Understanding Behavior-Based Strengths

In this episode, we talk about our behavior-based approach to Clifton Strengths. We discuss why we’ve taken this approach, define what a behavior-based approach is, and also share some examples and provide insight for how you might be able to take your own behavior-based approach in understanding your Strengths. Whether you’re learning about your Strengths or helping others on their Strengths journey, this approach is effective for the interpretation and application of Strengths. Enjoy!

A Behavior-Based Approach to Strengths

Our approach to interpreting Strengths is based on the behaviors of individuals, not a set of definitions found in a book. A definition does not take into consideration your personality. Your strengths are detected in your vocabulary, posture, emotions, presence, attitudes, and actions. Understanding that your strengths come alive differently in you from someone else gives you the freedom to interpret your Strengths as a dynamic set of talents in light of your experiences, environment, and personality. 

Why We Take this Approach

At Leadership Vision, we are obsessed with the behaviors that make up Strengths because it allows people to really identify and learn to leverage them just like knowing what tool to use in the kitchen or what ingredient to adjust when cooking. 

When you pay attention to how people’s Strengths are being expressed, you can really see the dynamic of their personalities coming through. You see the reflections of their various life experiences and cultures. A different layer of color and emotion seems to come into their description of their Strengths when you begin to talk about what their behaviors are actually like and how they show up in the world.

An example of our behavior-based approach with Strengths can be seen in the restaurant industry. At fast-food restaurants, you can get different types of food to meet different types of flavor needs or appetite needs that you have. The great thing about the many locations of a fast-food restaurant is you know what type of food you’re going to get and what price you’re going to pay no matter where you are in the country. Fast-food or quick-service restaurants can provide something that’s very reliable. This experience is like a definition-based approach to interpreting Strengths; it’s useful and it’s applicable, but then there are also other types of restaurants that you may choose to go to, and that’s more akin to how we treat our behavior-based approach to interpreting Strengths. In many cases you have similar or even the same ingredients that are in the fast food, quick service as you would in a different type of restaurant, but the outcome or the food that’s produced from these chefs is completely different than fast food.

What we really like to explore with this behavior-based approach is what ‘ingredients’ you bring to your expression of your Strengths. What does a Strength look like within your own expression and experiences? We’re looking for the unique expression, the personality that a person brings to how their Strengths show up. 

When we talk to people about how they see their Strengths come alive, we’re not trying to bend their experience of their Strengths towards a definition. We want to open our understanding to how their Strength looks, sounds, and behaves within their unique context and relationships. A lot of times we like to put people into their context, just like we would ask, what do these ingredients look like in your kitchen? What do these ingredients look like at your workplace? Or when you used to stand in line at a restaurant for a quick lunch break or what it looks like at a fine dining restaurant?

Context shapes everything. Environment has so much to do with how your Strengths will show up, as well as how different ingredients in this metaphor will actually come to life. We find so much joy when people can understand their Strengths through their behaviors, attitudes, and emotions. 

A Behavior-Based Approach to Your Strengths

Notice how your behaviors show up and how your different talents are at play. Think of one of your Strengths and its behaviors, then answer these questions:

• What does that Strength look like?
• What does that Strength feel like?
• What does that Strength sound like?
• When does that Strength react?
• In what context does that Strength come alive?

Learn More

If you have questions about this episode or want to learn more about our behavior-based approach to Strengths, send us an email to connect@leadershipvisionconsulting.com. We’d love to hear from you!