How To Apply CliftonStrengths Self-Assurance At Work
StrengthsFinder Definition - Self-Assurance
Often people will ask us, "What does it mean to have the Self-Assurance 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 Self-Assurance theme feel confident in their ability to take risks and manage their own lives. They have an inner compass that gives them certainty in their decisions. 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 Self-Assurance - 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 Self-Assurance.
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
Self-Assurance
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 Self-Assurance
- Being told how to do something, or having someone trying to control your actions
- Being questioned or getting dictated to
Yays for CliftonStrengths
Self-Assurance
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 Self-Assurance
- Influencing others through your certainty
- Bringing clarity to ambiguity
- Being trusted to be independent and self-sufficient
How CliftonStrengths
Self-Assurance 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 Self-Assurance
- Arrogant
- Overconfident
- Know it all
How CliftonStrengths
Self-Assurance 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 Self-Assurance
- Confident, even in chaos
- Self-aware leader
- Helps people feel calm
Situations That Make CliftonStrengths Self-Assurance 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 Self-Assurance
- Question my decisions or my thought process.
- Force collaborations with others when the person who leads through Self-Assurance already knows exactly what direction this project needs to take.
Situations That Make CliftonStrengths Self-Assurance 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 Self-Assurance
- Give the person the ability to be fully self-sufficient on the job.
- Put them in situations where they feel freedom and can control the process.
Personal Brand - 'How' CliftonStrengths Self-Assurance 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:
- Independent
- Instinctive
- Self-Sufficient
- Stable
- Confident
- Solid
- Influential
- Certain
- Resilient
- Persistent
- Courageous
- Guide
How To Invest In Your CliftonStrengths Self-Assurance Talent On The Job
- Seek start-up situations for which no rulebook exists. You will be at your best when you are asked to make many decisions. You'll also do well persuading people to see your point of view. Your Self-Assurance (especially when combined with strong Command or Activator themes) can create an extremely persuasive combination.
- Appeal to your own internal guidance system to determine appropriate actions. Trust your instinct.
- Let your self-confidence show. It will be reinforcing to your colleagues.
- Realize that sometimes you will find it hard to put your certainty or intuition into words, possibly leading others to see you as self-righteous. Explain that your certainty does not mean that they should withhold their opinions. It might not seem like it to them, but you do want to hear their views. Your certainty at the moment doesn’t mean that you are unwilling to accommodate their views.
- Partner with someone with a strong Strategic, Deliberative, or Futuristic theme. This person can help you assess the goals to which you commit. You need this help because once you set your sights on a goal you are very likely to stay with it until it is achieved.
Tips For Managing Someone Who Leads Through The CliftonStrengths Self-Assurance Talent
- Give them a role where they have the leeway to make meaningful decisions. They will neither want nor require close hand-holding.
- Position them in a role where persistence is essential to success. They have the self-confidence to stay the course despite pressure to change direction.
- Put them in a role that demands an aura of certainty and stability. At critical moments this inner authority will calm their colleagues and their customers.
- Support their self-concept that they are an agent of action. Reinforce it with comments such as “It’s up to you. You make it happen” or “What is your intuition saying? Let’s go with your intuition.”
- Help them know that their decisions and actions do produce outcomes. They are most effective when they believe they are in control of their world. Highlight practices that work.
- Understand that they may have beliefs about what they can do that might not relate to their actual strengths. Although their self-confidence can often prove useful, if they overclaim or make some major misjudgments, be sure to point these out immediately. They need clear feedback to inform their instincts.
- Pay attention to their other strong themes. If they are strong in themes such as Futuristic, Focus, Significance, or Arranger, they may well be a potential leader within your organization.
What To Consider When Partnering With A Colleague Who Leads Through CliftonStrengths Self-Assurance
- Ask this person to partner with you when you need someone who can make fast decisions and not second guess themselves.
- When you need someone with strong instincts, consider a partner with Self-Assurance talent. They can confidently take risks and not get stuck in analysis paralysis.
- Call on them when you need someone who feels comfortable being in control and doesn’t need to repeatedly be told what to do. In fact, someone with Self-Assurance would hate being constantly questioned about what they’re doing.
Turn CliftonStrengths Self-Assurance 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.