How To Apply CliftonStrengths Analytical At Work
StrengthsFinder Definition - Analytical
Often people will ask us, "What does it mean to have the Analytical 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 Analytical theme search for reasons and causes. They have the ability to think about all of the factors that might affect a situation. 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 Analytical - 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 Analytical.
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 Analytical
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 Analytical
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Things that can’t be proven. Even data can be frustrating if it is qualitative and not high on the reliability/validity scale
- When people try to convince you to trust your heart over logic and facts, you will likely feel frustrated with that approach
Yays for CliftonStrengths Analytical
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 Analytical
- Getting to look for simplicity and clarity through data likely energizes you. When others glaze over at the thought of a deeper analysis, you get excited
- Being asked to bring the level-headed view when others are in a heightened emotional state
How CliftonStrengths Analytical 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 Analytical
- Decisions can get paralyzed by all of the analysis you want to do.
- You can become overly skeptical. For example, wanting to analyze elements that cost more to analyze than you'd lose if they go wrong.
- Dismissive of feelings or emotions in the workplace.
How CliftonStrengths Analytical 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 Analytical
- Dispassionate - the ultimate truth seeker, even when you don't like the truth, you want to find it through data.
- Objective and clear thinking that's especially helpful in trend spotting and decision making.
- Logical problem solver, even when others are stuck in emotional reactions.
Situations That Make CliftonStrengths Analytical 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 Analytical
- Impractical, "head in the clouds" thinking. If you lead through the Analytical talent and you're in a culture that appreciates the outlandish, a constant 30,000 foot view, or rushed decisions, your Analytical talent will feel insulted.
- If you consistently have to deal with unexplored assumptions, you'll feel drained and frustrated by the lack of prudence and truth-seeking.
Situations That Make CliftonStrengths Analytical 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 Analytical
- Honor your Analytical talent theme by giving yourself time to think deeply.
- Get yourself surrounded in a bath of data and facts. The more the better.
- When you see people glazing over about a regular analysis, volunteer to swap tasks. For example, you create the pivot table and they present the PowerPoint.
Personal Brand - 'How' CliftonStrengths Analytical 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:
- Numbers-Oriented
- Truth-Finder
- Data-Driven
- Questioning
- Deep Thinker
- Systematic
- Rigorous
- Diagnostic
- Researcher
- Methodical
- Logical
- Well-Reasoned
- Coherent
- Level Headed
- Meticulous
- Pragmatic
- Scientific
- Observer
- Factual
- Measurer
- Evaluator
- Inspector
- Rational
How To Invest In Your CliftonStrengths Analytical Talent On The Job
- Volunteer your Analytical talent. You can be particularly helpful to those who are struggling to organize large quantities of data or to bring structure to their ideas.
- Invest in your talent by finding credible sources of data that support you in your role. You are at your best when you have well-researched sources of information and numbers to support your logic.
- Deepen your skills by getting to know top analysts who specialize in your field. Build subject matter expertise in an area that makes you want to "nerd out" on a topic.
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Partner with someone with a strong Activator theme. This person’s impatience will move you quickly through the analytical phase into the action phase. You bring the data analysis, pattern-finding, or organization of ideas. Then they can do the part that requires influencing other people to change. Other relationship-focused or influence-focused talent themes can have similar impact.
Tips For Managing Someone Who Leads Through The CliftonStrengths Analytical Talent
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Because accuracy is so important to them, getting a task done correctly may be more important to them than meeting a deadline (especially if the date seems arbitrary). As deadlines near, keep checking in to ensure that they have the necessary time to do it right.
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When you're delivering news about an important decision, take time to share the factors you considered. They will want to know the issues affecting the decision (otherwise, you might struggle to get buy in). If you're willing to involve them during the decision-making process, they will likely be able to offer data points you haven't yet factored in.
- Every time you have the opportunity, recognize and praise their reasoning ability. They are proud of their disciplined mind.
- When defending a decision or a principle, show this person the supporting numbers. Remember that people with Analytical talent have a need for exact, well-researched numbers. Never try to pass shoddy data to them as credible evidence.
- You will not always agree with them, yet always take their point of view seriously. They've probably thought through their points very carefully. Always give them the opportunity to explain the pattern in detail to you. This will be motivational for them and will help to solidify your relationship.
What To Consider When Partnering With A Colleague Who Leads Through CliftonStrengths Analytical
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Ask this person to partner with you when you need make decisions based on evaluation of facts, data, evidence, trends, or research findings.
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When your team needs to describe its work in a linear, sequential way, call in this person to help tell the story or process through that lens.
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Call on this person when you need to determine the cause-and-effect relationship when you can’t see it.
Turn CliftonStrengths Analytical 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.