How To Apply CliftonStrengths Relator At Work
StrengthsFinder Definition - Relator
Often people will ask us, "What does it mean to have the Relator Strength?" First, know that StrengthsFinder will help you figure out your potential. We call them natural talents or natural patterns. We know you're here because you want to turn them into superpowers in your career, so here's the gist: People exceptionally talented in the Relator theme enjoy close relationships with others. They find deep satisfaction in working hard with friends to achieve a goal. Here's the full list of CliftonStrengths definitions so you can check out your other talents as well.
Gallup®, Clifton StrengthsFinder®, StrengthsFinder®, and each of the 34 Clifton StrengthsFinder theme names are trademarks of Gallup, Inc.
CliftonStrengths Relator - Learn All About It
These 10-15 minute "Theme Overview" videos give you a peek into the awesomeness of your talent theme. They also explore the idea that talent themes represent potential, yet if they are not invested in, they might show up looking raw and unproductive at work.
These “Talent Deep Dive” videos explore the nuance of each talent theme. You’ll learn about its power and edge. You’ll consider potential blind spots. These are useful videos if you have this talent theme at the top of your list, or if you want to learn about a teammate who leads through Relator.
These Career Branding links help you apply your talents to your career. They give you examples of things you might be known for to help your personal branding at work. They also offer some watch-outs to know what situations and cultures can zap your energy.
Your Strengths Will Strengthen Your Performance At Work
In the next section, you'll explore what fuels you up and what drains you. Just like gas (or petrol) in your car, you need to keep your personal tank full to be at your best. Each StrengthsFinder talent theme is energized and drained by different things. When you see the stick figure who looks strong, you can consider how these things fuel you up at work. They're your energy makers. When you see the stick figure who looks weak, consider if these things are draining you at work. They're your energy takers.
Yucks for CliftonStrengths Relator
What's a Yuck?
It's a situation, condition, or behavior you might see at work that zaps your energy. Yucks are also things you see on your calendar or to-do list that make you think, "Yuck, if I never had to do that again I'd be thrilled."
Yuck Situations for Relator
- The social discomfort of making surface-level small talk with new people if it feels disingenuous
- Networking or events where you don't know anyone
Yays for CliftonStrengths Relator
What's a Yay?
It's a situation at work that boosts up your energy or makes you feel productive. Yays are also things you see on your calendar or to-do list that make you think, “Yay, fill my days with this."
Yay Situations for Relator
- Spending time with close friends and family
- Building deeper relationships with your inner circle, and feeling the trust deepen
How CliftonStrengths Relator Can Be Perceived When Starved
What's a Starved Talent?
This section describes how you might be perceived when the shadow side of your talent is showing. It’s when you’re overusing, misapplying, or squashing one of your natural talents rather than turning it into a strength. We often see people starve, squash, or ignore their talent when they assume it is not valued in that role or company culture.
Perceptions of Starved Relator
- Cliquish
- Alliances with cronies
- Protective of friendships
How CliftonStrengths Relator Can Be Perceived When Fed
What's a Fed Talent?
This section describes how you might be perceived when the best version of you shows up at work. It’s when you’ve invested in your natural talents to mature them into strengths. You can feed your talent by considering “how” you approach each “what” on the job. When you apply your talents to productive outcomes, you’re feeding them.
Perceptions of Fed Relator
- Genuine
- Authentic
- Mutual relationship builder
Situations That Make CliftonStrengths Relator Feel Insulted
What's An Insulted Talent?
Usually, talents get offended or insulted by other people who have natural preferences that are different from yours. It also happens if they fail to see their actions have an impact on someone else (you!). You can also insult your own talents if you have a "troublemaker strength" that speaks loudly and overpowers this one.
Things That Will Insult Relator
- Engage only in surface level, obligatory small talk.
- Try to feign interest, yet come off with coldness or superficial interactions that lack authenticity.
Situations That Make CliftonStrengths Relator Feel Honored
What's An Honored Talent?
Usually, talents feel honored when other people acknowledge your needs and potential contributions. Talents feel honored when someone “extends an olive branch” to help you work at your best. You can also honor your own talents by investing in them, by choosing work that naturally calls on them, or by applying your strengths to performance on the job.
