How To Apply CliftonStrengths Woo At Work
StrengthsFinder Definition - Woo
Often people will ask us, "What does it mean to have the Woo 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 Woo theme love the challenge of meeting new people and winning them over. They derive satisfaction from breaking the ice and making a connection with someone. 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 Woo - 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 Woo.
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 Woo
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 Woo
- A shrinking or stagnant social network. No human interactions for long stretches.
- A ho-hum audience reception, especially when you were sure they'd be engaged.
Yays for CliftonStrengths Woo
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 Woo
- Someone who leads with Woo will be energized by meeting and greeting strangers. They easily take social initiative.
- Meeting new people — everyone is a friend you haven't met yet.
How CliftonStrengths Woo 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 Woo
- Phony, politician
- Superficial
- Cares too much what others think
How CliftonStrengths Woo 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 Woo
- Highly likable teammate
- Energy-infuser
- Outgoing
Situations That Make CliftonStrengths Woo 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 Woo
- Put them on a small team with low social variety where they interact with the same handful of people every day.
- Solitude. This can happen working from home or in a work environment where people are quiet and keep to themselves.
Situations That Make CliftonStrengths Woo 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 Woo
- Support a solid inflow of friends, connections, and networking. Work and personal relationships will likely blur.
- Get this person to greet new colleagues & customers to help them feel comfortable and welcome.
Personal Brand - 'How' CliftonStrengths Woo 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:
- Charming
- Social Butterfly
- Interactive
- The One Who Knows Everybody
- Initiating
- Life Of The Party
- Welcoming
- Instant Connector
- Well-Networked
- Ice-Breaker
- Gregarious
- Engaging
- Great Conversationalist
- Entertainer
- Energetic
- Approachable
How To Invest In Your CliftonStrengths Woo Talent On The Job
- Choose a job in which you can interact with many people over the course of a day. Deliberately build the network of people who know you. Tend to it by checking in with each person at least once a month.
- Join local organizations, volunteer for boards, and find out how to get on the social lists of the influential people where you live.
- Learn the names of as many people as you can. Build a card file of the people you know and add names as you become acquainted. Include a snippet of personal information — such as their birthday, favorite color, hobby, or favorite sports team.
- Recognize that your ability to get people to like you is very valuable. Do not be afraid to use it to make things happen.
- In social situations, take responsibility for helping put more reserved people at ease.
- Practice ways to charm and engage others. For example, research people before you meet them so you can find the common ground.
- Find the right words to explain to people that networking is part of your style. If you don’t claim this theme, others might mistake it for insincerity and wonder why you are being so friendly.
- Partner with someone with a strong Relator or Empathy theme. This person can solidify the relationships that you begin.
Tips For Managing Someone Who Leads Through The CliftonStrengths Woo Talent
- Try to position this person in a role where there's a chance to meet new people every day. Strangers energize them.
- Place them at your organization’s initial point of contact with the outside world. They can put strangers at ease and help them feel comfortable with your organization.
- Help them refine their system for remembering the names of the people they meet. Set a goal for them to learn the names and a few personal details about as many customers as possible. They can help your organization make many connections in the marketplace.
- Unless they are also strong in themes such as Empathy and Relator, do not expect them to enjoy a role where they are asked to build close relationships with your customers. Instead, they may well prefer to meet and greet, win over, and move on to the next.
- Their strength in Woo will win you over and cause you to like them. When considering them for new roles and responsibilities, make sure that you look past your liking of them to their genuine strengths.
What To Consider When Partnering With A Colleague Who Leads Through CliftonStrengths Woo
- Ask this person to partner with you when you are going to be in front of a lot of new people. This can be new customers, prospects, employees, etc. Most people who lead through Woo will tell you that they’ve never met a stranger.
- When you need a teammate who can form relationships quickly, ask someone with Woo to join you in your efforts. They are especially comfortable initiating conversations in situations when others are not.
- Call on them when you need to build a rich network of people. They can be community builders online and offline. They will likely already have a huge personal network as well.
Turn CliftonStrengths Woo Into A Strength This Month By Making It Your Phone's 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.