

the rules, but also their underlying principles. This will help
them predict your behavior in situations the rules don’t

cover.
CREATE HOPE

o When others come to you for help, it may be that they’re
seeking the comfort of your consistency. Your assurance
that they can count on you to be there for them will be

encouraging.

[J You might find that you are a champion of the underdog.

This should feel good to you – it means that your support
is not destined only for those in the lead, but for all.

Encourage those who struggle. Be sure to take into account
their personal pattern of success. Perhaps they are striving
to achieve in a way that does not suit them well and they

need some redirection. Help them make the most of their

opportunities by finding a pattern that works for them.

LEADING OTHERS WITH STRONG CONSISTENCY

o When you need to put consistent practices in place for your
organization, ask this person to help establish routines.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES I 145

o When this person is in an analytical role, ask her to work on
group, rather than individual, data. She is likely to be more
adept at discovering generalizations that can be made about
the group rather than particulars about a certain individual.

o If, as a manager, you struggle with situations in which rules
must be applied equally, absolutely, and with no favoritism,
ask this person to help you deal with them. The explanations

and justifications will come naturally to her.

o In situations in which it is necessary to treat diverse people
equally, ask this person to contribute to the development of

the rules and procedures.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES I 147

LEADING WITH CONTEXT

People strong in the Context theme enjoy thinking about the

understand the present by researching its history.

BUILD TRUST

D Relate stories of your own life that you think will resonate
with others. Being vulnerable enough to share a bit of your
own past can be a gateway to trust.

D Encourage mutual sharing of histories and life events if
others are willing, and honor their trust when they confide
in you.

SHOW COMPASSION

D You’re interested in the roots, the history, and the formative
moments in the lives of those around you. For you, a great
conversation starter is “Tell me about a turning point in
your life:’ Ask questions that elicit stories that will be as fun

for you to hear as they are for others to tell. Showing your
interest will demonstrate that you care.

D Remember the details of stories you’ve heard someone

tell, and use them as ongoing connecting points with that
person. Looking across a room and making eye contact
when something you’ve heard holds meaning for the two of
you shows that you listened, remembered, and connected to

the individual.

PROVIDE STABILITY

D Stability is certainly linked to Context. The sense that
nothing in the universe is new means that we have

experienced these things before and will do so again.
Having survived previous trials indicates our fortitude and
resilience and gives us the confidence and courage to find
new ways to triumph.

148 I STRENGTHS BASED LEADERSHIP

o History teaches patience, and putting things in perspective
encourages understanding and security. Articulate the

historical perspective on the issues people face today.
Help them see the past as a teacher, and find wisdom in its
lessons.

CREATE HOPE

o Ask others questions like “How did you come to that
decision?” and “Have you ever dealt with an issue or situation
like this in the past?” Your good questions and gentle
guidance can help others get perspective on a situation and

help them avoid recurring errors. You can give people hope
by helping them recognize the strength they have already
demonstrated – and will demonstrate again.

o Help people make sense of their lives and circumstances
by showing them how to link their own history with their
present and future. Work with them to develop a timeline
of their lives that includes Significant decisions, trials,

triumphs, and turning points. Ask them what they learned
at each juncture. And help them consider what they can do

now as a result of what they’ve learned.

o Boiling down complex ideas or proposals to their most
basic elements helps you understand the original purpose

or reasoning behind them. Trace the evolution of a plan
or idea back to its inception, and clarify the purpose of its
direction to those who may question it. You will strengthen

the mission of your team.

o Remind your colleagues that the values and goals of your
organization are based on wisdom derived from the past.
Keep the history of your enterprise alive by retelling stories

that capture its essence. These stories can offer guidance
and inspiration in the present through understanding the
inSights of the past. Can you be the keeper of the wisdom
– or at least initiate the collection and recording of the
wisdom? Future generations will thank you.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES I 149

LEADING OTHERS WITH STRONG CONTEXT

o When you ask this person to do something, take time to
explain the thinking that led to the request. He needs to

understand the background of a course of action before he
can commit to it.

o No matter what the subject matter, ask this person to collect
revealing stories, highlight the key discovery from each one,

and perhaps build a class around them.

o Ask this person to collect anecdotes of people behaving in a
way that exemplifies the cornerstones of your organization’s
culture. His stories, retold in newsletters, training classes,
websites, videos, and so on, will strengthen your culture.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES I 151

LEADING WITH DELIBERATIVE

People strong in the Deliberative theme are best described by

the serious care they take in making decisions or choices. They
anticipate the obstacles.

BUILD TRUST

o You inspire trust because you are cautious and considerate
regarding sensitive topics. Use these talents by taking on
opportunities to handle delicate issues and conflicts.

D Others respect the time you dedicate to doing things right
and to doing the right things. Let them know when you
need time to think before making a decision. Trust them to
appreciate that you have their best interests in mind.

SHOW COMPASSION

D You understand the importance and weight of each
relationship, and you take this responsibility seriously.
Once you’ve chosen to add someone to your life, tend the

relationship well. Invest in activities and conversations that
keep you close, and reveal your heart to the people who

matter most. Lifetime relationships are hard to find, as you
know, and they deserve and require your attention and love.

D Understand that your praise is rare – and precious to
many. So when you commend others, consider marking

the occasion with a tangible reminder of your recognition.
Giving them a visible token of your appreciation will help
the memory of your rare praise last for a long time.

PROVIDE STABILITY

D Rather than take foolhardy risks, you are apt to approach a

decision cautiously. Trust your instincts when you believe
something is “too good to be true:’ Your deliberation and

152 I STRENGTHS BASED LEADERSHIP

caution make others feel protected and secure about the
conclusions you reach.

D Others will appreciate the careful thought that goes into each
decision you make. Tell them about the options that you

have analyzed and why you have chosen a particular course.
Consider that they have a stake in the decision too. Ask for
and weigh their input as carefully as you do your own.

CREATE HOPE

D Temper the tendency of others to move haphazardly into
action by declaring a “consideration” period before decisions
are made. Your caution can serve to steer others away from
folly and toward wise choices.

D When you know a great deal about a topic, offer others
the benefits of the research and analYSis you have done.
Encourage them to try something if you believe it’s the right
thing for them to do. Show them the supporting evidence.

LEADING OTHERS WITH STRONG DELIBERATIVE

o Do not position this person in a role that requires snap
judgments. She is likely to feel uncomfortable making
decisions on gut instinct alone.

D When caution is required, such as circumstances that are

sensitive to legal, safety, or accuracy issues, ask this person
to take the lead. She will instinctively anticipate where the
dangers might lie and how to keep you protected.

o This person is likely to excel at negotiating contracts,
especially behind the scenes. As far as you can within the
confines of her job description, ask her to play this role.

D Do not ask this person to be a greeter, rainmaker, or

networker for your organization. The kind of effusiveness
that these roles require may not be in her repertoire.

D In her relationships, this person will be selective and

discriminating. Consequently, do not move her quickly

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES I 153

from team to team. She needs to feel assured that the people
she surrounds herself with are competent and trustworthy,
and this confidence takes time to build.

o This person will be known as someone who gives praise
sparingly, but when she does, it is truly deserved.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES I 155

LEADING WITH DEVELOPER

People strong in the Developer theme recognize and cultivate the

potential in others. They spot the signs of each small improvement
and derive satisfaction from these improvements.

BUILD TRUST

o Doing something good for the sake of another is a sign of
character and an invitation to trust. Extend yourself to others
by helping them see their own potential and offering to work
with them to develop it. This will increase the breadth and
depth of your relationships, and you will enjoy watching

them grow.

o Try not to be hurt when others look for an ulterior motive in
your good deeds. It may take them time to trust you when
you show interest in their personal development. Allow
them to see you in action for weeks, months, or even years
before expecting their full confidence. They may not trust as
easily as you do.

SHOW COMPASSION

o You take genuine delight in people’s growth and
development. Your natural talent for focusing on others is
a gift to those you nurture. Cheer for them, and let them

know that you believe in them. Your compassionate caring
touches their hearts and places you squarely on their side.
They will never forget the support you offer so easily.

o “We learn best from those we love” is a quote you understand
and appreciate. Who loves you? Whom do you love? Be sure
to get close enough to not only teach and guide, but to love.
Communicate your feelings. Your impact will last forever.

156 I STRENGTHS BASED LEADERSHIP

PROVIDE STABILITY

L.J As you begin working with another person on her

development, first acknowledge the progress you’ve already
seen. This provides a basis of confidence and security. You

can make taking the next step less intimidating by reassuring
her that you are confident she can do it because of what she’s
already proven herself able to do. Express your certainty that
the next goal is within her reach.

~ Developers help others step over comfort thresholds. You
provide a “safe zone” where people have permission to
strive and fail and strive again. Set others up for success by

letting them know that more than one attempt is likely to

be necessary before ultimate success results. Helping people
set the right expectations provides security that produces the

confidence to try again.

D Encourage people to dig deep into their talents and to put
them to the test. With you, they have a cushion for failure
and will not feel the full force of it. You provide support so
that they can take the risks necessary to make the most of

their talents.

CREATE HOPE

D Challenge others by asking good questions that stretch their
imagination. What’s the most they’ve ever done? How much
do they imagine they could do? What do they dream of
doing? What would they do if there were no obstacles, no

barriers to their choices?

D Your growth-nurturing approach is your spontaneous
response to those around you and makes you an inspirational
mentor to many. Consider the moves your best mentors

made, and take a lesson from them. Adopt the ones that
are right for you, and use them to encourage and champion

those you are mentoring.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES I 157

o You will be compelled to counsel more people than you
possibly can. To fulfill this inner drive, consider being a
“mentor for the moment:’ Many of the most poignant and

memorable developmental moments occur in a mere instant
when the right words are delivered at the right time –
words that clarify understanding, re-ignite a passion, open

eyes to an opportunity, and change a life course. Look for
opportunities to magnify moments.

LEADING OTHERS WITH STRONG DEVELOPER

o Position this person so that he can help others in the
organization grow. For example, give him the opportunity to
mentor one or two people or to teach a class on a company

topic, such as safety, benefits, or customer service. If

necessary, pay the fee for him to belong to a local training
organization.

o This person might be a good candidate for a supervisor,
team leader, or manager role. If he is already a manager or
executive, look to his business unit for people who can be
transferred to positions with greater responsibilities in the

organization. He develops people and prepares them for the
future.

o Be aware that this person may protect struggling performers
long past the time when they should have been moved or
terminated. Help him focus his developing instincts on

setting people up to achieve success and not on supporting
people who are enduring hardship. The best developmental
action he can take with these people is to find them a

different opportunity where they can truly excel.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES I 159

LEADING WITH DISCIPLINE

I. P,”;;~~ong :~;~i””p~:;;;;eme enjoy,o~ti,>e an~-‘t;;”‘ture. I
: Their world is best described by the order they create.
L _____ __. ______ …. _______ ‘

BUILD TRUST

o You never let yourself off the hook, and others will respect
you for your uncompromising standards. Hold yourself to
the standards you set, and your actions will reflect your
integrity.

o Others can count on you to make sure every detail is
executed exactly right. Discipline can become the basis for

trust when people see that their expectations are met time

and time again. They will learn to respect your consistent
delivery.

SHOW COMPASSION

o Your powerful sense of order can make you a tremendous
partner to those who rely on your discipline to supplement

their own. Find and celebrate the positive traits others
possess that you do not, and build a relationship based on
mutual appreciation. Someone learns to rely on you, and you

on them, when a complementary partnership is at its best.

o You can show others kindness by attending to the details
that they are sure to miss. Adopt the mindset of a caring
friend, and seek ways to free others from the details that
bog them down. You can make their lives better – and win
appreciation at the same time.

PROVIDE STABILITY

o You are predictable and consistent. You do what is required
when it is required – if not before. Share your timelines with
others, and let them see the consistent progress you make as

160 I STRENGTHS BASED LEADERSHIP

promised. People will feel safe entrusting you with projects

when they see that your actions always follow your words.

o Not everyone is blessed with your sense of order. Share with
others the calmness and composure you get from order by

letting them know that you have situations under control.
Help them see that each part will be accomplished in its
time, and the entire project will follow according to plan.
Others will be freed to do what they do well when they know

that nothing important can slip through the cracks.

CREATE HOPE

o Your performance objectives spur your efforts; you like
to get things done each day and each week. Noticing

your productivity, others may take their cue from your
performance objectives as well. Detail your tasks, goals, and
timelines, and share them with interested teammates who
may use your example to inspire their own work efforts.

o Trying to impose your systems and structures on others who
lack strong Discipline talents simply won’t work. Rather than

trying to “convert” those who appear to need your sense of

order, seek to discover what they do well; then support and
encourage them in those areas.

LEADING OTHERS WITH STRONG DISCIPLINE

o Give this person the opportunity to bring structure to a
haphazard or chaotic situation. Because she will not be
comfortable in such shapeless, messy circumstances – and

don’t expect her to be – she will not rest until order and
predictability are restored.

o When there are many things that need to get done in a set
time period, remember this person’s need to prioritize. Take
the time to set priorities together, and once the schedule is
set, stick to it.

o If appropriate, ask this person to help you plan and organize
your own work. You might enlist her to review your time

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES I 161

management system or even your proposal for reengineering

some of your department’s processes. Tell her colleagues that

this is one of her talents, and encourage them to ask her for

similar

help.

o This person excels at developing routines that help her work
efficiently. If she is forced to work in a situation that requires

flexibility and responsiveness, encourage her to devise a set

number of routines, each appropriate for a certain set of

circumstances. This way, she will have a predictable response
to fall back on, no matter what the surprise.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES I 163

LEADING WITH EMPATHY

People strong in the Empathy theme can sense the feelings of other

people by imagining themselves in others’ lives or situations.

