How do I leverage strength-based motivation to improve my work?

Early in my career, I remember finding myself in large meetings where we solved problems by open discussion and discourse.

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I remember feeling that the conversations were moving at the speed of light and that, as a more reflective and introverted person, I couldn't really stand out in these scenarios as much as my more vocal, outspoken peers.

Things changed for me when I began to focus more on what I was good at than what felt like weaknesses. I learned to focus on my strengths.

Focusing on your strengths is one of the most effective ways to tackle challenges on the job and find motivation at work.

While it’s often easy for us to obsess about our weaknesses in an effort to work on "fixing" them, focusing on learning and using our natural strengths at work has proven to have many benefits.

Confidence

When you focus on what you're good at, such as connecting with people or analytical thinking, you naturally start feeling more confident.

People who apply their strengths to their work perform better and are more fulfilled by their work.

Mental Health

It can be natural to want to fix our weaknesses, such as fear of public speaking or being disorganized.

However, people who use a strengths-based mindset to address work challenges experience lower stress, fewer negative emotions, and a stronger sense of wellness in the workplace.

Productivity

Organizations that incorporate strengths discussions and approaches into staff development have more engaged employees and see increases in sales and profits.

Focusing on strengths is good for business!

Team Dynamics

People who focus on using their strengths often develop stronger relationships with others.

When teams are formed based on having a variety of strengths, the performance of the entire team rises.

Now you might be asking: How do I know what I'm good at?

Two well-known tools that help people explore and apply their strengths are CliftonStrengths and High5. Both tools were developed using an evidence-based approach to exploring the strengths we use every day in life and at work.

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CliftonStrengths

CliftonStrengths is an assessment developed by Gallup (yes, the big polling organization) based on organizational research on how people use their natural talents at work.

After taking the assessment, you're presented with your top 5 Talent Themes (or strengths) out of 34.

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High5

The High5 assessment was developed with a focus on combining years of research on strengths-based approaches with feedback from 12,000+ practitioners who work with people.

After completing the assessment, you are presented with a report of your top 5 Strengths out of 20. (Best of all, this one is free!)

When I took the Gallup Strengths and High5 assessments, two strengths that appeared in my results helped me address my challenge of how to best participate in meetings.

Thinker/Intellection

As someone with the Thinker/Intellection strengths, I am naturally reflective and enjoy using critical thinking to solve complex problems.

Using this strength, I aimed to pose a few thoughtful questions at each meeting to guide the discussion in a productive direction.

Strategist

With my Strategist strength, I am naturally good at big picture thinking and connecting the dots between seemingly unrelated parts.

I found that I could make an impact by summarizing the key points made during meetings and suggesting ways for us to reach a consensus.

Rather than trying to be more extroverted and outspoken in meetings, I focused on leveraging my strengths to contribute in a way that was authentic to me, and added my unique abilities to the team.

Once you have an understanding of your strengths, you can increase your engagement and motivation at work (and even in life) by seeking out opportunities to use your strengths every day.

Whether you opt to take the CliftonStrengths, High5, or another strengths-based assessment, there are some practical ways to begin internalizing and using your strengths every day:

• Volunteer for work projects that allow you to use your strengths.

• Consider your daily tasks and how you could adjust your approach to leverage your talents.

• Include the results of your strengths in your preparation for job interviews.

Here are a few more ways to practice using strength-based motivation at work:

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Emily is starting a new role as a first-time manager of a medium-sized team. She has been an impactful leader on her previous teams, and wants to make a good impression in her new organization.

Emily recently completed the CliftonStrengths assessment and wants to use her top 5 talent themes to lead with her strengths.

Some of Emily's top 5 talent themes are:

• Woo: "People exceptionally talented in the Woo theme love the challenge of meeting new people and winning them over."

• Positivity: "People exceptionally talented in the Positivity theme have contagious enthusiasm."

• Learner: "People exceptionally talented in the Learner theme have a great desire to learn and want to continuously improve."

What are the best way(s) for Emily to leverage strength-based motivation in her first couple of weeks as a new manager?

A. Spend her first several days asking questions about her team's work.

B. Schedule a team lunch.

C. Focus on making changes to address team issues.

D. Share some ideas she has from her prior organization to bring a sense of innovation.

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Use strength-based motivation at work to improve your performance: