“Oh, but I do that when I’m not at work …”

This is a regular response when discussing peoples’ ‘Portrait of Strengths’.

We’re making sense of why some Strengths get a daily work out whilst other Strengths are locked away at home.

We gain comfort and confidence when we do what we know works and has a predictable outcome.

If your top Strength is ‘CARING’ it’s most likely that this is welcomed by everyone in the workplace.

So, when we consider an alternate path, aka, using a different Strength, you immediately feel angst and discomfort. You fear a lost of control of the outcome as you only consider yourself.

For example, a client recalled being COMPETITIVE when younger and as a Senior Nurse it didn’t appear appropriate. Yet in planning out an approach in a challenging relationship with a specific Doctor, it’s the COMPETITIVE Strength of winning the best outcome for patients and fellow staff that unlocked this view.

When you continue to expect different outcomes whilst behaving in a routine manner, you’re kidding yourself.

Exercising all your available strengths (28) enables you to grow your relational intelligence. Setting yourself up to lead intentionally with maximum impact, requires a change in your approach in every interaction.

What’s your top relational Strength in the workplace and which Strength do you intentionally avoid using when communicating with others?

p.s. Drop me a note if knowing these 28 Strengths would help you change outcomes in relationships.