BUILD TRUST

o Help others articulate and frame complex emotions when
they’re faced with a worrisome situation. Respect their
feelings, and allow them the freedom to express what they
need to express, whether or not your feelings mirror theirs.

Acknowledge and deal with these emotions honestly to build
trust.

o Because trust is paramount to you, many of your associates
are likely to feel comfortable approaching you to share
thoughts, feelings, concerns, and needs. Your discretion and

desire to be genuinely helpful will be greatly valued.

SHOW COMPASSION

o Witnessing the happiness of others brings you pleasure.
Consequently, you are likely to be attuned to opportunities
to highlight people’s successes and positively reinforce their
achievements. At each opportunity, deliver a kind word of

appreciation or recognition. By doing so, you are likely to
make a profound and engaging impression on that person.

o Sometimes you have the ability to understand what others are
feeling before they’ve recognized it themselves. This uncanny
awareness can be unnerving or comforting, depending on

how it’s shared. Ask questions to gently guide people toward
recognition of what you already suspect. Help them name
their feelings and create their own path to self-discovery, and

you will be a valued partner.

164 I STRENGTHS BASED LEADERSHIP

PROVIDE STABILITY

o Sensitive to the feelings of others, you readily gauge the
emotional tone of a room. Use your talents to forge a bridge
of understanding and mutual support. Your Empathy talents

will be especially important during trying times because they
will demonstrate your concern as a leader, thereby building
security and loyalty.

o Patience and understanding are your hallmarks. Take time
to hear people out; don’t rush to judgment. Giving people
time and space to sort out their own thoughts and feelings

in a safe environment promotes their sense of stability and

tranquility.

CREATE HOPE

o Others are likely to choose you as a confidante or mentor.
Affirm that this is a satisfying relationship for you so they
feel welcome to approach you. Encourage them by putting

words to what you sense about their aspirations; inspire and
guide their dreams by imagining with them.

o Your Empathy talents allow you to anticipate events and
reactions. Because you are observant of how others are

feeling, you are likely to intuit what is about to happen in the
organization before it becomes common knowledge. Help

people to be aware as positive emotions build, so as a group,
you can capitalize on this to create hope.

LEADING OTHERS WITH STRONG EMPATHY

o Pay attention, but don’t overreact if this person cries. Tears
are part of his life. He may sense the joy or tragedy in another

person’s life more pOignantly than even that person does.

o Help this person see his Empathy talent as a speCial gift. It
may come so naturally to him that he thinks everyone feels

what he feels, or he may be embarrassed by his strength
of feeling. Show him how to use his talents to everyone’s
advantage.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES I 165

o Test this person’s ability to make decisions instinctively
rather than logically. He may not be able to articulate why
he thinks a certain action is right, but he will often be right

nonetheless. Ask him “What is your gut feeling about what
we should do?”

o Arrange for this person to work with positive, optimistic
people. He will pick up on their feelings and be motivated.

Conversely, steer him away from pessimists and cynics. They
will depress him.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES I 167

LEADING WITH FOCUS

People strong in the Focus theme can take a direction, follow

through, and make the corrections necessary to stay on track.
prioritize, then act.

BUILD TRUST

o Others will respect you because you know what’s important,
and you keep your attention there. Make sure that you’re not
delegating non-essentials. Before you ask someone to do
something, ask yourself if it affects ultimate performance.
If it’s not worth your time, perhaps it’s not worth anyone’s

time, and you don’t even have to ask. Others will trust your

judgment.

o As a person with strong Focus talents, you know that life
is about choices. Remember that everyone is responsible
for their own decisions. Demonstrate to others that you
understand and respect their choices in life.

SHOW COMPASSION

o Take a step back and think broadly about the priorities
in your life. Use your Focus talents to target not only the

projects that are important, but also the people. Set goals and
strategies for giving those people the time and attention they
deserve as partners in your life. Include these goals on your
daily to-do lists, and check off what you accomplish.

o In whom should you be investing at work? Who makes your
life better every day through their efforts on the job? Show

appreciation to those who enable you to be so efficient.
Acknowledge their role in your effectiveness, and don’t

forget to reach out when they need your help too.

168 I STRENGTHS BASED LEADERSHIP

PROVIDE STABILITY

LJ Expand the effects of your Focus talents by extending the

period of time you usually plan in advance. For example, if
you typically plan one year ahead, try planning three years

out. Gradually increase the length of time you encompass in
your forecasting. Share your thoughts with others. Knowing
that you are focusing on and thinking about the long term
will give them security now.

lJ When you share long-term goals with your family and
your work teams, tell them that they are part of your future

projections. Give them the assurance that they are valued

and needed and will be there with you.

CREATE HOPE

LJ Over a lifetime, we accrue responsibilities and tasks that
may have ceased to have meaning for us. Help others clear
some of the accumulated clutter of their lives. Ask questions
like “What are the most important priorities in your life
and your work?” “What do you love about doing this?” and

“What would happen if you stopped doing this?” By tackling

these questions, you can help people focus – or refocus –
their energies and offer them a fresh outlook on the future.

LJ Invest in your organization by guiding the career trajectories
of your company’s most promising proteges. When mentoring
others, you can assist them in crafting well-defined career
paths and action plans to secure their major aspirations.

o Having measurable, specific, and tangible performance
objectives is critical to your effectiveness. You relish setting
regular “mini goals” for yourself because they keep your

Focus talents sharp. Share your goals, measurement systems,

and performance objectives with associates. In doing so, you
will increase the sense of “team” and inspire them to track

their personal progress in relation to the larger organizational

objectives.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES I 169

LEADING OTHERS WITH STRONG FOCUS

o Set goals with timelines, and then let this person figure out
how to achieve them. He will work best in an environment

where he can control his work events.

o Check in with this person on a regular basis – as often as
he indicates would be helpful. He will thrive on this regular

attention because he likes talking about goals and his
progress toward them. Ask him how often you should meet
to discuss goals and objectives.

o Don’t expect this person to always be sensitive to the feelings
of others; getting his work done often takes top priority. If
he also has strong Empathy talents, this effect will obviously
be lessened. Nonetheless, be aware of the possibility that he

may trample on others’ feelings as he marches toward his
goal.

o This person does not thrive in constantly changing situations.
To manage this, when describing the change to him, use
language that he will be more receptive to. For example,
talk about it in terms of “new goals” and “new measures of

success;’ giving the change trajectory and purpose. This is
the way he naturally thinks.

o Arrange for this person to attend a time management
seminar. He may not naturally excel at this, but because his
Focus theme pushes him to move toward his goals as fast
as possible, he will appreciate the greater efficiency that
effective time management brings.

LEADING WITH FUTURISTIC
1—–·

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES I 171

: People strong in the Futuristic theme are inspired by the future

I “,d Wha.t. c .. ould be. They inspire others with their visions of the
future.

BUILD TRUST

o When helping others imagine what could be, make sure that
your visions are grounded in reality. Many people do not
find it as easy as you do to envision what things will look
like decades later, so provide as much detail as you can about
what they can do to be a part of the future. A realistic attitude

will help build trust and confidence in your visionary ideas.

o Given your natural ability to look ahead, at times you may see
disturbing trends on the horizon. Even if you enjoy talking

about possibilities more than problems, you may be able to
help people see and eliminate potential roadblocks before
they cause any difficulties. Others will come to depend on

you for this and trust what you see.

SHOW COMPASSION

o One of the best ways to make a connection with another
human being is to listen. Ask the people you lead about
their dreams. Have them describe their ideal future to you.
Somewhere in their story, your Futuristic talents are likely

to find a connection. Build on that connection by asking
questions, helping them find more clarity as they put feelings
to words. They will feel closer to you simply because you
took an interest in their hopes and dreams for the future.

o You see the future more clearly than others. Do a little
dreaming for people. Tell them that these dreams are possible

if they set their sights on them. Perhaps you see talents in
them that they are blind to, or opportunities they have not
considered. Investing your time and energy in thinking

172 I STRENGTHS BASED LEADERSHIP

about possibilities and what is good for other people shows

caring and friendship. It shows you are a leader.

PROVIDE STABILITY

o People sometimes exaggerate the fear of the present because
they cannot see beyond to a future when “this too shall pass:’
You have the gift of perspective; your thinking is not bound
by present circumstances. Help others share the calm you
possess, knowing that another day will come, and all this will
be behind them.

o As you think about the future, be sure to “check in” with the
people you lead about their emotions. If the visions you have
are too distant for them to imagine, or if too much seems
uncertain, they may get worried or uncomfortable. Ask

people how they see themselves in the scenarios you discuss,
and help them know that these are “what if” pictures,
not “must be” plans. They are the ones in control of their

destiny.

CREATE HOPE

o Because you have the gift of future thinking, it should come
as no surprise that people choose you as their sounding
board when they seek direction and guidance. You may

have been playing the role of a guide for others your whole
life. Think through this role. Consider what questions you
should be asking. What do others need from you? How do

you find out? Having a set of questions to ask when others
seek you out may help you match your contribution to their

expectations and aspirations.

o You inspire others with your images of the future. When you
articulate your vision, be sure to describe the future in detail
with vivid words and metaphors so that others can better
comprehend your expansive thinking. Make your ideas and
strategies more concrete via sketches, step-by-step action

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES I 173

plans, or mock-up models so that your associates can readily
grasp your intent.

LEADING OTHERS WITH STRONG FUTURISTIC

o Give this person time to think about, write about, and plan
for the products and services your organization will need

in the future. Create opportunities for her to share her
perspective in company newsletters, meetings, or industry

conventions.

o Put this person on the organization’s planning committee.
Have her present her data-based vision of what the
organization might look like in three years. And have her

repeat this presentation every six months or so. This way, she

can refine it with new data and insights.

o When your organization needs people to embrace change,
ask this person to put these changes in the context of the

organization’s future needs. Have her make a presentation or
write an article that puts these new directions in perspective.
She can help others rise above their present uncertainties

and become almost as excited as she is about the possibilities

of the future.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES I 175

LEADING WITH HARMONY

People strong in the Harmony theme look

don’t enjoy conflict; rather, they seek areas

BUILD TRUST

o You show others respect by valuing their input and helping
them be heard. At times, you may need to point out that each
person’s point of view is valuable and deserves respect, if not

agreement. Learn to briefly, yet effectively, communicate the
value of listening.

o The loudest voices are not the only ones that should be
heard. Sometimes you may need to stop the debate, open
up the floor, and help each person have a say. When you do,
make sure this environment is one of trust and respect so

that those with quieter voices feel comfortable sharing their
opinions. By making it clear that decisions are better when
every voice is heard, others will have faith in your motives
and be more likely to share discussion time equitably.

SHOW COMPASSION

o Your Harmony talents make life more pleasant. You reduce
stress by reducing conflict and friction. Invest some time in
conceptualizing the greater purpose of your organization.
When tensions mount, remind others of the overriding

mission that binds you all together. In addition to cooling
the conflict, your actions help others rise to another level
that is based on a shared purpose. Others will be drawn to

you because you are considerate of everyone’s opinions, and
you honor their views.

o Seeking common ground comes naturally to you. Your
quest for harmony between individuals and groups shows
others that you care and enhances one-to-one and group
relationships. How many points of commonality can

176 I STRENGTHS BASED LEADERSHIP

you find per interaction? Count them, and see if you can
increase your average over time. The greater the number

of connecting points, the greater the opportunity for
establishing significant and lasting relationships.

PROVIDE STABILITY

o You naturally provide peace and understanding. Your
approach allows everyone to stay connected to the group,
even when opinions differ. Remind others that the strength
of a group is the ability to respectfully bring a variety of ideas
to the table. Your knack for appeasing those with opposing

views helps everyone in the group feel a sense of security
that no matter what the issue, the group will remain intact.

o You calm others by smoothing the waters and helping
everyone keep a level head. You ensure that no one is
hurt by thoughtless words spoken in passion. Creating an
atmosphere of dignity and respect helps others feel safe
when it’s their turn to share their views.

CREATE HOPE

o Establish and encourage interactions and forums in which
people feel that their opinions are truly being heard. In
doing so, you will promote engagement, raise individual

achievement levels, and contribute to the overall performance
of teams. This will, in turn, create hope for the future.

o Polish your talent for resolution without agitation by
gathering skills and knowledge. Become skilled in moving

through the steps of conflict resolution, and invite someone
to learn with you. Encourage and inspire each other to
become experts in finding solutions through consensus.

Learn and teach at the same time.

LEADING OTHERS WITH STRONG HARMONY

o Find areas and issues on which you and this person agree,
and regularly review these topics with him. Surround

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES I 177

him with other people who are strong in Harmony. He
will always be more focused, more productive, and more
creative when he knows that he’s supported.

o Don’t be surprised if this person agrees with you even when
you are wrong. Sometimes, for the sake of Harmony, he
may nod his head despite judging your idea a poor one.

Consequently, you may need other people who instinctively
voice their opinions to help keep your thinking clear.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES I 179

LEADING WITH IDEATION

People strong in the Ideation theme are fascinated by ideas.

They are able to find connections between seemingly disparate
phenomena.

BUILD TRUST

o The purpose behind your pursuit of what’s new can help
others trust you to make good choices. Explain the “why”

behind what you do. Help people see that you are seeking to
improve the status quo, to better explain the world, and to
make discoveries that ultimately serve humanity.

o Make things simple. All your ideas, possibilities, and tangents
can be confusing to some people. You see the simplicity of
the underlying principles; articulate that to others so that

they can see it too. The clearer things seem to people, the
more certain they can be that you are doing what is right and
makes sense. Help people make connections between what
is and what can be.

SHOW COMPASSION

o Others have great appreciation for your creative imagination
and your continual quest for new ideas. Invite them along
for the ride. Ask them to dream with you. Shared excitement
about ideas and possibilities, even from vastly different

fields and approaches, can be a foundation for a mutually
satisfying relationship.

o Partner with others who have a practical bent – people who
can make your ideas realistic and bring them to fruition.
You can be their inspiration; they can help you realize your
dreams. Your differences are what bind you together and

make each of you more successful than you would be on
your own. Show consideration and appreciation for what
others bring to the table.

180 I STRENGTHS BASED LEADERSHIP

PROVIDE STABILITY

o Stability and Ideation might seem at odds. You are always
searching for ways to break from convention and look at
things from a new angle. Verbalize the fact that you’re not

seeking to destroy what is – rather, you want to make
things better. You understand that security doesn’t come
from maintaining the status quo and doing things the way
they’ve always been done; security is about making sure you
are prepared for the future.

o You must take risks. Still, you can calm others by educating
them that those risks are calculated, not reckless. Give others

confidence by helping them see the logic behind your pursuit
of what’s new, and keep them informed along the way.

CREATE HOPE

o You are a natural fit with people in research and development;
you appreciate the mindset of the visionaries and dreamers
in your organization. Spend time with imaginative staff
members, and sit in on their brainstorming sessions. Invite

people you know who have good ideas to join as well. As a

leader with exceptional Ideation talents, you can contribute
to inspirational ideas and make them happen.

o Find people in other walks oflife who like to talk about ideas,
and build mutually supportive and satisfying relationships.
Their knowledge and dreams about an area that is foreign
to you can inspire you. Feed one another’s need for big

thinking.

LEADING OTHERS WITH STRONG IDEATION

U This person has creative ideas. Be sure to position her where

her ideas will be valued.

[] Encourage this person to think of useful ideas or insights
that can be shared with your best customers. From Gallup’s

research, it is clear that when a company deliberately teaches
its customers something, their level of loyalty increases.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES I 181

o This person needs to know that everything fits together.
When decisions are made, take time to show her how each
one is rooted in the same theory or concept.

o When a particular decision does not fit into an overarching
concept, be sure to explain to this person that the decision
is an exception or an experiment. Without this explanation,

she may start to worry that the organization is becoming
incoherent.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES I 183

LEADING WITH INCLUDER

People strong in the Includer theme are accepting of others. They
show awareness of those who feel left out and make an effort to
include them.

BUILD TRUST

D Your utter lack of elitism inspires respect and honor. Others
can rely on you to find common ground and recognize the
contribution each person makes to the whole.

D Automatic acceptance is part of your wiring. You don’t
debate the merits and drawbacks of including someone. If
someone is there, he should be welcomed and brought into
the fold. Help others see past what’s on the outside, and ask
them to consider how others feel. Everyone will know that
you are a person who deserves respect when they see the
respect that you give to others.

SHOW COMPASSION

D Everyone needs an Includer as a friend. You help people feel
welcome and immediately make them a part of something
larger than themselves. You reach out and invite others to
join when they are feeling like outsiders looking in. Never
hesitate to invite, even when rebuffed. Know that you are
always doing the right thing.

D Nurture the new folks in your organization. Be a first friend.
Know their names, and introduce them to others, helping
them find connecting points. You will collect many best
friends this way. It’s hard to forget the person who first made
you feel like you belonged in a new place where you felt
uncertain.

184 I STRENGTHS BASED LEADERSHIP

PROVIDE STABILITY

o Stability is fostered when everyone knows that they will not
be excluded. Being consistent with your invitations and open

to a wide variety of people helps others know that they too
find a welcome whenever they need it. That’s security.

o Your attitude that “there’s always room for one more” will
promote inclusion rather than competition when someone
new joins the group. When others see that the circle expands
to accommodate all, they will feel less territorial and more
secure that they have a place in the fold. Make them feel

even more confident by asking them to take on some of the

orientation for new people.

CREATE HOPE

o Be an “Includer coach:’ Share your ideas for helping people
feel welcome. Others may require a caring nudge to get
them to step outside their comfort zone and make the first

move to add someone to their inner circle. When you offer
that nudge, you give two people a bit more opportunity for

growth in the future.

o Consider that people will relate to each other through you.
You are a conduit for information; you can connect with all
of the people in a group and keep them effectively connected
to each other. Watch as this network you have created

multiplies by the day.

LEADING OTHERS WITH STRONG INCLUDER

o This person is interested in making everyone feel like part
of the team. Ask him to work on an orientation program for
new employees. He will be excited to think about ways to

welcome new recruits.

o You can capitalize on this person’s Includer talents by
focusing them on your customers. Properly positioned,

he may prove to be very effective at breaking any barriers
between customer and company.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES I 185

o Because this person probably will not appreciate elite
products or services made for a select category of customer,
position him to work on products or services that are

designed for a broad market. He will enjoy planning ways

to cast a wide net.

o In certain situations, it may be appropriate to ask this person
to be your organization’s link to community social agencies.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES I 187

LEADING WITH INDIVIDUALIZATION

People strong 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.

BUILD TRUST

D Sometimes you know more than people would like you to
know. Keep strict confidences, and only share your insights
with a person one-on-one. She should be the one to decide if
she wants you to relate those insights to others.

D Others trust your instincts about people’s unique qualities.
Continue to build on that trust by focusing on the positive
as much as you can when you are asked to share your
impressions about someone.

D Stand behind your tendency to treat each person individually
according to need, strength, and style. Many may see this as
“playing favorites” and distrust you. Be prepared to defend
your Individualization from a performance-excellence
standpoint, as well as from a humane perspective. This will
give others confidence in your decisions.

SHOW COMPASSION

D Others are often surprised at the depth of your insights
about them, especially when you’ve known them only a
short time. You’ve probably heard “How did you know that?”
many times. As relationships develop, others will want to
hear in greater depth your thoughts and insights regarding
their actions, motivations, and talents. You are a mirror for
them, and you offer a valuable perspective. Ask them to tell
you more about themselves, and test your insights. Accept
and affirm what they have to tell you.

188 I STRENGTHS BASED LEADERSHIP

o You may have the gift of gifting – choosing the perfect
gift for another person – even someone you don’t know

particularly well. Finding a small token and giving it at an
unexpected time can be a quick relationship builder. Give

yourself permission to reach out in this way, and enjoy the
rewarding looks of surprise and delight. Who can resist a
perfectly chosen gift? Bring joy into others’ lives with little

surprises.

PROVIDE STABILITY

o Your awareness is essential to providing stability. By being
attuned to others’ desires and needs, you can help them
because you can position them in the right place. Their

confidence grows because they are being asked to do what

they do best.

o “All generalizations are false, including this one” is a
phrase you might enjoy. Knowing that you are conscious
of each person’s special circumstances helps him or her

feel understood and secure. Let people know that despite
the rules or the classic wisdom, you will take their unique

talents and needs into account when making decisions about

opportunities they can pursue.

CREATE HOPE

o Sometimes people are more predictable to you than they are
to themselves. Use your talent to notice others’ consistent
behavior patterns to help them see things they can’t. You

might be able to help them capitalize on talents they seldom
use intentionally or avoid pitfalls that repeatedly ensnare
them. Kindly give them feedback to help them streamline

their dreams and aspirations.

o You are instinctively aware that individuals will be most
productive when their environments are suited to their

talents. Wherever appropriate, implement organizational
policies that allow your associates to work in their own style

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES I 189

– policies that allow people to express their individuality in
the clothes they wear, how they decorate their offices, and
the hours they work. Through these policies, you will engage

and inspire your associates and enable them to produce their
best work.

o You move comfortably among a broad range of styles and
cultures, and you intuitively personalize your interactions.

Consciously and proactively make full use of these talents
by leading diversity and community efforts in your
organization.

LEADING OTHERS WITH STRONG INDIVIDUALIZATION

D Ask this person to serve on your selection committee.

She will probably be a very good judge of each candidate’s
strengths and weaknesses. By figuring out the right people
for the right roles using her Individualization talents, she

will also help improve the organization’s productivity.

o When appropriate, have this person help design pay-for-
performance programs in which all employees can use their

strengths to maximize their pay.

D Ask this person to teach an internal training class or mentor

new employees. She may well have a knack for spotting how
each person learns differently.

o Look at this person’s other dominant themes. If her
Developer and Arranger talents are also strong, she may
have the potential to be a manager or supervisor. If her
talents lie in Command and Woo, she will probably be very
effective at turning prospects into customers.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES I 191

LEADING WITH INPUT

I Peopl’ ‘trong m ;;;, Input th,m, havo a ~g to kno~ more]
l. Often they li~~ to collect a~d archive all kinds of information. _

BUILD TRUST

o Become a trusted authority by making sure that the
information you provide is both current and accurate. Check
multiple sources just to be sure, and help others distinguish
between fact and opinion.

o You earn respect by doing your homework and providing
others with the information they need to succeed. When they

see that you have put in the time and taken the responsibility
to do thorough research, they can’t help but appreciate

your desire to do good work and trust your comprehensive
findings.

SHOW COMPASSION

o People will be attracted to you as a leader because they see
your resourcefulness and your awareness of the most recent
developments and information. Let others know that you love

to answer their questions and research their most pressing
issues. Use your Input talents to connect with others, and
make yourself available as someone they can depend on for

help.

o When you meet others who share your interests, think
beyond the learning opportunity at hand, and consider
the relationship possibilities. Could this be the start of a

friendship? Invite this person along when you discover
opportunities to pursue your mutual interest, such as an
exhibit or an upcoming speech. Use your Input talents

as a stepping stone to relationships, and extend the first
invitation.

192 I STRENGTHS BASED LEADERSHIP

PROVIDE STABILITY

o Your knowledge base can be a foundation for stability. When
others know that you have researched the topic at hand with
your characteristic thoroughness and depth, they will feel

confident that your decisions are well thought out. Share
with them the extent of your research efforts.

o You don’t merely collect information, you store it for a time
when it might prove useful. By producing the backup and
documentation for efforts that might seem risky to some,
you assure them that they are moving in the right direction.

CREATE HOPE

o Your mind is like a sponge – you naturally soak up
information. But just as the primary purpose of a sponge is
not to permanently contain what it absorbs, neither should
your mind simply store information. Input without output
can lead to stagnation. As you gather and absorb information,
be aware of the individuals and groups that can benefit from
your knowledge, and be intentional about sharing it with

them.

o Expose yourself to the written thoughts and ideas of other
people. Then engage in serious discussion about them.
Through this process, you will become a learner who also
teaches.

LEADING OTHERS WITH STRONG INPUT

o Focus this person’s natural inquisitiveness by asking him
to study a topic that is important to your organization. Or
position him in a role with a heavy research component. He
enjoys the knowledge that comes from research.

o Pay attention to this person’s other strong themes. If he is
also strong in Developer, he may excel as a teacher or trainer
by peppering his lessons with intriguing facts and stories.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES I 193

D Help this person develop a system for storing the information

he collects. This system will ensure that he can find it when

he and the organization need it.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES I 195

LEADING WITH INTELLECTION

People strong in the Intellection theme are characterized by

their intellectual activity. They are introspective and appreciate
intellectual discussions.

BUILD TRUST

D When you carefully analyze others’ thinking and then
respectfully give your honest opinion, you can help them
avoid pitfalls and mistakes. They will appreciate your
forthright willingness to help them succeed, and they will
come to depend on you for this.

D Your sheer intellectual capacity will cause some to respect

and revere you. Prove yourself worthy by remembering that
thought without action is not always particularly helpful.
Use your gift of Intellection to make a difference, and your
respect will be well-deserved.

SHOW COMPASSION

D Engaging others in intellectual and philosophical debate is
one way you make sense of things. It is also one way you

build relationships. Channel your provocative questions to

people who similarly enjoy the give and take of debate. They
will seek you out as a friend and colleague who sharpens
their thinking – and one they want to spend time with
again and again.

D Some people will want you to think with them, while others
will want you to think for them. You may be able to build

relationships with some people because you look at things

from an entirely different angle than they do. For people
who are Single-minded and action-oriented, you may be
the kind of thinking partner who improves their odds for

success. Show that you truly care about them by sharing
your thoughts with them.

196 I STRENGTHS BASED LEADERSHIP

PROVIDE STABILITY

o Remember to occasionally back up so others can follow
the trail of your thinking. They may not be ready for the
pronouncement until they have followed the path. Share

the mental steps you executed to arrive at your current
conclusions so people don’t worry that your thinking lacks
foundation.

o Help others understand your need for solitude and space to
think. Let them know that this is simply a reflection of your
intellectual style and that it results from a desire to bring the
most you can to relationships and opportunities. Sharing the

fact that you think deeply about what’s best for them and for
the organization can be a great comfort.

CREATE HOPE

o Encourage others to use their full intellectual capital by
reframing questions for them and by engaging them in

dialogue. At the same time, recognize that there will be
some who find this intimidating and who need time to
reflect before being put on the spot. Help them engage their

intellect in the way that is best for them. Then inspire them

to use that way of thinking to dream and meditate about the
future.

o Others will seek out your opinion because they appreciate
the wise scrutiny you give to ideas and efforts. Bear in mind
that you are at your best when you have the time to follow an
intellectual trail and see where it leads. Get involved on the

front end of projects and initiatives so that your thinking can
have a greater impact on long-term outcomes.

LEADING OTHERS WITH STRONG INTELLECTION

o Encourage this person to find long stretches of time when
she can simply muse. For some people, pure thinking time
is not productive, but for her, it most certainly is. She will

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES I 197

emerge from quiet periods of reflection with more clarity
and self-confidence.

o Have a detailed discussion with this person regarding her
strengths. She will probably enjoy the introspection and self-

discovery.

o Give this person the opportunity to present her views
to other people in the department. The pressure of
communicating her ideas to others will force her to refine
and clarify her thoughts.

o Be prepared to team up this person with someone who has
strong Activator talents. This partner will push her to act on
her thoughts and ideas.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES I 199

LEADING WITH LEARNER

strong in the Learner theme have a great desire to learn

and want to continuously improve. In particular, the process of
learning, rather than the outcome, excites them.