Things That Will Honor Relator
- Extend your willingness to grow your relationship depth.
- Show up with transparency, and provide 1:1 interaction time — not merely team level interactions.
Personal Brand - 'How' CliftonStrengths Relator Operates At Work
Most people have a good handle on "What" they bring to the workplace. Resumes, CVs, and career development conversations are filled with lists of skills and job titles that show "what" you can do. Nearly everyone misses the "How".
Your Clifton StrengthsFinder talent themes help you communicate "How" you show up. It's how you think. It's how you feel. It's how you act. These are huge differences in each person that are differentiators on the job. Consider these adjectives you might want to consciously put into your personal branding efforts.
We recommend working a "How" description into the Summary section in your LinkedIn profile (if you don't yet use that section, don't worry, most people haven't paid attention to it until now). Of course, make up adjectives or phrases that describe you at your best. Try to avoid words like "motivated, self-starter" because they're so overused that you'll blend in with everyone else. Here are some ideas to spark your thinking:
- Friendly
- Genuine
- Loyal
- Transparent
- Comrade
- Revealing
- Caring
- Trustworthy
- Tight-Circle
- Compatriot
- Intimate
- Authenticity-Spotter
- Deep Connector
- Relationship-Focused
- Confidant
How To Invest In Your CliftonStrengths Relator Talent On The Job
- Find a team in which friendships are encouraged. You will not do well in an overly formal group. In a job interview, ask about work styles and company culture.
- Show people that you trust them and they will be more likely to trust others. You can be an important role model in this area.
- Let it be known that you are more interested in the character and personality of others than in their status or job title. This is one of your strengths and can serve as model for others.
- Let your caring show. For example, find people in your company to mentor, or help your colleagues to know each other better, or extend your relationships “beyond the office.”
- No matter how busy you are, stay in contact with your friends. They are your fuel. Be honest with your friends. True caring means helping the other person be successful and fulfilled. Thus, giving honest feedback or encouraging your friend to move out of a role in which he or she is struggling is a caring act.
- Forgive a close friend. When someone lets you down, you take it seriously, and might become skittish about renewing the relationship. Honor this reluctance, but don’t let it stop you from extending trust again.
Tips For Managing Someone Who Leads Through The CliftonStrengths Relator Talent
- Tell them directly that you care about them. More than likely this language will not sound inappropriate and will be welcomed by them. They organize their life around their close relationships, so they will want to know where they stand with you.
- They will enjoy developing genuine bonds with the people with whom they work. These relationships take time to build, so don’t place them in a role that uproots them frequently from their colleagues and customers.
- Help them know the goals of their colleagues. They are more likely to bond with them when they know their goals.
- Trust them with confidential information. They are loyal, places a high value on trust, and will not betray yours.
- Ask them to build genuine trusting relationships with the critical people that you want to retain. They can be one of the human ties that bind good people to your organization.
- Generosity is often a talent of theirs. Draw attention to their generosity and show them how it helps their impact and connect with those around them. They will appreciate your noticing, and thus your own relationship will be strengthened.
What To Consider When Partnering With A Colleague Who Leads Through CliftonStrengths Relator
- Ask this person to partner with you when you want in-depth, meaningful relationships to form at work. They love people, but they do not like disingenuous small talk, so be sure to stay clear that they want social depth.
- When friendships are encouraged, and when you want your team to continuously learn about your clients, assign someone with the Relator talent theme.
- Call on them when you need clients to come back to request your services again and again.
Turn CliftonStrengths Relator Into A Strength This Month By Making It Your Phone Lock Screen
Click on this thumbnail image of your StrengthsFinder talent theme to link to the full size image. Then save it to your phone or mobile device as your lock screen.
That way, you’ll be reminded of your plan to focus on that talent…oh…about 98 times per day when you unlock your phone. What a great way to keep your intention front-of-mind! This will help you remember to invest in this talent theme so you can take the untapped potential and turn the natural talent into a strength.
Who knew wallpaper images could be so valuable to your career?! Here are all of the lock screen images if you want to grab an image for a different CliftonStrengths talent.