Play to Your Strengths

      Focus on Team Strengths

Today your team can be responsible for everything from creating new products and services, shrinking cycle times, reengineering outdated processes, solving customer problems, researching innovations, implementing strategic initiatives, developing software solutions, to offering expert advice.

If you're like many managers, you probably expect your employees to be jacks-of-all-trades. You want your employees to show leadership, empathy, attention-to-detail and creativity-all in one smartly dressed package.

But unfortunately, turning every employee into a super star isn't that easy. At work, you've probably noticed that your employees are great at some of the skills, and not so great at the others. And if you're like many managers, you spend a lot of effort trying to get your workers up-to-speed in their weak areas. And as a result, your team members are running ragged trying to do everything.

You're probably wishing you had a magic wand and could just transform individuals into sterling performers. In fact, there is a magic wand! It's as simple as changing your managing approach to focusing on employee strengths.

In my research on talents, I discovered four distinctly different talents that are essential to team success. Each of these talent types play a critical role in delivering value to your organization.

The DIAMOND talent provides the innovative spark for new initiatives. The CLUB talent champions the idea and sets the project up for success. The SPADE talent oversees the project and gets it across the finish line. And the HEART talent builds the trust and teamwork necessary to keep things humming. When these four talent types are working in harmony together, projects and initiatives thrive.

It's easier to get things done when team member talents are aligned with the work they love doing. Discovering the unique talents of individuals on your team helps you use employee strengths fully. Freeing individuals up to use their best talents helps you to:

#1. Turn every employee into an ‘A' player.

It's common knowledge that an ‘A' player produces 150%-300% more than a ‘C' player. By encouraging your employees to use their best talent, you allow them to contribute more.

#2. Keep moral high on your team.

Every individual on your team is born with a unique talent. The more they use this talent, the more energy, enthusiasm, and results they will bring to the table. Additionally, when employees feel that they're using their best talent, they come to work enthused because their organization is fully tapping their potential.

#3. Address performance issues at their root.

All talents have a flip side that must be managed. Recognizing the flip side of talents helps you appreciate why your DIAMOND talent employee loses interest after thinking up the idea. You'll no longer be baffled by their lack of interest. Instead, you'll be able to help them plan for this reaction and compensate for it.

#4. Build greater trust among individuals.

When team members understand the 4 talent types, they develop greater appreciation for each other's contribution. Trust grows as workers realize they have only one piece of the puzzle and need the talents of others to play a bigger game.

Today, start focusing on strengths and you'll discover that achieving team goals is easier, faster - and a lot more fun!

Career Advice

Be intentional. Set your self up for success. Don't wait for others to recognize and appreciate your talents. Let them know what you enjoy doing and where you can add value.

If you have suggestions or ideas, please emailme at faith@faithralston.com and I'll publish in thenext newsletter.

Have a delightful month!

Faith
President, Leaps of Faith, Inc. and Creator of Play toYour Strengths Talent System