BUILD TRUST

o Be honest enough to admit that you’re still learning. Being
vulnerable and open about your own learning puts you on
par with others and indicates a mutual, not a one-sided,

expectation.

o Respect knowledge that is superior to your own. Some
leaders feel the need to be more “advanced” than their

followers in every area. This is unrealistic and unproductive;
it impedes progress. Show your respect through your interest

and appreciation of what others know and are capable of
knowing. Listen to them, and trust them to be experts in
these topics.

SHOW COMPASSION

o Co-learning creates mutual vulnerability and discovery.
When you “sign up” for learning, always consider whom you
can invite to learn with you. When you care enough to ask
someone else to join in your learning, you create a shared
memory and a common opportunity that forges a bond.

o Appreciate and celebrate others’ learning, be it a project
completed, a certification, a good spelling test, or an
improvement on a report card. Let others know that you

understand the hard work and effort that goes into personal
growth. Emphasize that the outcome is exciting, but you
recognize the merit of their journey as well. Affirm that

learning has value, as does the learner.

200 I STRENGTHS BASED LEADERSHIP

PROVIDE STABILITY

o When you invest in another person’s growth, you’re saying,
“You matter. You are here for the long term. You are worth
my investment:’ This helps others know that you expect an

enduring – not fleeting – relationship with them. Confirm
that sentiment by saying it out loud. Tell people that you’re
committed to them for the long haul.

o Learning takes time. Your patience with others as they learn
conveys to them that they’re not disposable, but rather that
you believe in their value and will stand beside them as they

develop.

CREATE HOPE

o Recognize that your enthusiasm for learning may be shared
by many in your organization. Ignite this passion by creating
an ongoing, organization-wide learning program.

o Research supports the link between learning and
performance. When people have the opportunity to learn
and grow, they are more engaged, more productive, and
loyal. Look for ways to measure whether people feel their

learning needs are being met, to create individualized
learning milestones, and to reward achievements in
learning. These rewards and seeing measurable progress

can inspire others to even greater learning goals.

LEADING OTHERS WITH STRONG LEARNER

o Position this person in roles that require him to stay current
in a fast-changing field. He will enjoy the challenge of

maintaining his competency.

o Regardless of this person’s role, he will be eager to learn
new facts, skills, or knowledge. Explore innovative ways
for him to learn and remain motivated, or he may start
hunting for a richer learning environment. For example,

if he lacks opportunities to learn on the job, encourage
him to take courses at the local college. Remember, he

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES I 201

doesn’t necessarily need to be promoted; he just needs to
be learning. It is the process of learning, not necessarily the
result, that energizes him.

D Encourage this person to become the master or resident
expert in his field. Arrange for him to take the relevant classes
to accomplish this. If necessary, help him secure financial

support to continue his education. Be sure to recognize his
learning.

o Have this person work beside an expert who will continuously
push him to learn more.

o Ask this person to conduct internal discussion groups or
presentations. There may be no better way to learn than to

teach others.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES I 203

LEADING WITH MAXIMIZER

People strong 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.

BUILD TRUST

D Admit that you do some things well and others not so well.
Allow people to admit that they too have areas where they
consistently struggle. Simply being open can give others
permission to be themselves in an honest way.

D Others will need to hear your message more than once before
they believe that you’re truly expecting them to shine where
they shine and that you’re avoiding their “dull spots:’ Repeat
the message so it is heard, understood, and trusted. Some
people may need to know that you’re not going to surprise
them later with an accounting of where they are weak or how
they have failed. Continually focus on their excellence until
they can truly trust that this will always be your emphasis.

SHOW COMPASSION

D Use your Maximizer talents to set others free. Too often,
people think they have to live up to expectations to be a
jack of all trades, a straight-A student, or a well-rounded
citizen. Make it clear that you appreciate their unique gifts,
their personal brilliance. You don’t expect all things from all
people – you expect people to be more of who they already
are. You may be the only one in people’s lives who sees their
gifts and talents this way.

D Sometimes people don’t recognize their own areas of
brilliance. You can be the one who leads them to the
light. Point out moments of excellence you see in others’
performance. Tell them that you see the areas where they
are truly gifted. We sometimes limit the notion of “talent”

204 I STRENGTHS BASED LEADERSHIP

to obvious areas like sports or music. Broaden people’s

view of giftedness. Tell people if they are a gifted friend, a
gifted organizer, or a gifted accommodator. Broaden their
view of self. You can change a life and become a personal

champion.

PROVIDE STABILITY

o The surest way to destroy other people’s sense of security
is to ask them to repeatedly do something for which they
are not adequately equipped. Instead, allow others to do

and build on what they do best, and watch their confidence

grow.

o Support others in the areas in which they don’t excel. Give
them confidence by helping them find complementary

partners or systems that free them from failure.

CREATE HOPE

o Don’t let your Maximizer talents be stifled by conventional
wisdom, which says you should find what is broken and
fix it. Identify and invest in the aspects of people and
organizations that are working. Make sure that most of

your resources are spent building up and encouraging these
pockets of excellence.

o Explain Maximizer concepts to those who may not have ever
considered pursuing only what they do well. Point out the
advantages of a life lived by these principles: Capitalizing on
the gifts with which you’ve been blessed is more productive.

It sets higher expectations, not lower ones. It is the most
effective and efficient use of energy and resources. And it’s

more fun.

o You will probably not have the opportunity to observe
everything people do exceptionally well. So encourage
others to be the keepers and tenders of their own talents.

Ask them to study their successes: What did they do best
in winning situations? How can they do more of that?

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES I 205

Inspire them to dream. Tell them they can come to you for
these kinds of discussions – that this is one of your great
pleasures in life. Transfer the ownership of their gifts to
them, and support that ownership.

D As a leader, you have a responsibility to make the most of
your organization’s resources – and talent is every company’s

greatest resource. You see talent in others. Use your authority
to help your associates see their own talents and to maximize
those talents by positioning people where they can develop
and apply strengths. For every need, there is a person with a
gift to match. Recruit and select carefully, and you’ll have an
organization full of opportunities for brilliance.

LEADING OTHERS WITH STRONG MAXIMIZER

D Schedule time with this person to discuss her strengths in
detail and to strategize how and where these strengths can

be used to the organization’s advantage. She will enjoy these
conversations and offer many practical suggestions for how
her talents can best be put to use.

D As much as possible, help this person develop a career path

and a compensation plan that will allow her to keep growing
toward excellence in her role. She will instinctively want to

stay on a strengths path and may dislike career structures
that force her off this path to increase her earning power.

D Ask this person to lead a task force to investigate the best

practices in your organization. Also ask her to help design a
program for measuring and celebrating the productivity of
each employee. She will enjoy thinking about what excellence
should look like across the organization as well as within in

each role.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES I 207

LEADING WITH POSITIVITY

People strong in the Positivity theme have an enthusiasm that
is contagious. They are upbeat and can get others excited about
what they are going to do.

BUILD TRUST

o Some people are so accustomed to hearing the negatives
pointed out that initially, they will be suspicious of your
continued positive remarks. Keep those remarks coming,
and allow others to trust, over time, that you’re always going
to have that upbeat emphasis – in your life and in theirs.

o Make certain that your praise is always genuine, never
empty or false. Research shows that more damage is done
through false praise than through criticism. If you believe it,
say it. If you don’t, show your respect for others’ intelligence
and discernment, and don’t yield to the temptation of false
flattery.

SHOW COMPASSION

o Your Positivity makes you naturally liberal with praise. You
can’t be too generous – precious few people believe that they
are suffering from too much recognition in their lives. Give
praise freely. Make it specific. Make it personal. Spread good
feelings and genuine appreciation for others. Help others
look forward to every interaction they have with you.

o In hard times, you may be one of the few bright spots in
someone’s life – a beacon. Never underestimate that role.
People will come to you because they need the boost you
consistently prOVide. Let them know that they can. Ask them
what they need. You will refresh them.

o Be the person whose humor is always positive and
encouraging. Because of your outlook, you don’t resort
to deprecating, callous humor or sarcasm. This positive

208 I STRENGTHS BASED LEADERSHIP

approach will surely rub off on others, and you’ll influence
the atmosphere around you.

PROVIDE STABILITY

o You have a natural talent to increase people’s confidence.
Look for ways to catch people doing things right or doing
the right things. Affirm them. Watch them become stronger
and more certain of themselves as a result of your praise.

o Your optimism allows you to live with solutions that are
sometimes less than perfect. As a result, you encourage

others to make progress rather than insisting on perfection.

Continue to look for and describe to others the potential
that exists in less-than-ideal situations. By doing so, you
encourage them to feel free to take risks to improve a

situation, even when they don’t yet have the total solution.

CREATE HOPE

o Play up the drama of moments. If everyone deserves 15
minutes of fame, perhaps you are the person to set the stage.
Make each person’s 15 minutes big enough to count and

important enough to last.

o Your optimism helps others look to the future with
anticipation. Talk about the future. Talk about what
is possible. Ask others to share the opportunities and

possibilities they see. Just saying them out loud helps them
become expectations, and eventually, realities.

o Sometimes feelings are the result of action; other times,
feelings are the cause for action. Insist on celebrations,
employ the therapy oflaughter, and inject music and drama

into your organization. This positive impact on the emotional
economy will influence your productivity, mutual support,
and bottom line.

o As you create positive environments, be sure to protect and
nurture them. As much as possible, insulate yourself and
others from chronic whiners, complainers, and malcontents.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES I 209

Prune negativity – it’s as contagious as your positivity.
You and your group must intentionally spend time in
highly positive environments that will invigorate and feed

optimism.

LEADING OTHERS WITH STRONG POSITIVITY

o Ask this person to help plan events that your organization
hosts for your best customers, such as new product launches
or user groups.

o This persons enthusiasm is contagious. Consider this when
placing him on project teams.

o This person likes to celebrate. When milestones of
achievement have been reached, ask him for ideas about

how to recognize and commemorate the accomplishment.

He will be more creative than most.

o Pay attention to this persons other top themes. If he also
possesses strong Developer talents, he may prove to be an
excellent trainer or teacher because he brings excitement
to a classroom. If Command is one of his strongest themes,
he may excel at selling because he is armed with a potent

combination of assertiveness and energy.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES I 211

LEADING WITH RELATOR

People who are strong in the Relator theme enjoy close
relationships with others. They find deep satisfaction in working

hard with friends to achieve a goal.

BUILD TRUST

o Important relationships generate confidences. Maintain and
build on the trust you have by keeping the confidences with
which you are entrusted. One breach empties a dam.

o You know that the deepening of a friendship carries inherent
risk, but you’re more comfortable than most in accepting

that fact. Say so. Acknowledge it aloud, and tell the other

person that the depth of the relationship has created trust on
your part and makes you feel safe with disclosure.

SHOW COMPASSION

o Make sure you get enough one-on-one time with the
key people in your life. Solidify relationships and create

emotional energy to share with others. This is what endures.
Don’t miss opportunities to show that you care.

o As a strong Relator, you may get and give more love
and friendship than most people. Tell others that your
relationship with them creates happiness in your life. Ask
them how it can enhance their happiness. Show them

that you care about the quality of their lives by extending
compassion, thoughtfulness, and interest in their well-
being.

PROVIDE STABILITY

o Long-term, close friendships are deeply fulfilling for you.
These might be in your family, your personal circle, or your

organization. Tell others that you expect these relationships

212 I STRENGTHS BASED LEADERSHIP

to last your whole life. Set an expectation of ongoing mutual

support, understanding, and stability.

D You are more at home in situations characterized by
informal, rather than formal, systems. But organizations

that are growing in size and complexity are likely to require

systems that are more formalized. Even in the face of such
workplace realities, you can help others know that the core
importance of relationships remains constant. Create an

informal island in the midst of the vast formal sea of your
organization.

CREATE HOPE

D You are a giver, not a taker. But for your generosity to
continue, you must ensure that the inflow keeps up with

the rapid outflow. Identify the people and events that really
fulfill you, and schedule time for them. This will give you
even more energy to share with those who look to you for

hope.

D You build relationships that last, giving you a unique depth
of perspective on other people’s lives and triumphs. Help

them see the big view. Point out their achievements and

patterns of success. Show them in as many ways as you can
that their life has made a difference.

LEADING OTHERS WITH STRONG RELATOR

D Help this person identify her colleagues’ goals. She is more
likely to bond with them when she understands their aims
and aspirations.

D Think about asking this person to build genuine
relationships with the critical people you want to retain. She

can be a key employee who can help keep good contributors
in your organization through relationship building.

D Pay attention to this person’s other strong themes. If she also
shows strong evidence of Focus, Arranger, or Self-Assurance
talents, she may have the potential to manage others.

ADDITIONAL RESOU RCES I 213

Employees will always work harder for someone they know

will be there for them and who wants them to succeed. She
can easily establish these kinds of relationships.

o This person may very well have the gift of generosity. Draw
her attention to it, and show her how her generosity helps
her influence and connect with those around her. She will
appreciate your noticing, and your own relationship with

her will be strengthened.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES I 215

LEADING WITH RESPONSIBILITY

People strong in the Responsibility theme take psychological
ownership of what they say they will do. They are committed to
stable values such as honesty and loyalty.

BUILD TRUST

o You may be the moral conscience for others. When a person
or an organization is involved in something that seems
wrong, an alarm in your head will go off, and you will feel
compelled to address that issue. Go to the source first; ask
questions to ascertain the reality and the motive. State your
concerns honestly. Whenever possible and ethical, allow
the person to correct the situation on his or her own. If
necessary, take the next step to right the wrong and assuage
your conscience.

o It’s important to appreciate and recognize people of moral
strength and integrity. Make sure you acknowledge and
affirm what’s right at least as often – and preferably more
often – than you point out what’s wrong. Others will notice
and respect you for this.

