You see potential in others
In your view no individual is fully formed. On the contrary, each individual is a work in progress, alive with possibilities.
When you interact with others, your goal is to help them experience success. You look for ways to challenge them. Focus on action steps[1] to encourage your awareness.
You devise interesting experiences that can stretch them and help them grow.
And all the while you are on the lookout for the signs of growth — a new behavior learned or modified, a slight improvement[2] in a skill, a glimpse of excellence or of “flow” where previously there were only halting steps.
Over time many will seek you out for help and encouragement because on some level they know that your helpfulness is both genuine and fulfilling to you.
As an individual your focus is on other individuals, but as a leader you can be more group or organization focused. Developer is all about seeing potential, imagining things that haven’t yet happened and inspiring people to get there. If you think about[3] what that might bring to leadership, you can see how helpful that can be as a visionary. You are more than just a mentor or a coach, you are a dreamer.
People with high Developer can see that today is part of a bigger journey. It is part of where you’re going to be better tomorrow. This can bring imagination and hopefulness that leads to a great leadership experience. Developer can also be relentlessness. It can be what can make you persevere. You can understand how you can do better, and see how. Great leaders with Developer make celebrations matter. They can really celebrate and discuss a language of progress.
Think about how your pursuit of something greater can inspire hope rather than discontent. A leader with Developer always sees a way that it can get better[4].
[1]:
•• Make a list of the people you have helped learn and grow. Look at the list often and remind yourself of the effect you have had on the world.
•• Seek roles in which your primary responsibilities will be in facilitating growth. Teaching, coaching, or managing roles might prove especially satisfying for you.
•• Notice when your associates grow, and tell them. Be specific about what you saw. Your detailed observations of their growth will enhance their growth.
•• Make a list of the people you would like to help develop. Write what you would consider to be each person’s strengths. Schedule time to meet with each of them regularly — even if for only 15 minutes — and make a point of discussing both their goals and their strengths.
•• Identify the mentor or mentors who recognized something special inside you. Take the time to thank them for helping you develop, even if this means tracking down a former schoolteacher and sending him or her a letter.
•• Make a plan to develop your own strengths based on a detailed understanding of your talents, knowledge, and skills.
•• Partner with someone with a strong Individualization theme. This person can help you see where each person’s greatest strengths lie. Without this help, your Developer instincts might lead you to encourage people to grow in areas in which they lack real strength.
•• Carefully avoid supporting someone who is consistently struggling in his or her role. In such instances, the most developmental action you can take is to encourage him or her to find a different role — a role that fits.
[2]:
For you these small increments — invisible to some — are clear signs of potential being realized. These signs of growth in others are your fuel. They bring you strength and satisfaction.
[3]:
Think about not only development of your own organization, but also of your clients and those who you serve. How can you get better? Where can you celebrate?
[4]:
Find ways to communicate potential. Align your values with developmental areas. Find what sort of things you are going to hold people accountable for. How are you going to define success? Find ways to help other people have those same types of conversations.
Theme Thursday Podcast brings thought leaders to deep dive on each StrengthsFinder theme.
The time invested is worth it - learn about Developer with a leader lens.
BALCONIES
When Developer is soaring...
Grows talent in others
Teacher
Coach
Enjoys helping others succeed
Invests in others
For you, these small increments — invisible to some — are clear signs of potential being realized. These signs of growth in others are your fuel. They bring you strength and satisfaction. Over time, many will seek you out for help and encouragement because on some level they know that your helpfulness is both genuine and fulfilling to you.
BASEMENTS
When Developer is on over drive...
Not an individual contributor
Wastes time on low-potential people
Spectator
A Leader with Developer...
Builds trust by intentionally demonstrating your strategy in areas where you want people to develop. Practice being a teacher. Don’t pass up an opportunity to share how you see someone could get better.
Shows compassion by discussing your own improvements to inspire others to constantly reach. Understand your own story, and share that you’re not just setting the bar for other people.
Provides stability by practicing and communicating the connections between improvement and success. Be predictable. Be that voice that says if we do X it leads to Y. It can be inspiring and motivating just helping others get better.
Inspires hope by seeking out unclear, chaotic or difficult situations. Help people imagine incremental improvements in those. Show up when others can’t see a way out, and help them see even small improvements.
