Gallup CliftonStrengths® is an assessment of personality, rooted in the theory of positive psychology. Research indicates that people who know and use their strengths every day are more likely to experience positive emotions (energy, happiness, respect) and less likely to experience negative emotions (stress, worry, anger, sadness). The assessment identifies an individual’s top five “Signature Themes” from a list of 34 common talents. Individuals can then develop those talents into strengths, and apply those strengths in all areas of their life.
Overview of the Self-Assurance® Strength
Someone who has strong Self-Assurance® according to the CliftonStrengths® assessment is a person who has faith in their abilities and strengths. It is very similar to self-confidence and allows people with this strength to take risks, stakes claims, rise to challenges, and deliver the goods where others lack the confidence or assuredness to do so.
Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” If you are strong in the Self-Assurance® theme, you take those words to heart and live your life with supreme confidence and assurance. You are also rarely persuaded by the arguments of others and your faith is strong. Some might say you are unshakeable.
Not only do people who have the Self-Assurance® strength believe in their own abilities, but in their judgment as well. They understand that few others see what they see when looking at the world around them. For this reason, they form your own opinions, draw their own conclusions, and make their own choices. They are rarely intimidated.
Action Items for the Self-Assurance® Strength
People with Self-Assurance® strength are not conformists. They don’t simply follow rules because they exist. It’s not that they are rule breakers. They prefer careers and roles where there is no rulebook and instinct rules them instead.
These actions will help individuals strong in the Self-Assurance® strength keep their focus and prepare them for your greatest possible success:
Seek employment with start-ups that haven’t yet written rulebooks on how to go about creating success.
Wear your confidence with pride. It will reinforce confidence among your colleagues.
Show your colleagues the power of your follow through so they can have confidence that when you say you’ll do something, you will.
Trust your own instincts to decide the right course of action. They rarely let you down.
Choose careers in which you are the one in control of your destiny and the one who makes decisions.
Ideal careers for people with the Self-Assurance® strength include: Attorney/Litigator, Leadership, Sales, Entrepreneur.
These roles allow them to play to your own strengths and make decisions worthy of their confidence and self-assuredness.
How to Manage Someone with the Self-Assurance® Strength
Managing individuals who have the Self-Assurance® strength is much easier to accomplish if you follow a few simple rules of thumb:
Position them in roles where they have the authority to make meaningful decisions for your organization.
Place them in positions where persistence is necessary. They have the confidence to stick to the plan even when facing incredible pressure to switch directions.
Show confidence in their intuition. This shows them you support them and believe in them and reinforces their confidence in themselves.
Let them see the impact their decisions have on the business and the group, so they can see the good that comes from their hard works. Pay special attention to pointing out practices that are most effective for them.
Avoid ignoring or sugarcoating mistakes. While they are confident, that confidence needs to be earned. Misjudgments, errors, and mistakes need to be pointed out immediately and any feedback needs to be very clear to help avoid future mistakes.
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Gallup®, Clifton StrengthsFinder®, StrengthsFinder®, CliftonStrengths® and each of the 34 CliftonStrengths® theme names are trademarks of Gallup, Inc. For more information, or to take the CliftonStrengths® assessment, visit www.gallupstrengthscenter.com.
