Over a course of five days, I am sharing each of my five strengths as indicated through the StrengthsFinder indicator. Of the 34 themes, these are my “top five”. Hopefully this will give insight into who I am, how I am wired, and why I lead and blog the way I do. I am simply sharing the feedback results the indicator gave to me after I took the assessment, but after that paragraph I will share some additional thoughts on the negative aspect of this strength.
Strategic
The Strategic theme enables you to sort through the clutter and find the best route. It is not a skill that can be taught. It is a distinct way of thinking, a special perspective on the world at large. This perspective allows you to see patterns where others simply see complexity. Mindful of these patterns, you play out alternative scenarios, always asking, “What if this happened? Okay, well what if this happened?” This recurring question helps you see around the next corner. There you can evaluate accurately the potential obstacles. Guided by where you see each path leading, you start to make selections. You discard the paths that lead nowhere. You discard the paths that lead straight into resistance. You discard the paths that lead into a fog of confusion. You cull and make selections until you arrive at the chosen path—your strategy. Armed with your strategy, you strike forward. This is your Strategic theme at work: “What if?” Select. Strike.
The strategic strength can cause me to get frustrated and impatient with those who do not share this strength and for them to get impatient with me. I want progress that makes sense. I want to plan things through. I want to question the status quo. Not everyone is wired this way.
