Strength-Based Leadership Property Five Delivery Strengths

1. Strength-Based LeadershipProperty FiveDelivery Strengths A strength is an activity that leaves you feeling strong. Marcus Buckingham

2. DELIVERY STRENGTHS Our “gene pool”* and our formative years resulted in us being programmed with a set of unique and unalterable strengths that serve as a conduit for the delivery of our skills, knowledge, abilities, talents, and character. *20-25 k genes 26 paired chromosomes 10 trillion cells 1 billion neurons

3. SIMILAR OR DISSIMILAR Some of our delivery strengths are alike—compatible. Some are somewhat the same—comfortable. And, some strengths are the direct opposite of one another—incompatible. The closer the strengths , the easier it is to communicate, cooperate, and trust one another. The greater the differences, the more difficult it is to achieve teamwork. But, it can be done by bridging. (More on bridging later.)

4. DELIVERY STRENGTHS AWARENESS The FIRO-B and LIFO are two very powerful and reliable strength awareness scales. Basically, they confirm to what degree we possess the four fundamental strengths of: Supporting Directing Reasoning Affiliating The final step in strength-based leadership is to be aware of them and use them. All of the aforementioned experts have ignored this vital second set of signature strengths. D4

5. CHAMP OR CHUMP . • The champions among us know their signature strengths and build upon them daily. • The chumps get so tangled up in their weaknesses they never have a chance to examine their strengths. • It’s not our weaknesses that screw us up…it’s our strengths in excess (more later.) D-5

6. SYNERGISM In a complementary team, individual strengths become productive, and their weaknesses become irrelevant because they are compensated for by the strengths of others. No one has all the strengths, and very few people can be excellent in all roles. Mutual support and respect become moral imperatives. A complementary team is automatically a synergistic team (creative cooperation) where 1 + 1 = 3, or 11, or 111 or more. D - 6

7. Why…? …the LIFO and FIRO-B? BECAUSE…! They are the most reliable awareness scales for confirming our key delivery strengths. In not knowing and using them correctly, the likelihood of your five basic signature strengths being successfully applied is significantly reduced. D - 7

8. FIRO - B Intra-Personal Team Inter-Personal USES Scoring – Introversion 0 – 2 Ambiversion 3 – 6 Extroversion 7 – 9 FINDINGS--- ARE MUTABLE GAPS… +3 D - 8 Medical 90-94%

9. E I C A Expressed Inclusion Control Affection W Wished FIRO-B (Fundamental Interpersonal Relations Orientation-Behavior) AB’s PS’s Me Too! Follow Me! Me Too? Where To? AB’s PS’s

10. 1970 – 1991 I C A E 5 7 2 W 0 2 5 1992 – NOW I R(C) A E 4.3 4.8 1.5 W 0 3 5 FIRO-B Manager Profile

11. STRENGTHS DEFINED In the next four slides, I’ll provide you with an overview of each one of the four leadership styles. It is important that you pay close attention to those strengths that you’ve boxed and circled.

12. SUPPORTING(Supportive/Giving) Motto: Few of us can do great things, but all of us can do small things with great love. Mother Theresa This is the strength of giving in order to get. This strength pursues significance over success. It thrives on setting goals. Optimism is built in. Dedication to important causes is automatic. This is the helping strength. If pushed to excess, there are two pitfalls: (1) perfectionism; and (2) over-commitment.

13. DIRECTING(Control/Taking) Motto: Only the lead mule gets a change of scenery. Will Rogers This is the strength of taking control. It projects an action-orientation. The strength stimulates change. It pushes for results and in doing so accepts above average risks. The strength is experienced as competitiveness. The two major excesses are: (1) impatience; and 2) rejection.

14. REASONING(Conserving/Holding) Motto: Show me the money. Tom Cruise This is the strength of analysis. It strives to maximize efficiency and structure. Accuracy and cautiousness are essential. It is experienced as persistence and preparation. The two key excesses are: (1) analysis paralysis; and (2)stubbornness.

15. AFFILIATING(Adaptive/Dealing) Motto: Team spirit means being eager to sacrifice personal interest or glory for the welfare of all. Coach John Wooden This strength emphasizes cooperation and teamwork. The delivery is both tactful and enthusiastic. Flexibility is clearly demonstrated. Empathy is a major consideration when decision making. When in excess there are two downsides: (1) temporizing; and (2) group think.

16. DELIVERY STYLES and STRENGTHS are acquired before age 5 and do not change over our lifetime. Hence LIFO = LIFE SYTLE. It is not our weaknesses, but our strengths in EXCESS that cause us relational problems. Excesses cannot be removed, but they can be guarded/contained. LIKE STYLES attract LIKE STYLES. DIFFERENT STYLES repel DIFFERENT STYLES. LIFO Laws

17. “Be not angry that you cannot make others as you wish them to be, since you cannot make yourself as you wish to be.” St. Thomas á Kempis Accidently, I may have led some of you to conclude that we invariably engage our primary (and to a lesser extent our backup) leadership strengths when dealing with people. On the contrary, we spend time each day exercising all four of our marvelous strengths. But……

18. BUT…. The fact remains that we were programmed early on to rely on one delivery strength over the others to sort things out. You can’t exchange it for another, and, even if you could…why would you?

19. OUCH! Unfortunately, some of us believe that, “My delivery strength is the best one. And, those with other strengths, should change their basic life position. They should manage and lead with my strength because it is superior.” This is very dangerous thinking. It destroys teamwork, erases empowerment, and tubes trust.

20. I PROMISE YOU…… Without respect and tolerance for your own, as well as the leadership strengths of others, you are guaranteed to be a failure as a leader.

21. MY LEADERSHIP STRENGTHS VS. YOURS BRIDGING… When strengths collide, we divide! Lucky for us there are three steps we can take to avoid a collision. They are: • Awareness • Tolerance • Flexibility Together, these three traits construct a bridge from your LIFO (strengths) to those of others. (They are equally applicable in bridging between generations.)

22. OTHER AWARENESS Do you know the person’s strengths, values, beliefs, and needs? What makes this person tick, passionate, committed? What are their job expectations? Have you opened up to them, about yours? Are you positioned to accurately describe your life’s values and purposes as compared to theirs?

23. TOLERANCE AND FLEXIBILITY Tolerance is the key to flexibility. Intolerance breeds inflexibility, and inflexibility checkmates leadership. The flexible leader realizes that there is more than one strength with which to lead; more than one right solution to a problem; and that flexibility is the driving force of a win-win decision.

24. NOW I CONCLUDE WITH THREE QUESTIONS…… Once the following questions are answered, you are guaranteed enormous self-knowledge and the ability to fully deploy your signature leadership delivery strengths.

25. Strength-Based LeadershipQuestion One What would so motivate you that you would go further than whole hearted service to achieve it?

26. Strength-Based LeadershipQuestion Two What is impossible to do right now in your life, but if you could do it, would fundamentally change it?

27. Strength-Based LeadershipQuestion Three What do you want to be remembered for? “I believe that the highest success in living and the deepest emotional satisfaction comes from building and using your signature strengths.” Martin E. P. Seligman, Ph.D.