Let me think about that: the CliftonStrength of deliberative
Years ago, when I was first starting my Millennial Guru business, I had tons of ideas and I felt like I was all over the board with how to approach things. In particular, I struggled to define the best sales strategy and had trouble discerning the direction I wanted to take.
I decided to consult my brother, Peter, because he’s great at making thoughtful decisions. He has the ability to anticipate obstacles and roadblocks; he’s good at pondering all of the factors and considering each possibility.
He was incredibly helpful, but I had to exercise patience as he helped me work through my strategy, because Peter looooves to weigh the options. He thinks about it from one angle, then another. He considers potential risks and benefits, and the whole thing feels like it can take forever. In the end, the care he takes to think things through pays off, but oh, how hard it can be for an action-oriented person like me to wait to hear those thoughts!
Peter has the CliftonStrength of Deliberative in his top 5, which is why he’s so conscientious in his approach to decision making. People with a strong Deliberative talent don’t jump into anything headfirst. They consider the possibilities, assess risks, anticipate and avoid problems, and take their time with the entire analysis. There’s no rushing them. They need time to think through all of these things before they speak. As a result, when they finally make a decision, you can bet it’s a good one, well thought out and thoroughly vetted.
How To Tap Into Deliberative Strength Of Your Employees
First, appreciate that these employees bring great thoughtfulness to your organization and are intentional with every decision they make.
They can offer well-researched insight, are skilled at anticipating potential issues, and can provide remarkably thoughtful perspectives. Here are a few ways in which they can contribute significantly and powerfully to your organization:
Ask them to analyze your in-house processes, particularly if you’re reorganizing, whether it’s simply departmental change or change that affects the entire organization.
Tap them for research-heavy tasks in which they can explore various angles and options.
Have them act as devil’s advocate prior to client meetings where you anticipate difficult questions. Because they think things through so thoroughly, they’ll often be able to prep your team to answer the hard questions that may arise during the meeting.
Ask them to research competitors and market conditions, giving a sense of potential areas of weaknesses and growth.
Use them in roles that capitalize on these Deliberative strengths, like risk-analysis, underwriting, forecasting, and contract negotiations.
Pair them with a coworker who has the CliftonStrength of Activator. While a person with the Deliberative talent says, “Do it when you get it right,” the person with Activator prefers to, “Do it until you get it right.” When managed properly, instead of causing conflict, you can encourage both employees to harness their strengths, bringing thoughtfulness and action to the table.
In essence, any roles that require skills like analysis, deep thought, and risk assessment will often be a good fit for employees with the CliftonStrength of Deliberative.
What NOT To Do
The Deliberative CliftonStrength brings many positives, but keep these factors in mind as you as you place these employees in various roles:
They want time to review the information, think, and make decisions. Asking them to answer questions on the spot will cause them a lot of stress and result in less-than-stellar outcomes.
Don’t mistake their deliberation for tentativeness or fear of action. They simply need time to consider all potential risks so they can make suggestions to reduce them.
Don’t expect this person to be overly effusive or welcoming. That’s not the role for which they’re best suited. Analysis and reflection are more their wheelhouse.
Respect their privacy. People with the CliftonStrength of Deliberative rarely like to share personal information.
Millennial Guru’s Role
When your employees understand their CliftonStrengths, and how to best turn their innate talents into strengths for your company, everyone benefits.
Millennial Guru workshops can help you do just that.
Schedule an informational meeting today to find out how our workshops can help you empower, transform, and motivate your team to produce high-caliber results.