SHOW COMPASSION

o You can’t help but feel responsible for others, especially
for the people you care about most. Check in with them
frequently: How are they doing? How can you help? Show
your compassion every day, if you can, and know that you
are adding warmth to their lives.

o When you make a mistake that affects someone else, go to
that person as quickly as you can and try to make it right.
Apologize, certainly, but go beyond apology to restitution.
Own your errors in relationships and you will find yourself
more easily forgiven. Intimacy will be more quickly
restored.

216 I STRENGTHS BASED LEADERSHIP

PROVIDE STABILITY

o Your sense of responsibility naturally creates a feeling of
security in others. They know they can depend on you to
make sure things get done properly and on time. Rather

than shouldering all of the responsibility yourself, share
some of it so that each team member is contributing to the
stability of the group.

o You’re a leader who likes to serve. The service concept is
often applied to customers, members, and patrons, but
sometimes overlooked when applied to one’s followers. Let
your followers know about your desire to serve and support

them – and that asking for your help is a form of recognition

that you appreciate.

CREATE HOPE

o You naturally take ownership of every project you’re
involved in. Share responsibility by encouraging others to

do the same. Be their champion, and proactively guide them
through the opportunity to experience the challenges of
ownership. In doing so, you will contribute to their growth

and development.

o Psychological ownership is a product of making choices.
Rather than assigning responsibilities, invoke ownership by

allowing people to choose what they will be responsible for
contributing. Let them initiate true responsibility beyond
merely accepting assignments.

LEADING OTHERS WITH STRONG RESPONSIBILITY

o As much as possible, avoid putting this person in team
situations with lackadaisical colleagues.

o Recognize that this person is a self-starter and requires little
supervision to ensure that assignments are completed.

o Put this person in positions that require unimpeachable
ethics. He will not let you down.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES I 217

o Periodically ask this person what new responsibility he
would like to assume. It’s motivational for him to volunteer,
so give him the opportunity.

o This person may well impress you with his ability to deliver
time and again, leading you to consider promoting him to
management. Be careful. He may much prefer to do a job
himself than be responsible for someone else’s work, in
which case he will find managing others frustrating. It might
be better to help him find other ways to grow within the
organization.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES I 219

LEADING WITH RESTORATIVE

People strong in the Restorative theme are adept at dealing
with problems. They are good at figuring out what is wrong and
resolving it.

BUILD TRUST

o People trust you because you close the loop, reinstate order,
and clean up messes. You restore integrity to systems and
make certain that they perform reliably. Let people know
that you’re willing to do this whenever the need occurs, and
they will come to depend on you.

o You’re attracted to situations that others may deem
“impossible:’ Tell others that the more it seems like the
odds are against you, the more motivated you are to resolve

the problem and make things right. They will respect the
intensity of your desire to tackle the tough jobs and learn to
rely on you.

SHOW COMPASSION

o People have such appreciation for your willingness to jump
in and solve problems. Your desire to put things right is a

sign that you care. Solve problems before others are even
aware they exist, and let people know that you did. It will
demonstrate your concern and commitment.

o Perhaps you are most needed when people themselves feel
broken. Your instincts are to run to them and offer your
emotional support. Be a first responder – reach people in

need as quickly as you can, and offer your support and love.
They will always remember that you helped them heal from

physical or emotional pain, and they will count you among
their closest supporters.

220 I STRENGTHS BASED LEADERSHIP

PROVIDE STABILITY

::J You are naturally drawn to turnaround situations. Use your

Restorative talents to devise a plan of attack to revitalize a
flagging project, organization, business, or team. Others will

feel safer knowing you are on the case.

D Use your Restorative talents to think of ways to “problem
proof” schedules, systems, and efforts. Knowing that you
have done the contingency analysis and taken precautions to
prevent mistakes helps others feel secure.

CREATE HOPE

::J Use your Restorative talents to be the one who asks “How
do we take it to the next level?” Done is never done

because improvement is always possible. Be the instigator
and inspiration for ever-higher levels of achievement and

service.

::J Make certain others don’t think that all you can see are
flaws and shortcomings. Appreciate people for current levels

of service and performance. And when they suggest a way to
get even better, encourage their desire for excellence.

LEADING OTHERS WITH STRONG RESTORATIVE

D Position this person in a role in which she is paid to solve

problems for your best customers. She enjoys the challenge
of discovering and removing obstacles.

::J When this person resolves a problem, make sure to celebrate
the achievement. Every wrong situation righted is a success

for her, and she will need you to view it as such. Show her
that others have come to rely on her ability to dismantle

obstacles and move forward.

::J Ask this person how she would like to improve. Agree that
these improvements should serve as goals for the following
six months. She will appreciate this kind of attention and

precision.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES I 221

LEADING WITH SELF-ASSURANCE

People strong in the Self-Assurance theme feel confident in their

ability to manage their own lives. They possess an inner compass
that gives them confidence that their decisions are right.

BUILD TRUST

o Surprise others by admitting the mistakes, wrong turns,
and poor decisions you’ve made in the past. People may not

expect someone who is so confident to willingly disclose
failures. Actually, conquering your failures is what has made
you certain that you can overcome whatever challenges

you face. Be vulnerable, and show others that your strength

springs from that very vulnerability. It will help them trust
that you are genuine.

o Share the fact that you sometimes face fears when you make
decisions. It’s not that you don’t find decisions daunting
– you simply ask yourself, “If not me, then who?” Once

you have the best information you can gather, you know

that it’s time to take action. By better understanding how
you approach decision making, others can see that you are
indeed trustworthy.

SHOW COMPASSION

o Some people are drawn to you because of your Self-
Assurance; your confidence bolsters theirs. They may not
give themselves the credit they deserve for their ability to
make good decisions, build solid relationships, or create

success in their lives. Your belief system says “Of course you
can!” You remember their successes much more than their
failures, and you can readily recall them in detail. With a

cheering, supportive friend like you, they can venture out
and try.

222 I STRENGTHS BASED LEADERSHIP

D You are undeniably independent and self-sufficient – and

yet you need to give and receive love. You are human, after
all. When you build a relationship, consider what you can
contribute to someone else’s life. And consider what they

can contribute to yours. If you don’t need anyone, how can
the important people in your life feel valued? Think about
how others make your life happier and more fulfilled, and let
them know. Tell them you need them. Tell them why.

PROVIDE STABILITY

D Confidence – you have it in spades. Share stories of previous

successes to help others realize that your confidence is based
in experience. That will calm people when you choose a huge
goal and say, “We can do it:’

D “If you must, you can:’ Use this adage to help people
understand that when there are no options, they have the
strength and wherewithal to do what is required of them.
Inaction is not an option. The only choice is to make the best
decision with the available facts, and make a move.

D When considering a new task or venture, carefully reflect on

the talents, skills, and knowledge it will require. Assemble
a solid team, and be prepared to give the helm to someone
else if your talents aren’t the best fit for the role. People will

appreciate your capacity to defer to an expert and make
certain they are in capable hands. This will give them comfort
and security.

CREATE HOPE

D Set ambitious goals. Don’t hesitate to reach for what others
see as impractical and impossible – but what you see as

merely bold and exciting, and most importantly, achievable
with some heroics and a little luck. Your Self-Assurance
talents can lead you, your family, your colleagues, and your
organization to achievements that they would otherwise not
have imagined.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES I 223

o Ask others if they have set their goals high enough. They
may not dare to dream as big as you do. If you can contribute
to a loftier picture than they currently see, you can launch

bigger lives.

LEADING OTHERS WITH STRONG SELF-ASSURANCE

o Position this person in a role where persistence is essential to
success. He has the self-confidence to stay the course despite
pressure to change direction.

o Give this person a role that demands an aura of certainty and
stability. At critical moments, his inner authority will calm
his colleagues and his customers.

o Support this person’s self-concept that he is an agent of
action. Reinforce it with comments such as “It’s up to you.
You make it happen;’ or “What is your intuition saying? Let’s

go with your gut:’

o Understand that this person may have beliefs about what he
can do that might not relate to his actual talents.

o If this person has strong talents in themes such as Futuristic,
Focus, Significance, or Arranger, he may well be a potential
leader within your organization.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES I 225

LEADING WITH SIGNIFICANCE

People strong in the Significance theme want to be very

important in the eyes of others. They are independent and want

to be recognized.

BUILD TRUST

o Share your desire for achieving big goals. Be very candid
about what motivates you, and ask the same of others. This

will lead to shared trust.

o Your impact on the world is almost entirely dependent on
the number of people who believe in you as a leader. Always

be true to who you are, on and off the stage, and people will

see your authenticity.

SHOW COMPASSION

o Your aspirations will usually be higher than other people’s.
During the long, steep climb toward the summit, be sure to

reward yourself and others by recognizing and celebrating

milestones. Reiterate the significance of the goal and the
importance of each individual’s contribution to it. Tell them
what valued partners they are in this venture, and back up

those words by giving them a stake in the prize. If your
partnership is successful, you may be together for a long
time.

:.::J Applause, appreciation, and affirmation from a valued
audience will push you to ever-higher levels of performance.
Whose approval you do most value? A parent, a Sibling, a

teacher, a boss? Your significant other? Have you told them
how critical their approval is to your very existence? Let
them know how much you care about their opinions. Share

with them the moments that mattered. Make sure that they
understand the power of their perception and the valuable
role they play in your motivation and in your life.

226 I STRENGTHS BASED LEADERSHIP

PROVIDE STABILITY

o Lasting impact matters to you. You want to build something
that makes a difference beyond the immediate moment.
Share that desire with others. Help them know that your

vision is not for immediate glory but for the long haul. They
will feel better knowing how deep your commitment goes.

o Leading crucial teams or significant projects brings out your
best. Your greatest motivation may come when the stakes are
at their highest. Let others know that when the game is on
the line, you want the ball. They will be comforted by your

confidence to take big risks and carry the responsibility on

your own shoulders.

CREATE HOPE

o You spend time thinking about the heft of what you will
achieve and what it will mean to the present as well as to
the future. Help others consider their legacy. Ask them what
they are all about. What do they want to be known for? What

do they want to leave behind? Give them a vision that looks
past the moment and helps them assess the choices they are

making every day.

o Your Significance talents often put you in the spotlight. Use
this opportunity to direct positive attention toward others.

Your ability to champion others and set them up for success
may be the best measure of your Significance.

LEADING OTHERS WITH STRONG SIGNIFICANCE

o Arrange for this person to stand out for the right reasons,
or she may try to make it happen herself, perhaps

inappropriately.

o Position this person so that she can associate with credible,
productive, professional people. She likes to surround herself
with the best.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES I 227

D Encourage this person to praise other top achievers in the

group. She enjoys making other people feel successful.

D When this person makes claims to excellence – and she will

– help her picture the strengths she will have to develop

to realize these claims. When coaching her, don’t ask her
to lower her aspirations; instead, suggest that she keep
benchmarks for developing the relevant strengths.

D Because this person places such a premium on the
perceptions of others, her self-esteem can suffer when
people don’t give her the recognition she deserves. At

these times, draw her attention back to her strengths, and
encourage her to set new goals based on them. These goals
will help reenergize her.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES I 229

LEADING WITH STRATEGIC

People strong in the Strategic theme create alternative ways to

proceed. Faced with any given scenario, they can quickly spot the

relevant patterns and issues.

BUILD TRUST

o When making decisions, discuss options candidly and
thoroughly with those involved. Help them learn to trust

your process of examining all alternatives and then working
toward the optimal solution.

o Be aware of your own biases. Are you weighting possibilities
objectively or leaning toward personal desires and comfort
levels? Give each option its due. Enlist the help of a good

thinking partner to ensure that your decisions are made for
the right reasons. Others will respect your integrity and your
desire for objectivity.

SHOW COMPASSION

o Apply your strategic thinking to your relationships. Write
down a list of the people who have the most positive

influence in your life, and then map out specific things
you can do to reinvest even more time and effort in each
relationship.

o What are your goals for family? Close friends? What are
their goals? Turn your strategic thinking talents toward
these intimate partners in your life. Does someone have a
dream but is seeing only obstacles? Does someone feel stuck

somewhere with no options? You can help others circumvent
a rocky path by pointing out alternate routes. Show that you
care by helping them discover the possibilities.

230 I STRENGTHS BASED LEADERSHIP

PROVIDE STABILITY

o Take time to study the strategies employed by effective
leaders you respect or admire. Input equals output; the
insights you gather are likely to have a stimulating and

resourceful effect on your own strategic thinking. Make
others aware that you are not bound by your own thinking
and that your options and choices are supported by research.
When they see the historical perspective and outside counsel

you value, they will appreciate the stable foundation upon
which your ideas are built.

o While others may consider only the tried-and-true route,
you also see the many possibilities that could result from
taking a road less traveled. Set aside time specifically for
considering “what ifs;’ and position yourself as a leader in

that area. Explain your belief that focusing only on what has
gone before may be more limiting than it is enlightening,
and help others understand that all options will be carefully
weighed. Your open-minded consideration will give others a
sense of certainty that you are always on the lookout for the

best path to take.

CREATE HOPE

o Make sure that you are involved on the front end of new
initiatives or enterprises. Your innovative yet methodical
approach will be critical to the genesis of a venture because
it will keep its creators from developing counterproductive
tunnel vision. Broaden their view and increase their chances

for success.

o Your strategic thinking will be necessary to keep an
achievable vision from deteriorating into a mere pipe dream.

Lead people and organizations to fully consider all possible
paths toward making a vision a reality. Wise forethought can
remove obstacles before they appear and inspire others to

move forward.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES I 231

o Make yourself known as a resource for consultation with
those who are stumped by a particular problem or hindered
by an obstacle or barrier. By naturally seeing a way when
others are convinced there is no way, you will encourage
them and lead them to success.

