You’ve got this! The CliftonStrength of positivity
Would it surprise you to know that people with the CliftonStrength of positivity aren’t always positive?
During one of my client workshops, one of the employees discovered he had the CliftonStrength of Positivity. At first, he didn’t believe it. “I can be a little cynical,” he admitted. “I’m not always positive, I just tend to see the glass as half full.”
Exactly.
Having this strength doesn’t mean someone is constantly in a good mood and thinks everything is always going well. It doesn’t mean they don’t feel sad or angry. In this respect, the word “positivity” can be misleading. Possessing the Positivity strength is more about having an energy and enthusiasm that’s often contagious. They enjoy the ups and downs of life and celebrate victories, big and small.
When this same employee found himself in a heated discussion with a client, he was able to crack a joke at the right moment, adding levity and easing the tension in the room. That was his Positivity strength at work. It helped him diffuse a tense and potentially difficult situation, so everyone could take a breath and discuss the issues with a bit more harmony.
Managing Employees With The CliftonStrength Of Positivity
If you’re fortunate enough to have an employee with the CliftonStrength of Positivity, put it to good use! Here are a few ways to tap into this strength in the workplace:
Include her on team projects that could benefit from the spark of enthusiasm she’ll bring.
Assign her to work closely with clients so you can capitalize on her contagious energy.
Ask her to help plan employee recognition programs or client events.
Include her in change management meetings to get her input on helping employees see the benefits of change.
In addition to being excellent at encouraging and supporting coworkers, people with this strength also crave and appreciate recognition and praise. Be sure to offer it whenever it’s appropriate.
While it might seem hard to imagine a drawback to having an employee with this strength, they could potentially rub some people the wrong way. A coworker with the CliftonStrength of Analytical, for example, will be focused on logic, data, and facts. They have the ability to dispassionately evaluate options, without getting emotional. They’re more serious by nature and the lighter-hearted attitude of someone with the CliftonStrength of Positivity could grate their nerves.
An employee with a strong talent of Positivity will also be generous with praise, which might exasperate some with the CliftonStrength of Deliberative. Deliberatives will excel at evaluating risk and thoroughly thinking through all options, but will use praise sparingly.
In either case, as a manager, the best way to address these differences and quell potential conflict is to a) recognize them and b) meet with your coworkers to help them understand how both strengths are an asset to the team, albeit in very different ways.
Millennial Guru Can Help
CliftonStrengths identifies 34 natural talents that your employees can turn into strengths. Each bring different skills to your workplace. While Millennial Guru helps employees learn what their top CliftonStrengths are, we also teach them how they can best use them to improve performance and productivity in the workplace.
Our workshops can also help your employees appreciate their coworkers CliftonStrengths, enabling your teams to capitalize on the depth and breadth of the strengths they bring. The end result is reduced conflict, and employees who are happier, more effective, and more efficient, which means better productivity for you. Contact us today to schedule a no-commitment informational meeting.