How To Apply CliftonStrengths Arranger At Work
StrengthsFinder Definition - Arranger
Often people will ask us, "What does it mean to have the Arranger 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 Arranger theme can organize, but they also have a flexibility that complements this ability. They like to determine how all of the pieces and resources can be arranged for maximum productivity. 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 Arranger - 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 Arranger.
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 Arranger
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 Arranger
- When people resist necessary change and you sense that it is a total waste of time because you're not going back to the old way. It frustrates you if people bellyache about it when you could be taking action toward the outcome
- Being asked to stay on a singular focus or path when being nimble or having a panoramic view would help fit the pieces together
Example yuck from client: "My closest colleague works in compliance. Everything in that world is steady eddie. It's the same every day. I know they need to play by the same rules and not change hastily, but man, it drives me nuts. I get myself worked up just thinking about how they're going to make me stick to obsolete guidelines."
Yays for CliftonStrengths
Arranger
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 Arranger
- Knocking out lots of to-dos and project responsibilities by working through other people — figuring out who can do it best and fastest and pressing the go button
- Freedom to be flexible and manage through change in the moment
Example yay from client: "Tell me that the client changed direction, the product failed, and all orders are hung up in Thailand — and that we have one hour to find a solution or we lose our biggest customer. I thrive on figuring out the puzzle pieces that can get shifted around in the moment to make the impossible happen. People usually tell me that they can't believe how unflappable I looked in the moment. I don't waste any time lamenting the change. I just do."
How CliftonStrengths Arranger 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 Arranger
- Controlling
- Changes without explaining why
- Impatient with late adopters
How CliftonStrengths Arranger 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 Arranger
- Organizing moving parts
- Collaborating
- Sorting puzzle pieces
Situations That Make CliftonStrengths Arranger 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 Arranger
- Obsolete processes
- Nasayers
If you're dedicated to consistency and steadiness over long stretches of time, keep a close eye on those who lead with Arranger. The inability to change things will be frustrating to them. They get satisfaction when things are changing and adapting to meet current needs, so old rules, obsolete technologies, and stubborn hangers-on will be tough for Arrangers to work with.
Situations That Make CliftonStrengths Arranger 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 Arranger
- Dynamic Environment
- Initiating and managing change
To unleash the A-game of someone who leads through the Arranger talent, give the person the freedom to create a dynamic work environment. They accept change faster than most, and they appreciate the freedom to orchestrate the moving parts. Give them the opportunity to be the conductor. They can be great at making sure a hundred moving parts are handled.
Personal Brand - 'How' CliftonStrengths Arranger 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:
- Juggler
- Organizer
- Piece Fitter
- Conductor
- Collaborative
- Change Lover
- Dynamic
- Configurer
- Flexible
- Coordinator
- Resourceful
- Decision Maker
- Maestro
- Unflappable
- Priority Adjuster
- Change-Ready
- Puzzle Rearranger
- Interactive
- Enlister
- Multi-Tasker
- Turnaround Queen/King
- Change Agent
How To Invest In Your CliftonStrengths Arranger Talent On The Job
- Create strategies for getting things done. Push yourself to keep adding new what-if situations that will throw the outcomes off. If you've considered them in advance, you'll be even faster at managing the change.
- Look for complex, always-changing work environments where you'll have few routine tasks.
- To people at work who resist your change-dynamism, share that your flexibility doesn’t mean that your priorities are constantly changing. Tell others that your priorities remain the same (and what they are), and that your shifts are simply better ways to get the outcomes.
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Know that your mental juggling is instinctive, yet others might find it difficult to follow where your brain has already gone. They also might resist you if you're asking them to break habits or existing procedures. Take the time to clearly explain why your new way is more effective so that you don't keep hearing, "if it ain't broke, stop trying to make me fix it."
Tips For Managing Someone Who Leads Through The CliftonStrengths Arranger Talent
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People with Arranger talent are excited by complex, multifaceted assignments. They will thrive in situations where they have many things going on at the same time.
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They will thrive on complex and ever-changing responsibilities, so give them new things as often as possible, according to their knowledge and skill levels.
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They may have the talent to be a people-manager. Their Arranger theme enables them to figure out how people with very different strengths can work together and add value to the team. This also applies to project management and account management.
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They can be resourceful and creative with execution. Slot them into a role where something is not working, and they will enjoy figuring out other ways approaching tasks and projects that have been stuck in a "same-ol, same-ol" zone for too long.
What To Consider When Partnering With A Colleague Who Leads Through CliftonStrengths Arranger
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Ask this person to partner with you when you’re looking for ways to make it easier for teammates to cooperate, make progress, and succeed.
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When your team needs help putting together pieces of plans, processes, projects, and events, this person will enjoy helping, advising, or organizing things.
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Call on them when you need a change agent. They can help with you with turnaround situations, fixing messed up timelines, or adjusting priorities.
Turn CliftonStrengths Arranger 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.