LEADING OTHERS WITH STRONG STRATEGIC

o Position this person on the leading edge of your
organization. His ability to anticipate problems and their
solutions will be invaluable. Ask him to sort through all
of the possibilities and find the best way forward for your
department. Suggest that he report back on the most
effective strategy.

o Recognize this person’s strong Strategic talents by sending
him to a strategic planning or future-oriented seminar. The
content will sharpen his ideas.

o This person is likely to have a talent for putting his ideas
and thoughts into words. To refine his thinking, ask him to
present his ideas to his colleagues or to write about them for
internal distribution.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES I 233

LEADING WITH WOO

People strong in the Woo theme love the challenge of m~:~ng l
new people and winning them over. They derive satisfaction ~
from breaking the ice and making a connection with another .

person. ~~~~~~~ ~ ~~ ___ ~ J
BUILD TRUST

o You naturally charm others. Be certain that you do it with
integrity so they can trust you when it matters. Otherwise,
you may have contacts but not followers.

o Others may share a good deal of information with you,
even on a first meeting. How can you collect and store that
information so that individuals feel like their contributions
are valued and, when necessary, protected? Invest in a

system for maintaining contact with key people and logging
important details of conversations. Make sure to exercise
discretion when these details may be sensitive so others will

trust you and continue to keep in contact.

SHOW COMPASSION

o You win friends and fans wherever you go. It’s important to
you that some of those contacts develop into long-lasting
partnerships. Consider how to make those individuals

feel a special connection with you – beyond the quick
relationship you build with everyone you meet. How can
you take important relationships to the next level? Invest the
time and consideration necessary to do so.

o Leaders continuously build networks of trust, support, and
communication by contacting and relating with a wide
range of people. By building a constituency, leaders make an

impact across barriers of time, distance, and culture. Create
a map of your social network to define how broad you can go
while still maintaining a genuine connection.

234 I STRENGTHS BASED LEADERSHIP

PROVIDE STABILITY

o Share the breadth and depth of your network with others.
Knowing that you have contacts everywhere can help
people feel sure that you are in on the latest information and
confident in the support you can expect when you need it.

o Get out and talk to your customers and your competitors,
or get involved in the community. Effective leaders don’t
think their influence stops at the organizational walls, but
rather recognize the larger network of affiliation and employ
their influence within it. Enjoying a wide base of support
helps ensure the continued existence of organizations and

opportunities for their expansion.

CREATE HOPE

o Your Woo talents give you the ability to quicken the pulse
of your organization. Recognize the power of your presence
and how you can inspire an exchange of ideas. By simply
starting conversations that engage your associates and
bringing talented people together, you will help dramatically
improve individual and organizational performance.

o All of your meeting and greeting is sure to produce
information that’s valuable to others – information from
the customers, superiors, and colleagues of those you are
trying to help and guide. Wherever you can, spread the good
news and not the gossip. Let others know what they’re doing
well and how they’re being perceived. Share with them the
product of your wide-ranging influence, and help them feel
affirmed when they succeed at pleaSing others.

LEADING OTHERS WITH STRONG WOO

o Place this person at your organization’s initial point of
contact with the outside world.

o Help this person refine her system for remembering the
names of the people she meets. Set a goal for her to learn
the names of – and a few personal details about – as many

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES I 235

customers as possible. She can help your organization make
many connections in the marketplace.

D Unless this person also has strong talents in themes such
as Empathy and Relator, don’t expect her to enjoy a role
in which she’s asked to build close relationships with your
customers. Instead, she may prefer to meet and greet, win
over, and move on to the next prospect.

U This person’s strong Woo talents will win you over and cause
you to like her. When considering her for new roles and
responsibilities, make sure that you look past your fondness
to her genuine strengths. Don’t let her Woo dazzle you.

D If possible, ask this person to be the builder of goodwill for
your organization in your community. Have her represent
your organization at community clubs and meetings.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES I 237

THE RESEARCH

The following three sections are intended to provide a high-

level overview of the research behind the book Strengths

Based Leadership. For more detailed information, please go to

strengths. gallup. com. Click on the Publications tab and choose

Strengths Based Leadership. Then, click on the research link.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES I 239

A: YOUR STRENGTHS: THE RESEARCH BEHIND
STRENGTHSFINDER

This section is adapted from the Clifton StrengthsFinder 2.0 Technical
Report: Development and Validation by Asplund, Lopez, Hodges, and
Harter (2007).

INTRODUCTION

The Clifton StrengthsFinder (CSF) is an online measure of personal
talent that identifies areas where an individual’s greatest potential for
building strengths exists. By identifying one’s top themes of talent, the
CSF provides a starting point in the identification of specific personal

talents, and the related supporting materials help individuals discover

how to build upon their talents to develop strengths within their roles.
The primary application of the CSF is as an evaluation that initiates a

strengths-based development process in work and academic settings.
As an omnibus assessment based on strengths psychology, its main
application has been in the work domain, but it has been used for

understanding individuals in a variety of settings – employees,
executive teams, students, families, and personal development.

The CSF is not designed or validated for use in employee selection

or mental health screening. Given that CSF feedback is provided to

foster intrapersonal development, comparisons across profiles of
individuals are discouraged.

STRENGTHS THEORY

When educational psychologist Donald o. Clifton first designed the
interviews that subsequently became the basis for the CSF, he began
by asking, “What would happen if we studied what is right with

people?” Thus emerged a philosophy of using talents as the basis
for consistent achievement of excellence (strength). Specifically, the

strengths philosophy is the assertion that individuals are able to gain
far more when they expend effort to build on their greatest talents

240 I STRENGTHS BASED LEADERSHIP

than when they spend a comparable amount of effort to remediate
their weaknesses (Clifton & Harter, 2003).

Clifton hypothesized that these talents were “naturally recurring
patterns of thought, feeling, or behavior that can be productively
applied” (Hodges & Clifton, 2004, p. 257). “Strengths” are viewed

as the result of maximized talents. Specifically, a strength is mastery
created when one’s most powerful talents are refined with practice and
combined with acquired relevant skills and knowledge. The CSF is

designed to measure the raw talents that can serve as the foundation of
strengths. Thus the purpose of the instrument is to identify “Signature
Themes” of talent that serve as a starting point in the discovery of

talents that can be productively applied to achieve success.

DEVELOPMENT OF THE CLIFTON STRENGTHSFINDER

Gallup, widely known for its polls (Gallup, 2004; Newport, 2004) and
employee selection research (Harter, Hayes, & Schmidt, 2004; Schmidt
& Rader, 1999), developed numerous semi-structured interviews to

identify talent that could be enhanced and used to pursue positive
outcomes in work and school. In the 1990s, under the leadership of
Donald O. Clifton, Gallup developed the CSF as an objective measure

of personal talent that could be administered online in less than one

hour. More than two million employees and students worldwide had
completed this measure as ofJanuary 2007.

Clifton, over his 50-year career at the University of Nebraska,
Selection Research Incorporated, and Gallup, studied “frames of
reference” (Clifton, Hollingsworth, & Hall, 1952), teacher-student

rapport (Dodge & Clifton, 1956), management (Clifton, 1970; 1975;

1980), and success across a wide variety of domains in business
and education. (Buckingham & Clifton, 2000; Clifton & Anderson,
2002; Clifton & Nelson, 1992). He based his research and practice

on straightforward notions that stood the test of time and empirical

scrutiny.

First, he believed that talents could be operationalized, studied,

and capitalized upon in work and academic settings. Talents are
manifested in life experiences characterized by yearnings, rapid

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES I 241

learning, satisfactions, and timelessness. These trait-like “raw
materials” are believed to be the products of normal healthy

development and successful experiences over childhood and
adolescence. “Strengths” are viewed as extension of talent. More

precisely, the strength construct combines talents with associated
knowledge and skills and is defined as the ability to consistently
provide near-perfect performance in a specific task. (Though labeled

the Clifton Strengths Finder, the instrument actually measures the
talents that serve as the foundations for strengths development.)

Second, Clifton considered success to be closely associated
with personal talents and strengths in addition to the traditional
constructs linked with analytical intelligence. In accordance with
those beliefs, he worked to identify hundreds of “themes” (categories)

of personal talents that predicted work and academic success, and

he constructed empirically based, semi-structured interviews for
identifying these themes. When developing the interviews, Clifton
and analysts examined the prescribed roles of a person (e.g., student,
salesperson, administrator); visited the job site or academic setting;
identified outstanding performers in these roles and settings; and
determined the long-standing thoughts, feelings, and behaviors

associated with situational success. Many of the interviews developed
provided useful predictions of positive outcomes (Schmidt & Rader,

1999). These interviews subsequently were administered by Gallup

analysts to more than two million individuals for the purposes of
personal development and employee selection. In the mid-1990s,

when considering the creation of an objective measure of talent,
Clifton and colleagues systematically reviewed these interviews and
the data they generated to capitalize on the accumulated knowledge
and experience of Gallup’s talent-based practice.

The prominence of dimensions and items relating to motivation
and to values in much of the interview research informed the design
of an instrument that can identify those enduring human qualities.

An initial pool of more than 5,000 items was constructed on the basis
of traditional validity evidence. Given the breadth of talent assessed,
the pool of items was considered large and diverse.

242 I STRENGTHS BASED LEADERSHIP

A smaller pool was derived subsequent to quantitative review of
item functioning and a content review of the representativeness of
themes and items within themes (with an eye toward the construct
validity of the entire assessment). Specifically, evidence used to
evaluate the item pairs was taken from a database of criterion-related
validity studies, including over 100 predictive validity studies (Schmidt
& Rader, 1999). Factor and reliability analyses were conducted in
multiple samples to assess the contribution of items to measurement
of themes and the consistency and stability of theme scores – thereby
achieving the goal of a balance between maximized theme information
and efficiency in instrument length. During development phases, a
number of sets of items were pilot tested. The items with the strongest
psychometric properties (including item correlation to theme) were
retained.

In 1999, a 35-theme version of the CSF was launched. After
several months of data were collected, researchers revisited the
instrument and, based on analyses of theme uniqueness and
redundancy, decided on 180 items and 34 themes. Since 1999, some
theme names have changed, but the theme descriptions have not
changed substantially.

Today, the CSF is available in 24 languages and is modifiable
for individuals with disabilities. It has been taken by more than
two million individuals all over the world. It is appropriate for
administration to adolescents and adults with a reading level of
10th grade or higher. In 2006, Gallup researchers undertook a
comprehensive review of CSF psychometrics, which led to some
revisions in the instrument. Confirmatory studies (presented in a
subsequent section) validate the 34-theme structure in both adult
and student populations. In the course of reviewing more than
one million cases in multiple studies, some possible improvements
in theme validities and reliabilities were identified. Some of these
improvements involved rescoring of existing items, whereas some
others required the addition of some new items. These new items
were drawn from Gallup’s library of talent-related items and from
researchers’ experience in building structured interviews and

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES I 243

providing talent feedback. Finally, there were items that had been

included in the 180-item version of the eSF but never used in theme
scores.

A thorough review of each of these items showed many to

be unnecessary as either distracters or scored items. They were
consequently removed. The result of all of these item changes was a
slight reduction in the length of the instrument, from 180 items to
177.

Researchers both inside and outside of Gallup contributed a
number of the investigations into the esp’s continuing reliability,
validity, and applicability to both the general population and college
students in particular. Those most recent studies have included:

CONFIRMATORY STUDIES:

Sireci (University of Massachusetts): n = 10,000

Lopez (University of Kansas), Hodges (Gallup), Harter
(Gallup): n = 601,049

Asplund (Gallup): n = 110,438

Asplund: n = 250,000

Asplund: n = 472,850

RELIABILITY STUDIES:

Schreiner (Azusa Pacific): n = 438

Lopez, Harter, Hodges: n = 706

Asplund: n = 110,438

Asplund: n = 250,000
Asplund: n = 472,850

OTHER VALIDITY STUDIES:

Lopez, Hodges, Harter: n = 297

Schreiner: n = 438

Stone (Harvard): n = 278

244 I STRENGTHS BASED LEADERSHIP

UTILITY STUDIES:

Asplund: n = 90,000 employees in more than 900 business

units

Various additional case studies

Separately, each of these studies affirms the ongoing viability of

the CSF. More importantly, the collective evidence of all this work is
convergent regarding the psychometric properties of the CSF, as well
as regarding the details of its validity.

Notwithstanding the confirmatory evidence provided by this
body of research, Gallup researchers identified some areas in which
the CSF could be improved psychometrically. In particular, it was

observed that some of the items could be improved, removed, or
replaced. As a logical first step to improving the psychometrics,

Gallup researchers thoroughly examined each unscored statement
to see whether it could be used to improve the performance of
the assessment. Unscored statements that showed no utility were
removed, if possible. (Several of the unscored statements are paired
with a scored statement, and therefore are not subject for removal at

this time.)

ADMINISTRATION AND FEEDBACK

Feedback varies in accordance with the reason the person completes
the CSF. Summary scores are not provided to respondents. In most
cases, the respondent receives a report listing his or her top five talent
themes – those in which the person received his or her highest scores,
in order of intensity – the aforementioned “Signature Themes:’ In
other situations, the respondent may review his or her sequence of

all 34 themes, along with “action items” for each theme, in a personal
feedback session with a Gallup consultant or in a supervised team-

building session with colleagues.

In programs designed to promote strengths-based development,
feedback is often accompanied by instruction, experiential learning,
and mentoring activities designed to help people make the most of

their talents (i.e., develop strengths associated with occupational or

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES I 245

educational roles). As part of this update to the eSF, a new, more
detailed type of feedback is provided: talent descriptions that go
beyond the Signature Themes by looking at item-level responses.
These “strengths insights” provide a more customized version of the

respondent’s Signature Themes report featuring a more in-depth
dive into the nuances of what makes her unique, using more than

5,000 new personalized strengths insights that Gallup researchers
have discovered in recent years. This feedback based on both theme
and item-level data provides a richer description of the particular
combination of responses provided by the participant.

