How To Apply CliftonStrengths Restorative At Work
StrengthsFinder Definition - Restorative
Often people will ask us, "What does it mean to have the Restorative 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 Restorative theme are adept at dealing with problems. They are good at figuring out what is wrong and resolving it. 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 Restorative - 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 Restorative.
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 Restorative
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 Restorative
- When people ignore problems and find "bandaid" solutions to keep going while the problem persists
- Sweeping issues under the rug and not taking accountability
Yays for CliftonStrengths Restorative
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 Restorative
- Being asked to find bugs or uncover flaws
- Diagnosing problems, especially challenges that have left others baffled
How CliftonStrengths Restorative 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 Restorative
- Negative
- Weakness-oriented
- Critical
How CliftonStrengths Restorative 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 Restorative
- Turning dysfunction into function
- Courageously accountable
- Patient problem solver
Situations That Make CliftonStrengths Restorative 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 Restorative
- Fight among the team rather than fixing the problem (letting the problem sprout new symptoms).
- Avoid conflict, and maintain false harmony on the team.
Situations That Make CliftonStrengths Restorative 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 Restorative
- Give them problems to solve. The stickier the better.
- Ask them to creatively troubleshoot issues that have been handled with a status quo solution too for long.
Personal Brand - 'How' CliftonStrengths Restorative 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:
- Problem-Invader
- Organizational-Resuscitator
- Unintimidated By Big Problems
- Root Cause Finder
- Diagnoser
- Fixer (Or Fixer-Upper)
- Realistic
- Investigator
- Rehabilitator
- Accountable
- Unintimidated
- Responsive
- Troubleshooter
How To Invest In Your CliftonStrengths Restorative Talent On The Job
- Study your industry and subject matter expertise closely to figure out what causes problems to recur. This sort of expertise will lead you to the solution that much faster.
- In all of your relationships, do not be afraid to let others know that you enjoy fixing problems. It comes naturally to you, but many people shy away from problems. You can help.
- Think through the ways you can improve your skills and knowledge. Identify the courses you can take to plug your gaps.
- Make a list of ways that you could help people who are disadvantaged, such as volunteering in your community or fund-raising.
- Give yourself a break. Your strong Restorative theme might lead you to be overly self-critical. Try to redirect this theme either toward things about yourself that can be fixed, such as knowledge or skills (but not talent), or toward external, tangible problems.
- Allow other people to solve their own problems. You might want to rush in and solve things for them, but in so doing you might hinder their learning. Watch out for this, particularly if you are in a manager, coach, teacher, or parenting role.
Tips For Managing Someone Who Leads Through The CliftonStrengths Restorative Talent
- Ask them for their observations when you want to identify a problem within your organization. Their insights will be particularly acute.
- Position them where they are paid to solve problems for your best customers. They enjoy the challenge of discovering and removing the obstacles.
- When a situation within your organization needs immediate improvement, turn to them for help. They will not panic but instead will respond in a focused, businesslike way.
- When they resolve a problem, make sure to celebrate the achievement. Every wrong situation righted is a success for them, and they will need you to view it as such. Show them that others have come to rely on their ability to dismantle obstacles and move forward.
- Offer your support when they meet a particularly thorny problem. Since they define themselves by their ability to cope, they may well feel personally defeated if their situation remains unresolved. Help them through it.
- Ask them in what ways they would like to improve. Agree that these improvements should serve as goals for the following six months. They will appreciate this kind of attention.
What To Consider When Partnering With A Colleague Who Leads Through CliftonStrengths Restorative
- Ask this person to partner with you when you see the same issue popping up repeatedly. They get a thrill out of analyzing problems and figuring out the root cause.
- When you know the problem hurts and you want to fix it, partner with this person. Be cautious to not involve this person in constant problem identification without fixing it. They will be severely drained if they see “bandaid” solutions all around them.
- Call on them when you need someone to figure out a problem that no one else can figure out.
Turn CliftonStrengths Restorative 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.