Post-Cristopher

Respond  on two different days by making recommendations for how they might strengthen the leadership behaviors profiled in their StrengthsFinder assessment, or by commenting on lessons to be learned from the results that can be applied to personal leadership philosophies and behaviors.

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Through this week’s resources, we have learned what a leader is. Last week we focused on theories and examples of leaders we have witnessed firsthand. This week we are focusing on ourselves individually. After taking Gallup’s Strengths Finder assessment, I was given five signature themes.  

My Signature Themes 

Before going over my specific themes, I must first explain the domain’s they rest under. My themes were either under the executing or the relationship builder domains (Strengths Finder, 2018). The executing domain is about knowing, “how to make things happen” (Strengths Finder, 2018, para. 3). The relationship domain encompasses themes that are involved with providing, “the essential glue to hold a team together” (2018, para. 1). The themes that I had under the executing domain were restorative and consistency. These themes are defined as being able to deal with problems and treating people with equality, respectively. The themes I had under the relationship domain were developer, empathy, and harmony. Developers, “cultivate the potential in others” (Strengths Finder 2018, para. 2). Empathy is focused on sensing other’s feelings and harmony is focused on looking for consensus (2018).  

Room for growth 

After reviewing the Strengths Finder assessment, now I will point out a few areas for improvement. Starting with values, I have chosen courage and service as two values I would like to improve (MasonLeads, 2019).  None of the themes I had were under the domain of influencing (StrengthsFinder, 2018). I believe with more courage this would change. Two potential strengths I would improve would be activator and analytical. People who are adept at activating, “can make things happen by turning thoughts into action” (2018, para. 1). It is also under the influence domain. Another domain I didn’t exemplify with strategic thinking. The analytical theme is under this domain and people who demonstrate this, “search for reasons and causes” (StrengthsFinder, 2018, para. 1). Two characteristics I would like to improve are the ability to self-manage and to make difficult decisions (Yscouts.com, 2019). Nowhere in my results was there any mention of self-management skills or the ability to make tough decisions. These two characteristics are crucial to be a transformational leader.  

The Strengths Finder assessment was an eye-opening tool. I learned my strengths, but, more importantly, I learned my weaknesses. Being able to improve upon my weaknesses will bring me one step closer to a transformational leader.  

References 

MasonLeads. (2019). Core Leadership Values. Retrieved from https://masonleads.gmu.edu/about-us/core-leadership-values/ 

Strengths Finder: Gallup. (2018). Retrieved from https://walden.gallup.com 

Strengths Finder: Gallup. (2018). Retrieved from https://walden.gallup.com/application/strengthsquest#domain 

Yscouts. (2019). 10 Transformational Leadership Characteristics. Retrieved from https://yscouts.com/10-transformational-leadership-characteristics/