This spring, Ecomatters has become a Strengths-based company. Through focusing on our strengths – identified by Gallup’s Clifton StrengthsFinder® – Ecomatters increases its efficiency and enthuses its team members.
“During the Ecomatters’ Strengths Awareness session I found a dynamic and diverse team, consisting of inquisitive, competent and flexible people. All hard workers. Ready to play to their strengths. A pleasure to work with!”
– Irma Dekking, Gallup-certified StrengthsFinder coach
Quirk or talent?
Whereas some people avoid problems under any circumstances, solution-seekers love the challenge and the satisfaction of solving the issue. While some people prefer working quietly, other people love to have an audience to whom they can share their ideas. However different these characteristics are, when used in a productive way, each of them can prove to be a talent that can and should be used to your and your team’s advantage.
Clifton StrengthsFinder®
The Clifton StrengthsFinder is a method developed by Gallup, designed to identify an individual’s strengths. The assessment is based on a list of 34 common talents, stemming from 50 years of scientific research. Gallup’s research indicates that “people who do have the opportunity to focus on their strengths every day are six times as likely to be engaged in their jobs and more than three times as likely to report having an excellent quality of life in general” (Rath, 2007).
34 strengths – 4 categories
The 34 strengths are sorted into four categories. People with dominant Executing (E) themes know how to make things happen and get the work done, while dominant Influencing (I) themes suggest the capacity to take charge, speak up and transfer and sell ideas. Relationship Building (RB) strengths hold a team together and those with dominant Strategic Thinking (ST) themes help to make better decisions through analysing information and thinking for the future.
Ecomatters’ strengths
We explored our strengths under the guidance of Gallup-certified strengths coach Irma Dekking. After taking the online strengths assessment test, each team member was individually coached by Irma Dekking, who shed a light on the interplay between our different strengths, our personal drivers and behaviour. In a subsequent Strengths Awareness session, we were coached as a group. During this session, we learned more about the StrengthsFinder, about ourselves and about each of our key roles in the team. This has increased our awareness of every team member’s contributions, as well as their personal needs. By bringing together all our assessments, we created a team profile. Some dominant themes in our team are Communication (I), Arranger (E), Achiever (E), Input (ST), Activator (E), Learner (ST) and Individualisation (RB). As might be expected, the identified top strengths are rather fitted to our work as consultants in a constantly changing field. What we have in common is that we enjoy gaining knowledge on relevant topics, getting the work done and finding a solution that fits our client’s needs.
Thanks to the StrengthsFinder, Ecomatters will continue to grow, along with our strengths. Did you already explore your strengths and seize the opportunity to do every day what you do best?
Reference:
Rath, T. (2007). Strengths Finder 2.0. Gallup Press.
