CliftonStrength Deliberative and its blindspots go to the darkside

10th April 2025

Some of us just love to get going. We are off! It’s almost like we aren’t worried by what lays ahead. That is the excitement, the fun. We know in our hearts that we are equipped with the ability to stop when needed, look up, and adjust. Our colleagues with the CliftonStrength Deliberative might frustrate us. In fact, they can be our greatest partners—and us theirs. For this to happen, some awareness, communication, and adjustment to how we collaborate are needed.

Know that you need to manage your Deliberative theme. It’s an executing theme and at the end of the day it wants to get things done. But it wants to get things right. you can be in danger of dragging your own mod down as well as others’. The converse is true when you move forward with commitment, you can celebrate twice.

Understanding Deliberative

The CliftonStrength Deliberative theme is characterized by careful and vigilant decision-making. Individuals with this strength are known for their ability to think things through, anticipate obstacles, and weigh risks before taking action. This cautious approach can be incredibly valuable in the engineering sector, where precision, safety, and foresight are crucial. This article explores the CliftonStrength Deliberative and its blindspots.

To explore more how to manage your interactions with other CliftonStrengths, read the Katalytik Whitepaper on Conflict and Communication and access our insights to how you can interact more effectively with some CliftonStrengths when you understand their drivers and style. A useful reference on blindspots can be found here

Common Blindspots for Deliberative

While the Deliberative theme has many strengths, it also comes with potential blind spots that can hinder effectiveness if not managed properly. Here are some common blind spots, particularly relevant to engineering: If your Deliberative really takes over you can become Hypervigilant.

Blindspot 1 Overthinking and analysis paralysis

Engineers (anyone!) with the Deliberative theme may spend excessive time analyzing options, leading to delays in decision-making. This can result in missed project deadlines, inaction and frustration among team members who are waiting for decisions to be made.

Address this by setting clear deadlines by when decisions are required to prevent overthinking and analysis paralysis. Try using Use project management and tools like force-field analysis to track progress and ensure that decisions are made within the set timeframe.

Blindspot 2 Risk aversion

Your innate style is likely to focus on potential risks. your need to avoid risk can stifle innovation and prevent the team (or even your family) from exploring new and potentially beneficial solutions or experiences.

Address this by trying a balanced approach that helps you take small risks and move forward. Using a risk matrix (likelihood of it happening and the impact of it happening This can help you evaluate the severity and likelihood of risks and inform rather than delay a decision. It can also release you from the stress of the decision-making process.

Blindspot 3 Perceived negativity

Others may perceive you as someone who always focuses on the negative. and is a pessimist. You may not realise it but you could bring the mood of the whole team down and drain those of a more innovative mindset.

Recognise your tendency and using frames or tools can help you construct a more positive mindset and look at what needs to be done to foster a positive outcome. Look beyond the problem. Work with your colleagues or find a strategy to help you celebrate when you notice you focusing on the negative. Give yourself positive reinforcements that you have saved time by crafting such a great approach to decision-making. Shift from focusing on what could go wrong to what could go right.

BlindSpot 4 Speed of decisions

You are thorough and cautious, but this can impact speed, and in fast paced environments can be problematic, especially in meeting deadlines or production areas.

Working on this with your colleagues might help others and not just you.

Decision-making exercises and simulations can help grow your repertoire of experience to draw on, so when things are pressured you have a memory bank to work with.

Communication with colleagues can also help to stop this becoming an issue, and you can then be certain that your colleagues can come to value your perspective and your risk-averse perspective can be leveraged at the right time.

Partner with other CliftonStrengths

Partnering with people who possess different CliftonStrengths can help mitigate the blindspots of the Deliberative theme and enhance overall team performance. Here are some illustrations:

Activator

Activators are known for their ability to turn thoughts into action quickly. They are energetic and eager to get things moving.

How it helps:

Speeding Up Decision-Making: Activators can help Deliberative individuals overcome analysis paralysis by encouraging quicker decisions and actions.
Balancing Caution with Action: The Activator’s enthusiasm can balance the Deliberative person’s cautious approach, ensuring that the team doesn’t miss out on opportunities due to excessive deliberation.

Strategic

Individuals with the Strategic theme excel at seeing patterns and possibilities. They can quickly spot the best route forward and are adept at planning.

How it helps:

Enhancing Decision-Making: Strategic thinkers can complement the Deliberative theme by providing a clear vision and direction, helping to streamline the decision-making process. The power of these themes together and a whiteboard or post-it notes brings creativity to the decision.
Identifying Opportunities: While Deliberative individuals focus on risks, Strategic partners can highlight potential opportunities, ensuring a balanced perspective. Magic in action!

Positivity

Those with the Positivity theme are upbeat and can generate enthusiasm and optimism within the team.

How it helps:

Boosting morale: Positivity can counteract the perceived negativity of the Deliberative theme, fostering a more positive and supportive team environment.
Encouraging solutions: Positive individuals can help shift the focus from problems to solutions, encouraging a proactive approach to challenges.

Analytical

Analytical individuals are skilled at examining data and uncovering insights. They are logical and fact-driven.

How it helps:

Supporting thorough analysis: Analytical partners can support the Deliberative theme’s need for thorough analysis by providing data-driven insights, ensuring decisions are well-informed. Maybe creating great graphs and projections!
Validating risks: Analytical thinkers can help validate the risks identified by Deliberative individuals, providing a solid foundation for cautious decision-making.

Communication

Those with the Communication theme excel at expressing ideas clearly and engaging others.

How it helps:

Improving perception: Communication partners can help articulate the rationale behind the Deliberative theme’s cautious approach, improving team understanding and acceptance.
Facilitating collaboration: Effective communicators can bridge gaps between different team members, ensuring that diverse perspectives are heard and integrated into decision-making.

