Maximizing Results - Do You Have a Strengths-Based Team?
By Debbie Adkins, MSA, CPA, CFF & CGMA -
Nperspective CFO Partner
 In 2002, the American Psychological Association honored Donald Clifton as the "Father of Strengths-based Psychology." His work, the "Clifton StrengthsFinder" is an assessment tool that has helped millions of people to discover their strengths. According to Gallup, highly successful people learn to play to
their strengths and to minimize
their weaknesses.
Gallup's research further indicates that high achievers know what their strengths are, find ways to apply their strengths to their tasks and build their lives around their strengths. So, what is a strength? A strength is defined as a talent enhanced by your knowledge and skills. Included in the attributes of strengths are one's attitudes, behavior patterns, beliefs, motivations and thought patterns.
The first step in completing the strengths assessment is the identification of one's top 5 themes (there are a total of 34 different themes). Based on Gallup's decades of research, people who know their strengths and have an opportunity to use them are six times as likely to be engaged in their jobs. Gallup further identifies a strong connection between who people are, what they do best, how they feel and how
they perform.
Three key questions are outlined for each of the team members. The first is to find out what activities give each team member the most energy and excitement. What is it that they'd be happy doing all day long? Second is to engage each team member in a discussion as to how their talents can fulfill the needs of the group. Finally, we want to determine the best "seat on the bus" for each team member. How is it that they can best use their strengths within your organization?
Once each team member's strengths have been identified, we're better able to build strengths-based teams, where we form complementary partnerships. We'll take individual team members, help them understand how their strengths are needed within the overall group (i.e., a department) and then posture them to contribute their strengths for the overall good of the group. Wouldn't it be great to have each of your team members working together as one group to achieve your company's goals? With a deep appreciation of key strengths, you can build your team into a strengths-based organization.
Once the team members have become knowledgeable about strengths, we'll aim towards performance outcomes. Perhaps you'd like to focus on better employee engagement and profitability within your company. Whatever your goal, we'll help you measure success based on individual and
team outcomes.
The next time you're chatting with a prospective client who inquires about what you do; why not share your top five strengths? Don't know them because you haven't done a strengths assessment? We'll conduct a strengths assessment and do some personal coaching so that your team members learn and understand their strengths.
We'll help your managers maximize productivity within their departments. And, we'll help you develop a strengths culture so that the company becomes a strengths-based organization. Companies who embrace strengths coaching see remarkable results in the form of happy, energized, engaged and productive employees. By developing your team, you'll maximize their potential and achieve greater success for
your company!
Nperspective has worked with clients to help them achieve greater results through implementing a strengths - based organization. Please contact Janet Watson at 813.317.3460 or jwatson@npcfo.com if you would like more information about this tool and the practice applications and results achieved.
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