APPLICATION: STRENGTHS-BASED DEVELOPMENT

The eSF is often used as a starting point for self-discovery in Gallup

strengths-based development programs. After a respondent has

completed the assessment and talent feedback is provided, a set of
developmental suggestions is customized to the individual’s Signature
Themes and to her role to help her integrate her talents into a more
informed view of self. As the identification and integration stages
of strengths development unfold, behavioral change is encouraged.
Specifically, the strengths-based development process encourages

individuals to build strengths by acquiring skills (i.e., basic abilities)
and knowledge (i.e., what you know, including facts and making
meaning from experiences) that can complement their greatest talents

in application to specific tasks.

The esp’s intended purpose is to facilitate personal development
and growth. It is intended and used as a springboard for discussion

with managers, friends, colleagues, and advisers and as a tool for self-
awareness. eSF results are viewed as a preliminary hypotheSis to be
verified with the respondent. Accordingly, feedback about talents and
strengths development often forms the basis of further interventions

that help individuals capitalize on their greatest talents and apply them
to new challenges. For this application, the psychometric properties
of the instrument are more than adequate.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES I 247

B: YOUR TEAM: GALLUP’S RESEARCH ON WORK TEAM
ENGAGEMENT

For more information on engaging teams throughout your organization,
we recommend reading the popular management books First, Break All
the Rules and 12: The Elements of Great Managing, which are dedicated
to this topic. If you would like more detailed or scholarly information on
this subject, please contact Gallup or see the following source:

Harter, J.K.. Schmidt. EL.. & Hayes. T.L. (2002). Business-unit-level relationship
between employee satisfaction. employee engagement. and business outcomes: A
meta-analysis. Journal of Applied Psychology. 87 (2), 268-279.

After conducting millions of lengthy surveys and comparing
the responses to data on productivity, turnover, and many other
outcomes, in 1999, our colleagues at Gallup identified 12 core
elements that measure the engagement of a local work team. Whether
you lead five people or 500 people, engaging your immediate team
requires spending time on the basics. Even if you are leading
hundreds of people, you likely have a smaller team that looks to you
for daily management and gUidance. For this group, these elements
are the 12 best predictors of engagement and subsequent business
outcomes. And for the most part, they are within the control of, and
most directly influenced by, the manager or leader employees are
closest to at work.

As a result, when it comes to your local team, you can expect to
have a more engaged group if your team members can strongly agree
with these 12 items:

1. I know what is expected of me at work.

2. I have the materials and equipment I need to do my work
right.

3. At work, I have the opportunity to do what I do best every
day.

248 I STRENGTHS BASED LEADERSHIP

4. In the last seven days, I have received recognition or praise for

doing good work.

5. My supervisor, or someone at work, seems to care about me

as a person.

6. There is someone at work who encourages my development.

7. At work, my opinions seem to count.

S. The mission or purpose of my company makes me feel my job

is important.

9. My fellow employees are committed to doing quality work.

10. I have a best friend at work.

11. In the last six months, someone at work has talked to me about

my progress.

12. This last year, I have had opportunities at work to learn and

grow.

Some of these elements may be beyond your control, but you
can dramatically influence your immediate team’s engagement if you
start with these 12 basics. The key is to measure your team’s responses

to these 12 items every 6-12 months and track your progress to
ensure that you are doing your best to engage your most important

constituency.

Recently, we have also been testing several additional items to
determine if a leader who is somewhat removed from frontline

employees (e.g., a CEO or General Manager) could have a cascading
impact on people throughout the organization, even if several levels
of hierarchy exist. After testing all of these items, we were able to

narrow them down to three that appeared to be the best predictors of

key business outcomes:

1. The leadership of my company always treats me with respect.

2. I am confident in my company’s financial future.

3. The leadership of my company makes me enthusiastic about

the future.

We have now used these items to survey employees in several
industries and countries. We have also conducted national polls to test

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES I 249

the effectiveness of these organizational leadership items. Including
these three more global, cascading items with the core 12 elements
allowed us to sort out just how much was within an executive (or

indirect) leader’s control and how much was not. Based on our earlier
research, many of our colleagues speculated that “it was all about the
local workgroup” – and they were quick to dismiss the notion that a

CEO could have an impact on someone on the front lines of a large

company, at least in a way that we could quantify.

Yet we were able to see and measure such an impact, one that
went above and beyond the variance that could be explained by

workgroup-level engagement. For example, when we studied how
likely employees are to recommend their company’s products, we
found that, overall, just 56% of people surveyed would advocate their

own company’s products to a friend. When we looked at engaged
employees, that number went up to 86%. Then, when we looked at

employees who were both engaged and able to strongly agree with
these three leadership items, 95% would recommend their company’s

products.

So engagement alone boosts this measure by 30 percentage
points – and then if employees are fully engaged with the company’s

leadership, that adds another 9 percentage points. We have looked
at this in relationship to several other outcomes and see similar

results across the board when employees strongly agree with all three
of these key leadership items. Much like the core 12 items, getting
to near perfect on this organizational leadership metric is likely to
take several years. But if 50 – or 500,000 – people look to you for

leadership, these are the best starting points for measuring the impact
you are having on your constituency.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES I 251

c: WHY PEOPLE FOLLOW

OVERVIEW

While countless studies have explored the broader topic ofleadership,

primarily through a qualitative lens, very little work has been done
to examine leadership from the follower’s perspective. However, this
might be the most relevant information to the millions of people who
aspire to lead. This study examined data from Gallup Polls of more
than 10,000 people that asked followers to describe what leaders

contribute to their lives.

METHODS

The initial data were collected from Gallup Polls of 10,004 U.S.
adults (over age 18) conducted from 2005-2006 using Gallup’s
standard Random Digit Dial (RDD) methodology. In sharp contrast

to other analyses conducted on leadership, which are primarily
based on case studies, interviews, research with one organization,
or convenience samples, this methodology allowed us to look at a

fairly representative sampling that can be projected to the entire
population (with a sampling error of plus or minus one percentage
point, given the sample size). Although the polls were conducted

with people who were over the age of 18, respondents were not

excluded from the survey if they were unemployed. This allowed us
to examine leadership that extends beyond an organization’s walls –

leadership that is taking place in social networks, schools, churches,
and families as well. A two-part question was used for this research.
(See Figure 1.)

252 I STRENGTHS BASED LEADERSHIP

1. What leader has the most positive influence in your

daily life?

Take a few moments to think about this question if

you need to. Once you have someone in mind, please

list his or her initials.

(Interviewer records initials)

2. Now, please list three words that best describe what

this person contributes to your life.

a.
b.
c.

Figure 1. Primary survey question used for analysis.

The first part of the question asked respondents to identify a

specific leader, which required them to isolate the person who has the
most positive influence on their life. In theory, asking respondents to

provide initials for one specific person likely helped them to identify

more specific contributions in the second part of this question. The
use of the word “positive” was important because we didn’t want to
study leaders who have a predominantly negative influence. The last
three words of the first part of the question – “your daily life” –
were critical to examining the type ofleadership that makes a tangible
and practical difference on a day-to-day basis. This differentiated the

question even more from the typical “Whom do you admire most?” or
“Who is the best leader you know?” questions that Gallup and others
have asked in the past. Questions like these often result in respondents

naming major political, religious, and athletic celebrities.

After respondents identified the leader they were thinking about,
Gallup interviewers asked them to list three words that “best describe

what this person contributes to your life:’ It is important to note the
focus on what the leader contributes to the follower’s life. Again,

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES I 253

traditional studies have concentrated on the qualities of the leader
herself and would have framed this question around descriptions
of the leader’s style. In contrast, the question asked in this survey
identifies what the leader is actually adding to the follower’s life,

which is a very different question. Perhaps most importantly, the
fact that Gallup’s survey asked for just three words per person made

it substantially easier to analyze the content from these surveys,
particularly when compared to more open-ended questions.

The word responses were compiled into a single Microsoft Excel
file for cleaning and coding. First, the Excel spelling tool was used

to find and correct spelling errors in the responses. In certain cases,
the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary was also used to fix spelling

errors. Second, any duplicate responses given by a respondent were
identified and removed from the word response file. Next, cases

where respondents provided more than one word per response
were identified. If it was clear that the additional words represented

separate concepts, then these additional words were separated out
and considered additional responses. Finally, any responses that
were unintelligible or that could be considered non-responses were

identified and coded.

Once the cleaning and coding stage of the word responses was
complete, the data were weight~d to be more representative of the U.S.
population, and the first three responses from each respondent were

removed from the file for word frequency analysis. A weighted word-
frequency count was conducted on all of the responses. The counts for
each response were ranked from highest to lowest frequency to identify

a set of the most frequently mentioned words that best describe what
everyday leaders contribute to the lives of the respondents.

RESULTS AND FUTURE RESEARCH

The primary results of this research are presented in Part Three of this
book. Based on our initial studies of 10,004 people, the following key

themes (or basic needs) emerged:

Trust (other words cited by followers included: honesty,
integrity, and respect)

254 I STRENGTHS BASED LEADERSHIP

Compassion (other words cited by followers included:
caring,friendship, happiness, and love)

Stability (other words cited by followers included: security,
strength, support, and peace)

Hope (other words cited by followers included: direction,
faith, and guidance)

As we reviewed the research based on the initial question in Figure
1, we found that more than 85% of respondents selected someone
they described as a friend, family member, coworker, teacher, or
current manager/immediate supervisor. In the vast majority of cases,

the leader who had the most impact was someone very close to the
person answering the survey.

What’s more, people mentioned a leader they had known for a

long time. Another question on this survey was: “How long have you

known this person?” and the most common response was 10 years.
More than 75% of the people we surveyed named a person they had
know for six or more years, and 90% said they had known the person

for three or more years.

To determine if followers have similar needs when it comes to
higher level organizational and global leaders, we conducted another

study in 2008. For this study, we surveyed an additional 1,000 U.S.
adults (over age 18) using Gallup’s standard Random Digit Dial
(RDD) methodology. This time, we modified the question wording

and asked respondents specifically about an “organizational leader”
and a “global leader:’ We also removed the word “daily” to ensure
that we were asking about a different level of leadership with these

new questions. We used the same follow-up language requesting
three words that best describe what this person contributes to the

respondents’lik (See Figure 2 and Figure 3.)

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES I 255

1. What organizational leader has the most positive
influence in

your life?

Take a few moments to think about this question if
you need to. Once you have someone in mind, please
list his or her initials.
(Interviewer records initials)

2. Now, please list three words that best describe what
this person contributes to your life.

a.
b.
c.

Figure 2. Second (organizational) survey question used for analysis.

1. What global leader has the most positive influence in

your life?

Take a few moments to think about this question if
you need to. Once you have someone in mind, please

list his or her initials.
(Interviewer records initials)
2. Now, please list three words that best describe what
this person contributes to your life.
a.
b.
c.

Figure 3. Third (global) survey question used for analysis.

256 I STRENGTHS BASED LEADERSHIP

After reviewing the responses to the modified questions, to
our surprise, very little had changed. The sequence of words in the

Compassion domain did change slightly compared to the initial study
(Le., a smaller percentage of people used the word “caring;’ and a
larger percentage used the word “compassion”). Yet overall, the same

categories and words appeared with remarkable consistency.

The next phase of this follower study (which is currently in
progress) will examine the core research question in several countries
around the globe. At the time of this book’s publication, studies of
more than 1,000 adults were underway – using Gallup’s standard
RDD methodology – in the following countries:

Australia

Brazil

Canada

China

India

Japan

New Zealand

Singapore

Thailand

We have conducted a preliminary review of these data from the
predominantly English-speaking countries of Australia, Canada,

and New Zealand, where translations of the “please list three words”
question were not necessary. Based on this initial review, it appears
that followers are using a remarkably similar set of words to describe
what they expect ofleaders in these three countries. However, a more

detailed analysis will be conducted once data from several more
countries have been collected. We plan to publish these findings on
Gallup’s website and in future international editions of this book.

REFERENCES

I 259

REFERENCES

For the references cited here, the page number and a short phrase

corresponding to each reference in the text are listed below. Please
note that any statistics not cited in this section stem from Gallup
research and/or studies conducted specifically for publication in this

book.
INTRODUCTION

In a recent Gallup Poll: Gallup Poll, based on telephone

interviews with 1,001 national adults, aged 18 and older,
conducted January 2-24, 2006. For results based on this
sample, one can say with 95% confidence that the margin

of error is ±3 percentage

points.

2 In this study: Gallup Poll, based on 10,004 telephone
interviews with national adults, aged 18 and older,
conducted 2005-2006. For results based on this sample,
one can say with 95% confidence that the margin of error

is ±1 percentage point.

Gallup Poll, based on 1,000 telephone interviews with

national adults, aged 18 and older, conducted in

2008.

For results based on this sample, one can say with 95%

confidence that the margin of error is ±3 percentage

points.

2 In the workplace: Gallup Poll, based on telephone
interviews with 1,009 working adults, aged 18 and older,

conducted February 2002. For results based on this
sample, one can say with 95% confidence that the margin

of error is ±3 percentage points.

260 I STRENGTHS BASED LEADERSHIP

PART ONE: INVESTING IN YOUR STRENGTHS

10 ”I’ve never met an effective leader”: Solomon, D. (2007,
July 1). Questions for Wesley K. Clark: Generally speaking

[Electronic version]. The New York Times Magazine.

l3 To help aspiring leaders: Asplund, J., Lopez, S.J., Hodges,
T., & Harter, J. (2007, February). The Clifton StrengthsFinder

2.0 technical report: Development and validation. Omaha,

NE: The Gallup Organization.