Woo (Winning Others Over)

Woo individuals are skilled at building rapport and connecting with others. They are persuasive and can win people over.

How it helps::

Building consensus: Woo partners can help build consensus around decisions, ensuring that the team is aligned and supportive of the cautious approach.
Encouraging collaboration: Woo individuals can foster a collaborative environment, helping Deliberative individuals to work effectively with others and gain buy-in for their ideas.

Conclusion

The Deliberative theme, when the person is self-aware and can notice when it is stopping progress, can be a powerful asset in any (engineering) team, where careful planning and risk management are essential. By recognizing and addressing the potential blind spots, individuals with this strength can ensure that their cautious approach enhances rather than hinders their effectiveness. Implementing strategies to balance risk assessment with action, fostering a positive mindset, and collaborating with others can help keep the Deliberative theme on the right track.

Never forget that Deliberative is an executing theme – you thrive on getting stuff done. So when you become paralysed by fear of the future or risk, you will suffer a double dip of energy.

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CliftonStrength Context and its blindspots go to the darkside

27th February 2025

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There’s nothing I like better walking in a forest than seeing key historical events marked on an old fallen trunk. Between these events, there are markers for extreme weather events: drought and flood years.

Like the rings of the tree, people with Context have a vast knowledge bank of stories and invaluable information. Don’t miss it!

Blindspots of CliftonStrength Context

This article explores the CliftonStrength Context and its blindspots. Context is all about understanding the past to make sense of the present. People with strong Context talents enjoy looking back, they can be seen as historians or archivists, valuing the lessons learned from history. However, like all strengths people with Context can have blind spots when overused or misapplied.

To explore more how to manage your interactions with other CliftonStrengths, read the Katalytik Whitepaper on Conflict and Communication and access our insights to how you can interact more effectively with some CliftonStrengths when you understand their drivers and style.

A useful reference on blindspots can be found here

What is Context?

The CliftonStrengths Context theme is an asset for those whose role needs them to be curious about the past of people, organizations, or processes. Simply because they excel at understanding and leveraging the past to inform present and future decisions. Those with the Context strength have a deep appreciation for history and the lessons it offers. They innately draw insights from previous experiences and apply them to current situations. This strength allows them to identify patterns, avoid past mistakes, and build on successful strategies. In engineering team settings, individuals with Context provide a sense of continuity and stability, helping others understand the reasons behind current practices and decisions. Their ability to connect past events with present challenges makes them invaluable in strategic planning and problem-solving. Their very presence ensures decisions are well-informed and grounded in historical knowledge. This perspective fosters a culture of learning and continuous improvement.

At times people can have so many thinking and executing themes at the top of their profile they may appear to have no time for people. Yet one such leader I met, was still connected to all the people he had worked with and saw his Context as his way of getting to know people.

Understanding the Context Theme

Taking time to ask people who have high Context what they think, have observed, or if they have seen anything like this before, makes them an amazing asset to your team. This strength allows them to make informed decisions and avoid past mistakes. They can help you appreciate the journey that has led to the current moment. Their role helps ensure valuable lessons are not forgotten. Make time to listen to them, especially in times of change.

Common Blindspots for Context in Engineering

If you have Context high, be aware of the blind spots it might give you! Others might see these characteristics in you, so be sure to notice them and take action to own them! Use your historical knowledge to benefit the team. Offer to take on tasks that require a deep understanding of past events, such as creating training materials, documenting processes, or conducting retrospectives.

Blindspot 1 Over-Reliance on Historical Data:

Engineers with the Context strength may sometimes rely too heavily on past data and experiences, potentially overlooking new and innovative approaches. This might make you slow to move forward and could frustrate your colleagues keen to get the project going.

How to Address It:

Set time aside to indulge your desire and love of historical analysis and reflection inside and outside of work. Find frameworks and models (try mindtools.com) to support you in problem-solving discussions to look forward and reflect back. This might help you be a net contributor to using your vast knowledge to inform better decision-making.

Blindspot 2 Looking backwards and resistant to change:

A strong focus on the past can mean you resist new methodologies or change. This can be a blindspot for you in a rapidly evolving field like engineering.

How to Address It:

Flexibility and fast response might not be your natural mode of operation, but at times you need to be able to adapt. Work with your colleagues to ensure that your knowledge is a part of the team culture and a crucial part of informing progress. But practice being able to discard past ways of doing things. Make sure you engage in conversations about change so that it doesn’t come as a shock.

Blindspot 3 Slow to make decisions:

There is a risk of you becoming too focused on historical details, which can limit your ability to see the bigger picture or future possibilities.

How to Address It:

Working with colleagues, partners or managers can help you set clear goals that help you look to a future that is informed by the past. Practice working out which decision is important and which can be deferred. Again, use frameworks to help your decision-making and capture the information you have.

How to block the dark side of this wonderful CliftonStrength

To make sure you can reach your full potential try to balance your thoughts about the past with plans for the future. Don’t get stuck in reflection mode. The following strategies may be worth thinking about. While you may also have Futuristic or Strategic, think about partnering with these as complementary strengths

To balance your Context theme and prevent it from going to the “dark side,” leverage other strengths of your own, or someone else. Here are some complementary strengths and how they can help:

1. Futuristic: Can help balance your focus on the past with a vision for the future. Futuristic thinkers can inspire and motivate you to look ahead and embrace new possibilities.

2. Activator: Activators are great at turning ideas into action and can help your Context move from reflection to action more quickly.

3. Adaptability: Helps with flexibility and being open to change. Adaptable people can encourage you to experiment with new methods and technologies, making it easier to navigate change.

