How To Apply CliftonStrengths Harmony At Work
StrengthsFinder Definition - Harmony
Often people will ask us, "What does it mean to have the Harmony 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 Harmony theme look for consensus. They don’t enjoy conflict; rather, they seek areas of agreement. 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 Harmony - 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 Harmony.
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 Harmony
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 Harmony
- Constant friction among people on the team
- Wasting emotional energy by rehashing areas of disagreement rather than looking for common ground
Yays for CliftonStrengths Harmony
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 Harmony
- Finding alignment that helps the group perform
- Using interdependence to get to the best outcomes
How CliftonStrengths Harmony 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 Harmony
- Conflict avoidant
- Passive with opponents
- Shuts down around conflict
How CliftonStrengths Harmony 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 Harmony
- Calm, even-tempered
- Peacemaking
- Constructive
Situations That Make CliftonStrengths Harmony 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 Harmony
- Allow a tense work culture to fester.
- Have a team habit of water cooler talk or people gossiping about those not around.
Situations That Make CliftonStrengths Harmony 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 Harmony
- Share and seek common ground.
- Encourage this person to facilitate group performance by helping people see where they're on the same page.
Personal Brand - 'How' CliftonStrengths Harmony 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:
- Agreeable
- Mediator
- Pragmatist
- Peacemaker
- Tactful
- Ambassador
- Sympathetic
- Diplomatic
- Ruffled Feather Smoother
- Similarity Spotter
- Consensus Finder
- Collaborator
How To Invest In Your CliftonStrengths Harmony Talent On The Job
- In discussions, look for the practical side of things. Help others see this practical side. It is the starting point of agreement.
- Use your Harmony strength to build a network of people with differing perspectives on whom you can rely when you need expertise. Your openness to these differing perspectives will help you learn.
- Accept the responsibilities of being a good team member. Your willingness to adjust and your tolerance for differing views can become significant strengths.
- When two people are arguing, ask others in the group to share their thoughts. By increasing the number of voices in the conversation you are more likely to find areas where all parties can agree. You can draw people together.
- Avoid roles that will lead you to confront people on a daily basis. Sales roles based upon “cold calls,” or roles within highly competitive workplaces, for example, will frustrate or upset you.
- Practice your techniques for resolving conflict without confrontation. Without these polished techniques you might find yourself simply running away from conflicts, leaving them unresolved. This could lead you to passive/aggressive behavior.
- Partner with someone with a strong Command or Activator theme. This person can help you confront the conflict head-on, when all your best efforts to resolve it have met with no success.
Tips For Managing Someone Who Leads Through The CliftonStrengths Harmony Talent
- Steer this person away from conflict. Do not include them in meetings where there will almost certainly be conflict because they are not at their best when confronting others.
- Determine in what ways you agree with them and regularly review these agreements with them. Surround them with other people strong in Harmony. They will always be more focused, more productive, and more creative when they know that they are supported.
- Don’t waste your time discussing controversial subjects with this person. They will not enjoy the debate for its own sake. Instead, keep your discussions focused on practical matters where clear action can be taken.
- Don’t always expect them to disagree with you even when you are wrong. For the sake of Harmony they may nod their head despite judging your idea a poor one. Consequently, you may need other people who instinctively voice their opinions to help keep your thinking clear.
- Sometimes when others are locked in disagreement, they can unlock them. They will not necessarily resolve the subject under debate, but they will help them find other areas where they do agree. These areas of common ground can be the starting point for working productively together again.
- They want to feel sure about what they are doing. Help them find authoritative backup (expert opinion) for the actions they take.
What To Consider When Partnering With A Colleague Who Leads Through CliftonStrengths Harmony
- Ask this person to partner with you when a team needs to be stabilized after a trauma, defeat, or big blow to morale. They can spot emotional common ground to rally around. Be careful to not ask this person to live in this environment continually because it will drain them.
- When you need someone who values security, compatibility, and low risk, consider this person for the partnership. If you tend to “shake things up” on a team, someone with the Harmony talent can be the Yin to your Yang.
- Call on them when you need high collaboration, calmness, and practicality that is possible when people work together. Ask them to call out areas of common ground when others are too focused on their disagreement to see that they’re not as far apart as they thought.
Turn CliftonStrengths Harmony 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.