14 As you can see in the chart below: Gallup Poll, based on
telephone interviews with 1,009 working adults, aged 18

and older, conducted February 2002. For results based

on this sample, one can say with 95% confidence that the

margin of error is ±3 percentage points.

15 This increase in confidence: Hodges, T.D., & Clifton, D.O.
(2004). Strengths-based development in practice. In P.A.

Linley, & S. Joseph (Eds.), Positive psychology in practice

(pp. 256-268). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.

15 The awareness of one’s strengths: Judge, T.A., & Hurst, C.
(2008). How the rich ( and happy) get richer (and happier):

Relationship of core self-evaluations to trajectories in

attaining work success. Journal of Applied Psychology, 93,

849-863.

16 The results of this study: DiPrete, T.A., & Eirich,
G.M. (2006). Cumulative advantage as a mechanism

for inequality: A review of theoretical and empirical

developments. Annual Review of Sociology, 32, 271-297.

REFERENCES I 261

PART TWO: MAXIMIZING YOUR TEAM

22 Israeli President Shimon Peres: Gallup Leadership
Interview with Shimon Peres conducted on February 21,

1999.

31 During her senior year at Princeton: Kopp, W (2001).
One day, all children … ; The unlikely triumph of teach

for America and what I learned along the way. New York:
PublicAffairs.

34 A New York Times headline read: Chira, S. (1990, June
20). Princeton student’s brainstorm: A peace corps to train

teachers [Electronic versionJ. The New York Times.

35 In 2008, we followed up with Wendy Kopp: Gallup
Leadership Interview with Wendy Kopp conducted on

January 25, 2008.

36 In 2005, one in eight Yale graduates: Lewin, T. (2005,
October 2). Top graduates line up to teach to the poor
[Electronic version]. The New York Times.

42 When you sit in a room with Cooper: Gallup Leadership
Interview with Simon Cooper conducted on March 31,

2008.

42 Born just outside of London: Crockett, R.O. (2006, May
29). Keeping Ritz-Carlton at the top of its game [Electronic

version J. Business Week.

262 I STRENGTHS BASED LEADERSHIP

43 As Cooper studied his customers’ attachment: Robison, J.

(2006, October 12). How the Ritz-Carlton is reinventing

itself. Gallup Management Journal. Retrieved August 27,
2008, from http://gmj.gallup.com/ content/24871/How-
RitzCarlton -Reinventing -Itself.aspx

45 When it comes to a guest’s engagement: Michelli, J.A.
(2008). The new gold standard: 5 leadership principles for

creating a legendary custom experience courtesy of the Ritz-

Carlton hotel company. New York: McGraw-Hill.

45 When Cooper introduced this concept: Sinclair, K. (2002).
Putting on the ‘nouveau Ritz’ [Electronic version]. Hotel

Asia Pacific.

45 When questioned in a 2002 interview: Ibid.

49 Yet when you speak to Mervyn Davies: Gallup Leadership
Interview with Mervyn Davies conducted on March 5,

2008.

51 Throughout this process: Berry, M. (2006, February 7).

Passion for people [Electronic version]. Personnel Today.

53 By this time, Davies was a regular: Inventive and dynamic
risk-takers who changed the face of Britain [Electronic

version]. (2008, January 10). The Times.

53 But as The New York Times: Timmons, H. (2006, October

6). So far, always the predator, not the prey [Electronic
version]. The New York Times.

REFERENCES I 263

53 … and The Economist: Standard Chartered: The
decoupled bank [Electronic version]. (2008, February 28).
The Economist.

60 But when we spent some time with Best Buy CEO Brad
Anderson: Gallup Leadership Interview with Brad
Anderson conducted on February 27,2008.

76 As former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan
described: Gallup Leadership Interview with Kofi Annan
conducted on July 27,1999.

PART THREE: UNDERSTANDING WHY PEOPLE FOLLOW

79 As legendary investor Warren Buffett put it: Boden, A.,
& Ashurov, A. (2003, April 28). A walk in the rain with
Warren Buffett [Electronic version]. The Harbus.

81 As Peter Drucker said: Ward, A. (2006). Looking for
leaders [Electronic version]. Leadership.

83 One of our national polls: Gallup Poll, based on telephone
interviews with 1,009 working adults, aged 18 and older,

conducted February 2002. For results based on this
sample, one can say with 95% confidence that the margin
of error is ±3 percentage points.

85 And we found that people who agree with this statement:
Buckingham, M., & Coffman, C. (1999). First, break all
the rules: What the world’s greatest managers do differently.
New York: Simon & Schuster.

264 I STRENGTHS BASED LEADERSHIP

87 Employees who have high confidence: Gallup Polls, based
on telephone interviews with 3,008 working adults, aged

18 and older, conducted between April 2004 and May
2005. For results based on this sample, one can say with
95% confidence that the margin of error is ±3 percentage

points.

89 Sixty-nine percent of employees: Gallup Polls, based on
telephone interviews with 3,008 working adults, aged 18
and older, conducted between April 2004 and May 2005.
For results based on this sample, one can say with 95%

confidence that the margin of error is ±3 percentage
points.

CONCLUSION: LEADERSHIP THAT LASTS BEYOND A LIFETIME

94 Martin Luther King Jr. preached: Branch, T. (2006,
January 1). “I have seen the promised land” [Electronic

version]. Time.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: THE RESEARCH

A: Your Strengths: The Research Behind StrengthsFinder

239 Specifically, the strengths philosophy: Clifton, D.O.,
& Harter, J.K. (2003). Strengths investment. In K.S.

Cameron, J.E. Dutton, & R.E. Quinn (Eds.), Positive
organizational scholarship. (pp. 111-121). San Francisco:
Berrett-Koehler.

240 Clifton hypothesized: Hodges, T.D., & Clifton, D.O. (2004).
Strengths-based development in practice. In A. Linley & S.

Joseph (Eds.), Handbook of positive psychology in practice.

Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley and Sons, Inc.

REFERENCES I 265

240 Gallup, widely known for its polls: Gallup, G. (2004). The
Gallup Poll: Public opinion 2003. Lanham, MD. Roman
and Littlefield.

Newport, E (2004). Polling matters. New York: Warner
Books.

240 … and employee selection research: Harter, J.K., Hayes,
T.L., & Schmidt, EL. (2004). Meta-analytic predictive
validity of Gallup Selection Research Instruments [technical
reportJ. Omaha, NE: The Gallup Organization.

Schmidt, EL., & Rader, M. (1999). Exploring the boundary

conditions for interview validity: Meta-analytic validity

findings for a new interview type. Personnel Psychology,
52,445-464.

240 Clifton, over his 50-year career: Clifton, D.O.,
Hollingsworth, EL., & Hall, W.E. (1952). A projective

technique for measuring positive and negative attitudes
towards people in a real-life situation. Journal of
Educational Psychology, 43.

240 … teacher-student rapport: Dodge, G.w., & Clifton,
D.O. (1956). Teacher-pupil rapport and student teacher

characteristics, Journal of Educational Psychology, 47, 6.

266 I STRENGTHS BASED LEADERSHIP

240 … management: Clifton, D.O. (1970, March). The

magnificence of management. A reprint of an address
presented to the 8th Annual Life Agency Management
Program. Boston, Mass.

Clifton, D.o. (1975). Interaction is: Where the action is.
A reprint of a report prepared by Donald O. Clifton and
presented at the 1972 Chartered Life Underwriters (CLU)
Forum.

Clifton, D.O. (1980). Varsity Management: A way to
increase productivity. A reprint of an address presented to

the 29th Annual Consumer Credit Insurance Association
(CCIA) Program on June 24,1980. Napa, California.

240 … business and education: Buckingham, M., & Clifton,
D.O. (2000). Now, discover your strengths. New York: Free
Press.

Clifton, D.O., & Anderson, E. (2002). StrengthsQuest:
Discover and develop your strengths in academics, career,

and beyond. New York: Gallup Press.

Clifton, D.O, & Nelson, P. (1992). Soar with your strengths.
New York: Delacorte Press.

241 Many of the interviews: Schmidt, EL., & Rader, M. (1999).
Exploring the boundary conditions for interview validity:

Meta-analytic validity findings for a new interview type.
Personnel Psychology, 52, 445-464.

242 Specifically, evidence used: Ibid.

LEARN MORE ABOUT
STRENGTHS-BASED LEADERSHIP

Gallup Consulting provides organizations with a broad range of

Strengths-Based Leadership services, including:

Leadership Development Programs

Leadership Assessment

Leadership Team Design

Executive Coaching

Succession Planning

A fully accredited Master’s Degree in Executive Leadership

For more information, e-mail SBL@gallup.com or call 202.715.3152

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

TOM RATH

Gallup Global Practice Leader Tom Rath has written two #1
international bestsellers. His first book, How Pull Is Your Bucket?,
was a #1 New York Times bestseller, and his most recent book,
StrengthsPinder 2.0, is a long-running #1 Wall Street Journal and #1
Business Week bestseller. In total, Rath’s books have sold more than a
million copies and have made more than 100 appearances on the Wall
Street Journal bestseller list.

Rath has been with Gallup for 14 years and currently leads Gallup’s
workplace research and leadership consulting worldwide. He also
serves on the board of VHL.org, an organization dedicated to cancer
research and patient support.

Rath earned degrees from the University of Michigan and the
University of Pennsylvania. He and his wife, Ashley, live in
Washington, D.C.

BARRY CONCHIE

A renowned Leadership Consultant, Gallup’s Barry Conchie is sought
after by CEOs around the world to assist in aligning business and
talent strategies that drive performance. As an expert in executive
assessment, team diagnostics, and succession planning, he brings
objective measurement and insight to these important leadership
areas.

Conchie was a public sector leader in the UK before joining Gallup
in London. In 2002, he brought his extensive global experience to
Gallup’s Washington, D.C. headquarters, where Conchie now leads
Gallup’s executive leadership consulting

He and his wife, Nicola, and children, Amy and Thomas, live in
Maryland.

Gallup Press exists to educate and inform the people who govern,

manage, teach, and lead the world’s six billion citizens. Each book

meets Gallup’s requirements of integrity, trust, and independence and

is based on Gallup-approved science and research.

• Strenghts Based Leadership: Great Leaders, Teams & Why People Follow (2008)

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
Three key findings emerged from this research
1. The most effective leaders are always investing in strengths.
2. The most effective leaders surround themselves with the right people and then maximize their team.
3. The most effective leaders understand their followers’ needs.
PART ONE: INVESTING IN YOUR STRENGTHS
LEADING BY IMITATION
FINDING YOUR LEADERSHIP STRENGTHS
A lONG-TERM INVESTMENT
PART TWO: MAXIMIZING YOUR TEAM
WHAT MAKES A GREAT LEADERSHIP TEAM?
The Four Domains of Leadership Strength
LEADERSHIP STRENGTHS IN ACTION
EXECUTING
INFLUENCING
RELATIONSHIP BUILDING
STRATEGIC THINKING
THE COLLECTIVE TALENT OF A TEAM
WHAT STRONG TEAMS HAVE IN COMMON
1. Conflict doesn’t destroy strong teams because strong teams focus on results.
2. Strong teams prioritize what’s best for the organization and then move forward.
3. Members of strong teams are as committed to their personal lives as they are to their work.
4. Strong teams embrace diversity.
5. Strong teams are magnets for talent.
PART THREE: UNDERSTANDING WHY PEOPLE FOLLOW
WHY DO PEOPLE FOLLOW?
Followers’ Four Basic Needs
TRUST
COMPASSION
STABILITY
HOPE
CONCLUSION: LEADERSHIP THAT LASTS BEYOND A LIFETIME
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
TAKING STRENGTHSFINDER

• LEADING WITH YOUR STRENGTHS: A GUIDE TO THE 34 THEMES

LEADING WITH ACHIEVER
Page Printed with Light Ink
LEADING WITH ACTIVATOR
LEADING WITH ADAPTABILITY
Page Printed with Light Ink
LEADING WITH ANALYTICAL
LEADING WITH ARRANGER
LEADING WITH BELIEF
LEADING WITH COMMAND
LEADING WITH COMMUNICATION
LEADING WITH COMPETITION
LEADING WITH CONNECTEDNESS
LEADING WITH CONSISTENCY
LEADING WITH CONTEXT
LEADING WITH DELIBERATIVE
LEADING WITH DEVELOPER
LEADING WITH DISCIPLINE
LEADING WITH EMPATHY
LEADING WITH FOCUS
LEADING WITH FUTURISTIC
LEADING WITH HARMONY
LEADING WITH IDEATION
LEADING WITH INCLUDER
LEADING WITH INDIVIDUALIZATION
LEADING WITH INPUT
LEADING WITH INTELLECTION
LEADING WITH LEARNER
LEADING WITH MAXIMIZER
LEADING WITH POSITIVITY
LEADING WITH RELATOR
LEADING WITH RESPONSIBILITY
LEADING WITH RESTORATIVE
LEADING WITH SELF-ASSURANCE
LEADING WITH SIGNIFICANCE
LEADING WITH STRATEGIC
LEADING WITH WOO
THE RESEARCH
A: YOUR STRENGTHS: THE RESEARCH BEHIND STRENGTHSFINDER
INTRODUCTION
STRENGTHS THEORY
DEVELOPMENT OF THE CLIFTON STRENGTHSFINDER
ADMINISTRATION AND FEEDBACK
APPLICATION: STRENGTHS-BASED DEVELOPMENT
B: YOUR TEAM: GALLUP’S RESEARCH ON WORK TEAM ENGAGEMENT
C: WHY PEOPLE FOLLOW
OVERVIEW
METHODS
RESULTS AND FUTURE RESEARCH
REFERENCES

• LEARN MORE ABOUT STRENGTHS-BASED LEADERSHIP

ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Gallup Press