4. Strategic: Adds value in seeing the bigger picture and identifying the best path forward. They can assist you in turning historical insights into strategic plans that drive progress.

5. Positivity: Positivity can counterbalance the potential negativity of rehashing old issues. Positive individuals can help shift the focus from your Context of problems to solutions, creating a more optimistic and forward-looking atmosphere.

Conclusion

The Context theme is a powerful strength that can provide valuable insights and stability to a team. However, it’s important to be aware of its potential blindspots and take proactive measures to manage them. By balancing reflection with action, embracing change, focusing on solutions, setting clear goals, encouraging flexibility, and leveraging their strengths, your Context theme can continue to contribute positively to your teams and organizations.

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Consistency and blindspots

28th January 2025

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Blindpsot Consistency blog

Navigating the Blindspots of Consistency

Exploring the Blindspots of Consistency in Engineering Teams: Strengths and Strategic Partnerships

In the world of engineering, the CliftonStrengths Consistency talent brings a critical perspective. Here we uncover the value of Consistency and its 5 potential blindspots. People with high Consistency value fairness, equality, and the establishment of stable processes. They tend not to like surprises, going to different holiday locations and prefer to find a rhythm to their life. They excel at creating dependable systems, ensuring everyone operates on a level playing field, and championing fairness in decision-making. However, like every strength, Consistency has potential blind spots. Understanding Consistency and its blindspots, and learning how to partner with complementary strengths can help engineers and their teams maximise their effectiveness.

What is the Consistency Strength?

People high in the Consistency talent thrive in environments that demand structure and fairness. They naturally seek to establish processes that ensure resources, expectations, and opportunities are distributed equitably. In engineering, this can mean creating standard operating procedures (SOPs), ensuring compliance with safety regulations, or building workflows that avoid favouritism. Their focus on stability and fairness can improve team morale, reduce inefficiencies, and foster a sense of order within the chaos of technical work.

However, strengths overplayed or applied rigidly can create challenges with colleagues, clients or indeed close friends or family. Let’s explore some of the key blind spots of Consistency, particularly in the context of engineering, and identify the CliftonStrengths themes that can serve as valuable partners.

To explore more how to manage your interactions with other CliftonStrengths, read the Katalytik Whitepaper on Conflict and Communication and access our insights to how you can interact more effectively with some CliftonStrengths when you understand their drivers and style.

Blind Spot 1: Resistance to Flexibility in Unique Situations

People with high Consistency prefer structured systems that apply equally to all. While this is invaluable for establishing a sense of fairness, it can lead to a rigid approach when exceptions are necessary. In engineering, where projects often present unique challenges or rapidly changing requirements, an overemphasis on uniformity can stifle creativity and adaptability. For example, a one-size-fits-all approach to problem-solving might overlook the nuances of a particularly complex or urgent issue.

How to Address It:

To overcome this blind spot, individuals with Consistency can seek out teammates with Adaptability or Ideation. Those with Adaptability thrive in dynamic, fast-moving situations and can bring the flexibility needed when processes must bend to fit unique circumstances. Similarly, Ideation talent holders can help brainstorm creative solutions that fit the immediate needs of the problem while maintaining fairness in the broader system. And Strategic as a theme can offer insights and alternative ways of doing things.

Practical Tip:

When faced with an exception, pause to assess its broader implications. Ask: Does this exception set a dangerous precedent, or is it a rare situation where deviation is justified?

Blind Spot 2: Perceived Lack of Empathy for Individual Needs

Consistency is often focused on the “big picture” of fairness, which can unintentionally overlook the unique circumstances or needs of individuals. In engineering teams, this might manifest as enforcing a rigid work schedule or workflow without fully considering personal challenges, such as someone’s need for flexible hours due to caregiving responsibilities. This perceived lack of empathy can create friction and lead to disengagement.

How to Address It:

Partnering with individuals high in Empathy or Individualisation can help bring a balanced perspective. Find a go to partner to have conversations that can help you explore this. Empathy talent holders are skilled at understanding others’ feelings and perspectives, which can help ensure that fairness doesn’t overshadow compassion. Meanwhile, Individualisation talent holders excel at tailoring solutions to fit the unique strengths and needs of each team member, creating a complementary approach to fairness.

Practical Tip:

Schedule regular one-on-one check-ins with team members to better understand their individual needs and how processes might accommodate them without compromising fairness.

Blind Spot 3: Slow Decision-Making in Ambiguous Situations

Consistency-driven individuals prefer clear rules and processes to guide their decisions. However, engineering projects often involve ambiguity and incomplete data. In such cases, the desire to wait until a system or rule is established can delay critical decision-making. This can frustrate teams that rely on agility and quick thinking, particularly in high-stakes situations like product launches or system failures.

How to Address It:

Partnering with someone high in Command or Activator can help mitigate this blind spot. Command talent holders excel at making decisive choices even in uncertain conditions, while Activators are adept at taking quick action to move projects forward. Together, they can complement Consistency’s preference for structure by bringing energy and urgency to decision-making.

Practical Tip:

When a decision needs to be made quickly, focus on the “minimum viable structure.” Define just enough process to guide the immediate decision without over-complicating or delaying action.

Blind Spot 4: Difficulty Embracing Innovation or Change

Consistency values stability, which can sometimes translate into resistance to change. While maintaining proven processes is often a strength, the fast-paced and evolving nature of engineering demands innovation. Over-reliance on the “way things have always been done” can hinder progress and leave teams lagging behind competitors who are more open to change.

How to Address It:

Team up with individuals who have Futuristic or Strategic talents. Futuristic talent holders are visionaries who can paint an inspiring picture of what the future could look like, helping the team see the benefits of change. Strategic, on the other hand, helps people excel at finding alternative pathways to achieve a goal, ensuring that the shift is both innovative and aligned with long-term objectives.

