We all want to hire people who are good at what they do, but how do we make sure we’re allowing our team members to play to their unique strengths? This is a question that Carrie Fabris has helped many leaders answer as a coach and a speaker, and in this episode, she’s going to share her insight with our listeners.
Anyone who listens to this episode should gain a better understanding of what it means to leverage your strengths in your personal and professional life while also equipping others to do the same.
Here are some takeaways she shared:
1. Many leaders struggle to help their people play to their strengths.
Leaders are often too busy focusing on results versus on the human who’s driving those results. They’re focused on driving the success of the business versus the engagement of the business.
And effective leaders focus on both — driving results through happy, engaged people.
Leaders need to understand and leverage their employees' natural talents, which can be identified using tools like Gallup’s CliftonStrengths assessment. When you understand a person's strengths along with what inspires and motivates them, you will know how to communicate with them.
2. The percentage of people actively disengaged is at the highest it's been in over a decade.
A lot of organizations became disconnected during COVID because everyone went remote without preparation. The burnout that came with the great resignation was not about compensation; it was about purpose. You have to know your employees to know how to avoid burnout.
For instance, an achiever just wants to mark things off their to-do list and get things done. If someone, something, or some process is in their way and they can’t mark that thing off, they will be frustrated. Keeping great talent happy and working in their zone of strength is important to your overall organizational health.
Consider using a tool such as CliftonStrengths. When a leader chooses to unlock someone's strengths in a Gallup assessment, for example, they're given a step-by-step roadmap on how to communicate and engage someone effectively and productively.
3. Leverage your strengths at home.
Playing to your strengths doesn’t start and end at work. When you have an awareness of your strengths, you’re able to succeed no matter the environment.
Thinking about yourself isn’t always selfish. In fact, taking the time to know yourself and understand why you do the things you do will benefit way more than just you. I'm talking about being unapologetic about self-care so that others don’t have to take care of you in the future.
The effectiveness of a leader is not solely measured by the results they achieve but also by their ability to understand and nurture the strengths of their team members.
By focusing on the individual talents and natural abilities of employees, leaders can create a more engaged, productive, and satisfied workforce. Tools like Gallup’s CliftonStrengths assessment provide valuable insights that can help leaders identify and leverage these strengths.
A balanced approach that values both results and people will lead to a healthier, more dynamic organization where employees can thrive and excel. Investing time and effort in understanding and developing your team's strengths is not just beneficial—it's essential for sustainable success.
Lastly, don’t miss Carrie talking about what it’s like for leaders to go all in on experiencing life in the bonus next episode.