I am
in the process of becoming a Gallup Certified Strengths Coach This process is tied
to the incredibly insightful and powerful StrengthsFinder instrument developed by
Don Clifton. This process involved hours of in-person training, continued
learning, completing coaching sessions, and even passing a proficiency exam.
Since one of my Top 5 Strengths is that of LEARNER, I am enjoying every minute of
it! As I work more with the instrument and process, though, I am developing several
theories around the process and started thinking out loud that the key to effective
leadership is taping into your NEXUS STRENGTH.
Please
allow me to explain further. It is my belief that in every human being who chooses
to access it, we have at our core unique drive or compulsion that drives everything
else.
- The nature and direction of our goals.
- Our true personal ambitions.
- Our professional trajectory.
- Our core leadership intention or platform.
I
call this your Nexus Strength – that one core talent or personal imperative
that provides the psychological fuel and emotional energy that drives everything
else! This nexus is so fundamental to us that unless we intentionally attempt
to discover its source, we are often unaware of it. It simply drives us without
full understanding of how central it is to our core being.
Let
me provide an example. If you are familiar with the StrengthsFinder assessment,
you know that the researchers have ascertain that we possess to a greater or
lesser degree 34 fundamental talents or strengths. These 34 talents are then groups
in four domains which include:
Executing
Talents – organizing and initiating action
Relationship
Talents – building and maintaining impactful connections
Influencing
Talents – persuading and motivating
Strategic
Talents – analyzing and applying information
When
you take the assessment, you are initially a T0p 5 Report with your top 5 strengths
in priority order. One of my Top 5 Strengths is DEVELOPER which involves a desire
to invest in others and facilitate their growth and success. DEVELOPER is my
Nexus Strength. It has and still drives my career choices, how I view people, how
I approach leadership, what I consume and read, etc. It is my life’s mission
and work. It provides the background impetus that drives all my other Strengths
and provides the reason why I value learning, why I enjoy maximizing others,
how is arrange learning and trainings for maximum effect, and why I feel responsible
to and for others. The interesting thing is that Developer is not my first Strength,
so my theory is that somewhere in your Top 5 Strengths your Nexus exists.
So
why is it important to understand what your NEXUS STRENGTH is?
PURPOSE
– if you have a clear
understanding of your NEXUS STRENGTH, it will provide clarity on your life’s
purpose and intention. It becomes a one-word theme for your life that you can use to evaluate choices,
decisions, and directions. It will provide a focus that will help you be the
best at what you do. The Franklin-Covey group in their 5 Disciplines material
encourages us to look at our tole and try to reduce it down to just one or two
words. When you do so, it will change the nature of your work, interactions,
and conversations. For instance, let’s say that after all is said and done, the
essence of your role is that of Problem Solver. Armed with that knowledge then
you excel in this role since everything you say, do, learn, and achieve is all
directed toward solving worthy problems!
PASSION
– has become an over-used word
these days but when I think of passion, I think of it as the necessary emotional
impetus that helps us achieve big and small results. I cannot see how you will
hope to achieve anything in your personal or professional life if you do not have
psychological energy around it. As a career and leadership coach, I do
sometimes work with people that are incredibly successful because they truly
enjoy what they do. Obviously, the converse is troubling in that if you do not
have a passion around a role, then you can certainly cognitively do the job but
there is no maximum effort because it just does not (or no longer) inspires
you. Your Nexus Strength is that which allows you push through, especially when
leadership becomes challenging and difficult.
POTENTIAL
– your NEXUS STRENGTH eventually
defines your potential. This is why it is so important to not only realize how
your Strengths have helped you be successful in the past and to this point in
your life but how it can be focused to impact your future success. When you
know your NEXUS STRENGTH, it is incredibly important to create action items
around how you will intentionally leverage that Strength to maximize your
leadership impact. How can you use to increase 3 key leadership competencies
that John Maxell highlights in his book Leadersshift which include:
- Motivating Others
- Working in the Global Marketplace
- Leading Change
The
point being is that your NEXUS STRENGTH has not only helped you achieve your current
success, but used with greater awareness and intention, will help you ensure
greater future success.
Again,
this notion of a NEXUS STRENGTH is just my opinion. I do, however, believe that
knowing what truly motivates you, inspires you, and knowing what makes you want
to do the things that you want to do is an impact multiplier because it
attaches a useful label to such motivation. Once you know what it is, you can
use it to serve you and those you lead.
If
you would like to know more about the Clifton StrengthsFinder instrument,
please visit:
If I
may be of assistance in accessing and debriefing your Strengths Results, please
do not hesitate to contact me.
As always if I can help you and
the people you associate with Get Better, Be Ready and LEAD OUT LOUD, I invite
you to contact me.
Yours in leadership,
Bill Faulkner
Independent Coach, Speaker,
and Trainer with the John Maxwell Team TM\
Certified DISC Profile System
Trainer and Consultant
Email
= bill@outloudinc.com
For more information on the
John Maxwell Team, please visit
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