Practical Tip:

When faced with change, take time to map out how the new process aligns with the team’s core values and priorities. This can provide reassurance while allowing innovation to flourish.

Blind Spot 5: Overemphasis on Rules at the Expense of Relationships

In their pursuit of fairness, a rhythm or routine, people high in Consistency may come across as overly focused on the rules, potentially straining relationships within the team. For example, they might enforce policies in a way that feels impersonal, which can alienate colleagues who value a more relational or collaborative approach.

How to Address It:

Partnering with teammates who lead with Harmony or Relator can provide balance. Harmony talent holders excel at resolving conflict and fostering agreement, while Relator talent holders prioritise building close, genuine relationships. These complementary strengths can ensure that fairness doesn’t come at the cost of connection.

Practical Tip:

When enforcing rules, take time to explain the “why” behind them. Framing policies in terms of their benefit to the team or project can help build buy-in and trust.

Final Thoughts: Leveraging Partnerships to Maximise Consistency

The Consistency talent is a cornerstone of fairness and stability in engineering teams, but it’s not without its challenges. By recognising and addressing its blind spots, individuals with high Consistency can ensure their focus on equality doesn’t inadvertently hinder innovation, adaptability, or empathy.

Strategic partnerships with complementary strengths such as Adaptability, Empathy, Command, and Futuristic can help build a well-rounded approach to engineering challenges. Ultimately, it’s not about changing who you are but about leveraging your strengths in a way that maximises impact while maintaining balance. With thoughtful self-awareness and collaboration, the Consistency strength can help create engineering teams that are not only fair but also highly effective and innovative.

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The power and edge of Connectedness

20th December 2024

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Navigating the Blindspots of the Connectedness Theme

In the dynamic world of engineering, collaboration and an holistic view are so important. This is where the CliftonStrength Connectedness theme shines brightly. Those with this strength excel at seeing patterns, fostering unity, and enhancing teamwork. However, like all strengths, Connectedness has its blindspots. Recognizing and managing these can transform potential pitfalls into powerful growth opportunities. And, in a world where logic and facts have such high value, it helps you understand how Connectedness can be perceived.

The Connectedness theme is a powerful asset in the sector, offering a unique ability to see the bigger picture and foster collaboration. By recognizing and managing its blindspots, individuals and teams can leverage this strength to its fullest potential. Encourage your team to embrace constructive conflict, seek evidence-based connections, balance group and individual focus, and simplify decision-making processes. With these strategies, the Connectedness theme can truly shine, driving innovation and unity in your projects.

The Power of Connectedness

Connectedness is a strength that allows individuals to see the bigger picture. It’s about understanding that everything happens for a reason and that all things are interconnected. In the engineering sector, this can translate to a profound ability to integrate diverse elements of a project, ensuring that all parts work harmoniously together. This strength fosters a sense of unity and purpose, driving teams towards common goals and enhancing collaboration.

Identifying the Blindspots

Despite its many advantages, the Connectedness theme can lead to several blindspots if not carefully managed. Taking time to tune-in to this theme means you really can leverage its power and edge. These blindspots can manifest in various ways. For instance, a project team might avoid necessary confrontations to maintain harmony, leading to unresolved technical issues. Similarly, an engineer might make assumptions about system failures based on perceived patterns, without sufficient data to back up these assumptions. Finding a partner with other talent themes might be the answer for you, see some suggestions later. Four common blindspots stand out, which ones can you notice that ‘trip you up’?

1. Overemphasis on harmony

Individuals with strong Connectedness may avoid conflict to maintain harmony. While this can create a peaceful work environment, it can also lead to unresolved issues that fester over time. For example: A project team might avoid necessary confrontations to maintain harmony, leading to unresolved technical issues that could escalate over time. This avoidance can result in critical problems being ignored until they become unmanageable.

2. Overgeneralization

The tendency to see connections everywhere can sometimes lead to making assumptions without sufficient evidence. This can result in misguided decisions based on perceived patterns rather than facts. For example: An engineer might make assumptions about system failures based on perceived patterns without sufficient data to back up these assumptions. This can lead to misguided troubleshooting efforts and wasted resources.

3. Neglecting individual needs

A focus on the collective can sometimes overshadow individual contributions and needs. This can lead to your team colleagues feeling undervalued or overlooked. For example: in a team setting, focusing too much on the collective can overshadow individual contributions and needs. Team members might feel undervalued or overlooked, leading to decreased morale, lower productivity, and or engagement.

4. Difficulty in decision-making

Seeing too many interconnected factors can make decision-making challenging. The complexity of weighing all these things can lead to indecision or delayed action. For example a Connectedness engineer might struggle to prioritize tasks or make timely decisions, resulting in project delays.

Measures to notice and interrupt the blindspots

To harness the full potential of the Connectedness theme while mitigating its blindspots, consider the following strategies:

Don’t shy away from constructive conflict

Don’t be afraid of disagreement and conflict. Be part of a culture where healthy debate is valued. Encourage your team to voice their concerns and ideas openly. Structured conflict resolution techniques can be generative and even lead to innovation.

Seek evidence-based connections

Embrace critical thinking and data analysis. Validate your assumptions with empirical evidence to ensure connections are based on facts rather than perceptions. This will also raise your value in the eyes of others.

Balance group and individual focus

Recognizing and celebrating others’ contributions within your team context validates varied contributions. Oftentimes colleagues with lots of Executing strengths can be so focused on getting things done, that they forget to acknowledge progress and growth. Ensuring that individual needs are met and that everyone feels valued for their unique input grows a sense of belonging and raises engagement.

Simplify decision-making processes

Use decision-making frameworks to manage complexity. Prioritize key factors and make informed choices, even when faced with numerous interconnected elements. Even use AI tools to offer you frameworks to try.

Actions to stay on top

Engage in regular reflection and feedback

Try to embark on regular self-reflection and peer feedback. Use the self-reflection framework in the Katalytik Library. Tools like 360-degree feedback can provide valuable insights into how Connectedness is being perceived and utilized. Read up on the Johari Window and ask for feedback.

Training and development

Take time to read around, maybe take a training course, and practice different strategies for conflict navigation. The Katalytik Whitepaper reviews conflict and communication through the lens of CliftonStrengths. You might consider a training course on conflict resolution, critical thinking, and decision-making strategies. Workshops and seminars can equip you with the skills you need to manage your strengths effectively.

Create a supportive environment

Be part of creating an environment where your fellow team members feel safe to express their concerns and ideas – psychological safety. Promoting such a culture of continuous improvement and learning, means blindspots are seen as opportunities for growth. Choose to read books that explore Radical Candour (Kim Scott, 2017, ISBN 9781529038347) and Crucial Conversations (Kerry Patterson and Joseph Grenny, 2021) for example – or contact Katalytik to discuss a workshop.

Explore complementary CliftonStrengths

Your CliftonStrengths reports suggest potential strengths with which to partner. Indeed, you may even have these in the top of your profile. If so, congratulations, you can do some of this lifting yourself. We’ve picked out a few to focus on to balance your Connectedness theme:

Analytical: Helps ground the intuitive connections of Connectedness with data and evidence, ensuring decisions are based on solid analysis.

Deliberative: Adds a cautious and careful approach to decision-making, helping to avoid overgeneralization and hasty conclusions.

Individualization: Focuses on recognizing and valuing individual contributions, balancing the collective focus of Connectedness.

Command: Brings a decisive and assertive approach, countering the potential indecisiveness of Connectedness.

Focus: Helps prioritize tasks and maintain direction, ensuring that the broader connections seen by Connectedness are translated into actionable steps.

Restorative: Adds a problem-solving mindset, helping to address issues head-on rather than avoiding conflict for the sake of harmony.

Conclusion

The Connectedness theme is a powerful asset in the engineering sector, offering a unique ability to see the bigger picture and foster collaboration. By recognizing and managing its blindspots, you and your team will benefit and start to leverage this strength to its fullest potential. Encourage your team to embrace constructive conflict, seek evidence-based connections, balance group and individual focus, and simplify decision-making processes. With these strategies, the Connectedness theme can truly shine, driving innovation and unity in your projects.

And why not book Katalytik to facilitate a workshop?

Katalytik can share ways to introduce crucial conversations and deep listening with your team.

Why not book a free call?

Curios about our high-performing team sessions can be found here

Book a call

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Connectedness blindspots

27th November 2024

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November 2024 News

It’s a shock to us, if not to you, that we are a quarter way through the 21st century. As our penultimate newsletter of 2024 we want to share our passion for group coaching and the importance that everyone deserves and needs a coach, see Jan’s LinkedIn post) and that the essence of a high performing team is about communication.

It’s now 5 years since we launched our conversations on inclusion. And in 2025 we want to grow the engagement with this approach.: to help stop the preaching about EDI and to enable and empower each person to do one thing.

This month we’re exploring

The CliftonStrength, Competition – scroll to the bottom
The benefit of getting a coach , early in your career, and especially for PhD/Postdocs. Also, how group coaching is a cost effective and powerful choice.
Helping to get things done with the FREE graphic summary of the 4 disciplines of execution
Notice of our December Strengths Jam end of year party. 4 December at 11am

We hope you will be rooting for us at the Elektra Awards, for a company supporting the education and training of engineers on 10th December.

We continue to love, love, love, facilitating workshops and create action plans for a diverse range of inclusion programmes with corporates, professional societies, and universities including renewing for Athena Swan.

This year in the office we are enjoying the sunny days, knowing that all our energy for heat, light, and PCs is coming from the sun! 100% solar.

In the meantime we hope your Movember is a good one.

Jan and the Katalytik team

PS If you’d like to catch up and hear more, or check-in for a chat just book a call

PPS don’t forget to sign up to our GDPR compliant news letter at the top of the page to get this direct to your inbox.

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We are excited to have been shortlisted for the Elektra Award, for companies supporting engineering education. Since we led the Set to Lead project at UCL in 2010 we have proivded input to the UKSPEC and AHEP, three times! gone on to embed inclusive thinking into the award winning Integrated Engineering Programme at UCL, and from the symposia in 2016 and 2018 written the report Designing inclusive engineering education. Our learning has led to our Engineering Inclusion Forum – training trainers to tweak their programmes, supporting doctoral students and academics, and working to measure progress.

We’re not all blessed with ‘executing themes’ high in our CliftonStrengths profile. But we probably all get caught up in the vortex of work and life. This months ‘must read’ and your free download is the summary of the book “The 4 disciplines of execution” by Chesney, Covey, and Huling.

If you find yourself in a vortex, are stuck, and feel like you just aren’t getting things done, see if this helps. And then read Atomic Habits!

The value of coaching early in one’s career is often underestimated. While coaching is often associated with senior professionals, the truth is that coaching can propel individuals towards their goals swiftly. As Eric Schmidt of Google emphasized, ‘Everyone needs a coach.’ We advocate for the impact of group coaching. It serves as a platform for peers to collaborate, learn from each other, and grow collectively. It provides an opportunity to enhance practice listening skills abilities by actively engaging in the coaching process. Read more on Jan’s LinkedIn

Helen and Jan took a day out of the office to meet with other CliftonStrengths coaches and Simon Hurry of Play Nicely to dive deeper into positive psychology and Simon’s deep thinking of how groups of CliftonStrengths are often found within one person.

Simon has framed these types into a 4×4 matrix that shape how we show up: as Guardians, Change Managers, Change Agents, and Reformers. We’re looking forward to exploring his methodology in 2025 and bringing our insights to our workshops and teams very soon. If you want to stay ahead of the curve, call for a chat.

Katalytik is excited to be the training provider for the Electric Dreams project – celebrating the innovation and passions of women from 1924 who set up the Electrical Association of Women to “free them from domestic drudgery”. And asking people to think forwards to 2054. Part of this years Ingenious fund, we are providing the training and faciliation of the project.

Funded by the Royal Academy of Engineering Ingenious Project Jan is excited to be the training facilitator.

Strengths Jam – 4th December 11am

A Strengths Jam Christmas Party

Let’s reflect on great moments from 2024, What strengths were you using, and why are these such powerful memories? How can we bring this into the Christmas period and 2025? In true party style, you all leave with an e gift from us at Katalytik

Join us by registering here

This month’s strengths blog

The CliftonStrength Competition® is a gift in many settings. It brings an energy and push to be first. Appreciating that others are not motivated by being first, or winning at all costs, can seem surprising. Time to reflect and explore what their world is like can be an eye-opener into how you can be helpful partners.

This blog looks at the darker side of Competition and offers strategies for leveraging its power and learning how to let it be a help and not a hindrance to your success.

Read the blog

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Competition blindspots

25th November 2024

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Unveiling the Blindspots of the CliftonStrength Competition theme and ideas how to address them The CliftonStrengths Competition theme drives performance and excellence. However, even the most positive traits can have their blind spots. In this article, we delve into the potential pitfalls of the…

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Command goes to the Dark Side

25th September 2024

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Introduction Your Command gives you an energy and passion, that you wear as a cloak, and it’s possible you may not be aware of it. Be sure though, that others see it clearly. It brings a certainty and aura of confidence. The thing is…

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How your CliftonStrength Belief hinders you

1st August 2024

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Being able to notice how your Belief shows up means you maximise your potential to harness its power.

The Belief theme in CliftonStrengths, one of the 34 themes identified by Gallup, is characterized by individuals who have core values that are deeply held and unchanging. People with Belief are driven by these values, which provide them with direction, purpose, and meaning. They are passionate about their causes and are often seen as steadfast and reliable. While this strength can lead to tremendous dedication and a strong sense of mission, it is not without its potential blind spots. Understanding these blind spots can help individuals leverage their Belief talent more effectively while avoiding common pitfalls.

And for ideas how your Belief might come across to others, and what you can do about it, read our whitepaper on conflict and communication, it contains a table of all 34 CliftonStrengths.

Understanding Belief ® as a strength

Someone with Belief as a top theme has a strong set of core values that define their decisions and actions. They have a strong sense of purpose and direction. Often described as dependable and trustworthy they ere mission-oriented and inspire others with their passion and conviction.

Common blindspots of Belief hinders progress

The Belief theme in CliftonStrengths is a powerful driver of purpose and mission. However, like all strengths, it comes with potential blind spots that can limit effectiveness if left unchecked. By acknowledging and addressing these blind spots: rigidity in thinking, potential for conflict, resistance to change, overemphasis on values, difficulty in prioritizing, and risk of alienation—individuals with the Belief theme can harness their strengths more fully and constructively. Balancing passion with flexibility, empathy, and practicality can lead to a more harmonious and productive application of their deeply held values, ultimately benefiting themselves, their teams, and the broader causes they champion.

1. Rigidity in Thinking

One of the most significant blind spots associated with the Belief theme is rigidity. Individuals with strong Belief may find it challenging to be flexible or open to different perspectives. This can lead to a perception of inflexibility or stubbornness, especially in environments that require adaptability and innovation. While it is essential to hold true to one’s values, there are times when compromising or considering alternative viewpoints is necessary for collaborative success.

Mitigation Strategy: To mitigate this, individuals with Belief should practice active listening and seek to understand opposing views without immediately dismissing them. Engaging in open-ended questions and considering the merits of alternative approaches can help in balancing conviction with flexibility.

2. Potential for Conflict

Belief-driven individuals are passionate about their causes and values, which can sometimes lead to conflicts with others who do not share the same views. This passion, while admirable, can be perceived as overbearing or confrontational. In a team setting, this can create friction and hinder collaboration.

Mitigation Strategy: Recognizing the importance of empathy and emotional intelligence is crucial. By understanding and respecting the values and beliefs of others, individuals with the Belief theme can foster a more inclusive and harmonious environment. Effective communication and conflict resolution skills can also be beneficial in navigating disagreements constructively.

3. Resistance to Change

People with the Belief theme often have a strong attachment to their values and the causes they support. This attachment can translate into resistance to change, particularly if the change seems to threaten their core beliefs. In a rapidly evolving world, this resistance can be a significant obstacle.

Mitigation Strategy: Embracing a growth mindset can help. By viewing change as an opportunity for growth rather than a threat, individuals with Belief can learn to adapt while still honouring their core values. It is also helpful to focus on how new changes or initiatives can align with and support their fundamental beliefs.

4. Overemphasis on Values

While having strong values is a hallmark of the Belief theme, there can be a tendency to overemphasize values at the expense of other critical factors such as efficiency, practicality, or profitability. This overemphasis can sometimes result in decisions that are not balanced or sustainable.

Mitigation Strategy: Striving for balance is key. Individuals with the Belief theme should work on integrating their values with practical considerations. Seeking input from others who have strengths in areas like Strategic, Analytical, or Maximizer can provide a more rounded perspective, ensuring that decisions are both value-driven and effective.

5. Difficulty in Prioritizing

The passion and commitment associated with the Belief theme can sometimes lead to taking on too many causes or initiatives simultaneously. This can result in burnout or diluted efforts, where none of the causes receive the full attention they deserve.

Mitigation Strategy: Prioritization is essential. Learning to focus on a few key initiatives that align most closely with one’s core values can lead to more impactful and sustainable efforts. Techniques such as goal setting and time management can aid in maintaining focus and energy on the most important causes.

6. Risk of Alienation

Belief-driven individuals can sometimes alienate others who do not share the same level of passion or who may have different priorities. This risk is particularly pronounced in diverse teams or organizations where multiple values and beliefs are represented.

Mitigation Strategy: Inclusivity and respect for diversity are paramount. Individuals with the Belief theme should strive to create environments where all voices are heard and respected. Celebrating differences and finding common ground can help in building stronger, more cohesive teams.

Pairing the Belief theme with other CliftonStrengths themes can create powerful partnerships that mitigate the potential blind spots and enhance overall effectiveness. Here are some strengths that make great partners for individuals with the Belief theme:

1. Adaptability

Why It’s a Good Partner:

Individuals with Adaptability excel in flexibility and going with the flow. They can help balance the rigidity sometimes seen in those with the Belief theme by introducing a more open and responsive approach to change and unforeseen circumstances.

How It Helps:

Adaptability can complement Belief by helping individuals stay grounded and present, allowing for a more agile response to changing environments without compromising core values.

2. Harmony

Why It’s a Good Partner:

Harmony focuses on finding consensus and reducing conflict. This strength can help Belief individuals navigate potential conflicts by emphasizing common ground and fostering collaborative environments.

How It Helps:

Harmony can mitigate the risk of conflict by promoting peaceful resolution and understanding, making it easier for Belief-driven individuals to work effectively in diverse teams.

3. Strategic

Why It’s a Good Partner:

Strategic thinkers excel at spotting relevant patterns and issues and developing clear plans to navigate complex situations. They can help individuals with the Belief theme make informed decisions that align with their values while also considering practical implications.

How It Helps:

The Strategic theme provides a forward-looking perspective that helps balance passion with practicality, ensuring that decisions are both visionary and feasible.

4. Analytical

Why It’s a Good Partner:

Analytical individuals focus on understanding the factors that affect a situation. They bring a data-driven approach that can help ground the sometimes idealistic nature of the Belief theme in facts and logic.

How It Helps:

Analytical partners help ensure that decisions are well-supported by evidence and can highlight any potential oversights, leading to more balanced and sustainable outcomes.

5. Woo (Winning Others Over)

Why It’s a Good Partner:

Woo is all about connecting with others and building relationships. This strength can help individuals with Belief expand their influence and gather support for their causes by creating strong interpersonal connections.

How It Helps:

Woo partners can bridge gaps between Belief-driven individuals and others who may not initially share their passion, helping to build a broad base of support and fostering more inclusive environments.

6. Maximizer

Why It’s a Good Partner:

Maximizers focus on strengths and strive for excellence. They can help Belief individuals refine their approach, ensuring that their efforts are not just passionate but also highly effective and impactful.

How It Helps:

The Maximizer theme helps individuals with Belief achieve greater impact by focusing on what works best and seeking continuous improvement, thus enhancing the overall quality and effectiveness of their initiatives.

7. Empathy

Why It’s a Good Partner:

Empathy involves understanding and sharing the feelings of others. This strength can help individuals with Belief tune into the emotional needs and perspectives of those around them, fostering deeper connections and mutual respect.

How It Helps:

Empathy partners can help mitigate the risk of alienation by ensuring that the emotional and relational aspects of interactions are considered, leading to more harmonious and supportive environments.

8. Connectedness

Why It’s a Good Partner:

Connectedness is about seeing the bigger picture and understanding how different elements are interconnected. This strength can complement Belief by providing a broader perspective on how their values and causes fit into the larger scheme of things.

How It Helps:

Connectedness helps individuals with Belief see the interconnectedness of their actions and values, promoting a more holistic and inclusive approach to their mission and goals.

9. Positivity

Why It’s a Good Partner:

Positivity brings an upbeat and optimistic attitude. This strength can help Belief individuals maintain morale and motivation, especially during challenging times.

How It Helps:

Positivity partners can provide the encouragement and positive reinforcement needed to sustain long-term efforts, ensuring that Belief-driven initiatives remain energized and forward-looking.

10. Learner

Why It’s a Good Partner:

Learners are driven by a desire to continuously improve and grow. This strength can help individuals with Belief remain open to new information and perspectives, promoting ongoing personal and professional development.

How It Helps:

Learner partners encourage a mindset of growth and curiosity, helping individuals with Belief stay adaptable and informed, thereby enhancing their ability to navigate complex and changing environments.

Being aware of your blindspots can mean your Belief works for you

By pairing the Belief theme with complementary strengths, from a partner, or noticing how you own top themes interact with it, you can create powerful partnerships that mitigate blind spots and enhance their overall effectiveness. Thiscreates a balanced approach, blending your strong values with flexibility, empathy, and strategic insight. Embracing these synergistic combinations allows your Belief theme to maximize its potential and help you navigate your mission with greater success and fulfilment.

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When your CliftonStrength Arranger gets in your way

3rd July 2024

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When your Arranger goes to the dark side

The CliftonStrengths framework identifies 34 distinct talent themes, each representing a specific way of thinking, feeling, and behaving. Among these, the Arranger® strength is characterized by the ability to organize and manage multiple variables to achieve success. Individuals with Arranger® are natural coordinators, adept at juggling numerous tasks and responsibilities. However, like all strengths, Arranger® has potential blind spots. In this blog, we’ll explore these blind spots and suggest complementary strengths that can help mitigate them. Knowing how your Arranger works for you means you can notice when it gets ‘stretched’ and can impact on your wellbeing.

