Information Overload: My Strengths As A Weakness!
As promised from last week’s blog post: This Is Me!, I will do a deep dive into a few of my other Top 5 Strengths over the next few weeks.
I’m focusing on my Input (#1) and Ideation (#4) Gallup CliftonStrengths this week. As a reminder, Don Clifton, Founder of Clifton Strengths Finder, identified 34 strengths; those 34 are then categorized into 4 different domains: Strategic Thinking, Influencing, Relationship Building and Executing.
From a definition standpoint, my Strengths at Work (positively as Superpowers) manifest as such:
Input – Always a resource; I’m hardwired as a collector of information, people, things to help someone in the future.
Ideation – Ideas are like popcorn for me. If you don’t like an idea, then there will be another one right around the corner. For me, these Strengths can become barriers, and areas of Watch Out/Weaknesses in this manner:
Input – My craving to know more can sometimes be misinterpreted as “the Spanish Inquisition” (a term used by my husband.) I’m just naturally curious.
Ideation – Because I have so many ideas going in my head, I have had to pay attention to the best times that work for me to be creative and not distracted.
For whatever reason, 4:30/5:00 am is a peak timeslot for maximizing my productivity.
Gallup research has shown that strengths seldom work in silos. Personally, I have witnessed how I leverage these two specific strengths concurrently and effectively at work, hand-in-glove to accomplish objectives throughout my life. However, I have to monitor and ensure self-awareness because these two powerful, strategic thinking, domain strengths become a weakness for me in the following manners:
I am a snorkeler with information and resources. My knowledge is an inch deep and a mile long and I thrive on it that way. I must pay attention to folks who take in data differently because my delivery may be sensory overload to some. This is when I can choose to employ the “Less is More” mantra.
The same goes with ideas. Targeting my delivery method to my audience is imperative in brainstorming sessions particularly. Some colleagues love the energy that comes from spit balling concepts to see what sticks. Others prefer a well-conceived plan prior to meeting start, especially if the concepts have already been narrowed and the meeting goal is strategic alignment/advancement. Ensuring that I know the meeting objectives and the types of attendees engaged will enable success rather than cause confusion and frustration on all parts.
By now (for regular readers,) you may perceive a pattern related to the strengths’ articles and that subject matter overall. The more awareness that we have of our own strengths, as well as those of our colleagues, advances communication because it creates a shorthand shared by all. One would think that this would personalize and internalize the topics. However, I have witnessed that this awareness actually depersonalizes it so that expectations are candidly available, and the process is expedited with far less confusion and conflict.
Are you self-aware to know when your strengths become your weaknesses? Are you then able to throttle them back to ensure your effectiveness? If you’d like to take the CliftonStrengths Assessment and delve deeper, then contact me at dlandry@authentizity.com.
