How To Apply CliftonStrengths Includer At Work
StrengthsFinder Definition - Includer
Often people will ask us, "What does it mean to have the Includer 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 Includer theme accept others. They show awareness of those who feel left out and make an effort to include them. 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 Includer - Learn From Others
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 Includer.
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 Includer
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 Includer
- Cliques or a feeling of in-groups and out-groups
- Witnessing intolerance or exclusion, especially when that person wants to be heard
Yays for CliftonStrengths Includer
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 Includer
- Shrinking the gap between in & out groups by making room for more viewpoints
- Seeing the emotional intelligence of the team expand
How CliftonStrengths Includer 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 Includer
- Indiscriminate
- Resents selectivity
- Indecisive if a voice is missing
How CliftonStrengths Includer 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 Includer
- “Welcome to the neighborhood” teammate
- Drives performance through diversity
- Gives quiet people a voice
Situations That Make CliftonStrengths Includer 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 Includer
- Show there's a good ol' boys club you must be part of to get promoted or get your ideas considered.
- Forget stakeholders who want to be informed or involved.
Situations That Make CliftonStrengths Includer 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 Includer
- Make room for everyone's perspective.
- Assimilate new people into the team — both new hires and people you occasionally collaborate with.
Personal Brand - 'How' CliftonStrengths Includer 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:
- Accepting
- Expander
- People-Aware
- Integrating
- Welcome Wagon
- Interactive
- Others-Oriented
- Warm
- Barrier-Buster
- Inviter
- Tolerant
- Embracer
How To Invest In Your CliftonStrengths Includer Talent On The Job
- Consider roles in which you are responsible for representing voices that are not normally heard. You will derive a great deal of satisfaction from being that conduit. You will enjoy the challenge of making people feel important.
- Look for opportunities to bring together people of diverse cultures and backgrounds. You can be a leader in this area.
- Help those who are new to an organization get to know other people. You will always be adept at quickly making people feel accepted and involved.
- You naturally look for the best in people. Help your colleagues see what you see.
- Partner with someone with a strong Activator or Command theme. This person can help you deliver news that might hurt someone’s feelings.
- Explain what we all have in common. Help others understand that to respect the differences among us (our diversity) you must begin by appreciating what we all share (our similarity).
Tips For Managing Someone Who Leads Through The CliftonStrengths Includer Talent
- This person is interested in making everyone feel part of the team. Ask them to work on an orientation program for new employees. They will be excited to think about ways to welcome these new recruits.
- Ask them to lead a task force to recruit minority persons into your organization. They are instinctively sensitive to those who are or have been left out.
- When you have group functions, ask them to make sure that everyone is included. They will work hard to ensure that no individual or group is overlooked.
- In the same vein you can capitalize on this person’s Includer theme by focusing it on your customers. Properly positioned, they may prove very effective at breaking the barriers between customer and company.
- Because they probably will not appreciate elite products or services made for a select category of customer, position them to work on products or services that are designed with a broad market in mind. They will enjoy planning ways to open the net wide.
What To Consider When Partnering With A Colleague Who Leads Through CliftonStrengths Includer
- Ask this person to partner with you when you tend to skip over the quiet voices in the room.
- When the team needs to rally around a common goal or build a sense of belonging, ask this person to help.
- Call on them when you need people to figure out all of the stakeholders who might have an interest in your project or program. They’ll see beyond the obvious.
Turn CliftonStrengths Includer 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.