And for ideas how your Arrnager might come across to others, and what you can do about it, read our whitepaper on conflict and communication, it contains a table of all 34 CliftonStrengths.

Understanding Arranger® as a strength

Individuals with the Arranger® strength thrive in dynamic environments. They are at their best when managing complex scenarios, finding the most efficient configurations of people and resources to achieve a goal. They are flexible, adaptable, and thrive on figuring out how all the pieces and resources can be arranged for maximum productivity.

Common blind spots of Arranger®

Over-control and micromanagement

With Arranger® dominant, people often believe they can manage everything better than anyone else. This can lead to micromanagement tendencies, which can stifle team members’ creativity and autonomy. The need to oversee every detail can create bottlenecks and delay decision-making processes. Friction and frustration are common outcomes when two or more Arrangers® are on the same project.

Risk of overwhelm and burnout

The desire of Arranger® to handle multiple tasks simultaneously can lead to taking on too much. This overcommitment can result in stress, burnout, and a decrease in overall effectiveness. The constant juggling can become overwhelming, especially when unforeseen challenges arise.

Inflexibility under pressure

Although your Arranger® theme inherently makes you generally flexible, it can make you less accommodating under pressure. When your carefully organized plans are disrupted, you may become frustrated and struggle to adapt, potentially leading to wasted energy and decreased performance.

Neglecting long-term planning

Knowing that you are inherently truly competent at managing immediate needs and short-term goals, means you may sometimes neglect long-term planning. Your intense focus on the present causes you to overlook future implications, which can be detrimental in strategic contexts.

Strengths to partner with Arranger®

To mitigate these blind spots, finding a partner with other high ranking themes – or complementary strengths – can help you create a more balanced and effective approach. Here are some suggestions that can help you catch your blind spots before they cause too much trouble for you!

Strategic®

Individuals with the Strategic strength are adept at seeing patterns and anticipating future scenarios. They excel at long-term planning and can help your Arranger® maintain a broader perspective. Collaborating with Strategic, ensures that your immediate plans align with long-term goals, reducing the risk of missing important future implications.

Analytical®

A colleague or partner with Analytical® dominant in their profile brings a deep understanding and joy of data to our projects and the ability to break down complex information into manageable parts. Partnering with Analytical individuals can help you make more informed decisions, preventing you from overcommitting or missing critical details. Your Analytical partner(s) can provide a reality check, feedback and also ask you what might at first appear to be challenging questions, be brave, their involvement means your plans are feasible and grounded in data.

Adaptability®

While your Arranger® talent means you are inherently flexible, if things get challenging, under stress, partnering with someone who has the Adaptability® strength can help maintain a calm and flexible approach in the face of disruption. Their calm approach thrives in times of chaos and stress and can provide a calm vibe and can help you navigate unexpected changes smoothly.

Communication®

Working on complex plans you will find a Communication® partner is valuable, bringing clarity and understanding among team members. Articulating your plans effectively, reduces the risk of being over controlling and micromanagement. Clear communication fosters trust and autonomy within the team, allowing your Arranger® to focus on coordination rather than control.

Focus®

Individuals with the Focus® strength have a strong ability to concentrate on goals and prioritize tasks. They can help you maintain direction and avoid becoming overwhelmed by too many simultaneous tasks. By keeping the team aligned on the most critical objectives, your Focus® partner can prevent you being stretched across too many tasks.

Practical action

Delegate effectively

Leveraging the strengths of the whole team by sharing the work out that that aligns with their talents shows trust. Trusting others to handle specific responsibilities again reduces the tendency your Arranger® gives you to micromanage and lets your free up your time for higher-level coordination.

Set boundaries and prioritize

Your Focus® partners are vital to help set clear priorities and boundaries. Identify the most critical tasks and allocate time accordingly. This collaboration helps avoid overcommitment and means you maintain a manageable workload.

Engage in strategic planning and deep listening

Regularly checking in with your colleagues and particularly engaging with Strategic partners means you review long-term goals and align short-term plans with these objectives. Incorporate strategic thinking into the planning process to ensure a balanced approach that considers both immediate needs and future implications.

Foster and engage in open communication

Encourage, and participate in, open communication within your team. Work with Communication partners to establish clear channels for feedback and discussion. This openness can prevent misunderstandings and create a more collaborative and autonomous work environment.

Embrace flexibility

Recognize that plans may need to change and be open to input from all team members. Embrace a mindset that values flexibility and resilience, especially when faced with unexpected challenges. And be aware especially if someone else in your team has a high Arranger® strength.

6. Notice how your Arranger affects your mood

Staying on top of one of your best themes means you can manage your wellbeng better. Read this blog from Gallup.

Conclusion

Your Arranger® strength is a powerful asset in any team. Your innate talent gives you capacity to manage complexity and drive efficient outcomes and amazes others. However, awareness of its blind spots and building strategic partnerships with complementary strengths can enhance its effectiveness. And maintain team sanity. By collaborating with individuals who possess Strategic, Analytical, Adaptability, Communication, or Focus strengths, mitigates negative impacts of the blind spots and creates a more balanced, productive, and resilient team dynamic. Embracing these partnerships and leveraging diverse strengths can lead to greater success and fulfillment in both personal and professional endeavours. Above all, take note of how yo come across, check in with your colleagues (or family) and invite them to sape the plans.

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Conflict and communication: a major issue for engineering

20th June 2024

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| News, Opinion, Reports

We’re so excited for our whitepaper on conflict and communication to finally meet the rest of the world. We started on the journey because we wanted to add greater value to our workshops, drawing on the experiences of engineering managers about the challenges they…

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