Leading with the Focus StrengthsFinder Talent

Focus StrengthsFinder TL;DR

The Focus StrengthsFinder talent is all about prioritizing and distilling options down to the critical few that must be done.  

Less is more.

By focusing, you can take efficient, targeted action on just a few objectives but then see them achieved on track over and over. 

If you’re already familiar with StrengthsFinder, you can skip over the next section.

How do you lead well with focus in your StrengthsFinder top 5?

So you’ve taken the StengthsFinder assessment, received your results and found focus in the list. Now you’re wondering how to grow or leverage this strength in your leadership. 

I know the pain of working in an organization where everything is a priority, so nothing significant gets done. I've helped many individuals and teams focus their efforts on their essential 1-3 priorities.

Focus is powerful, but sustained focus is game-changing.

These are three strategies I’ve seen focused leaders use to empower prioritization in their teams or organizations.

1. Priority isn't plural.
2. Compounding focus
3. Keep your whole life in focus

Priority isn't plural.

Stop asking, “What are the priorities?”

Instead, ask, “What is the priority?”

Studies have shown that when you focus on more than 3 priorities, you accomplish less. When your team or organization tries to straddle multiple priorities, they rarely see any of them realized in a meaningful way, and certainly not to the degree they would have if they took a singular focus.

You’re not just limiting what's at the top of the to-do list. You’re saying this one thing is the list.

Compounding focus.

If your team could only prioritize one deliverable this quarter, what would it be?

It’s a difficult question. But now consider the impact of every team in your organization delivering on the highest priority every quarter, over and over again.

You’re not just limiting what's at the top of the to-do list. You’re saying this one thing is the list.

Focus is powerful, but sustained focus is game-changing. 

Have the team commit to keeping a single priority at a time for the year. When they look back and see what they accomplished, they’ll want to do it again. 

Keep your whole life in focus.

If the #1 focus-related risk is focusing on too many things, then the #2 risk is focusing on only work.

I understand it’s a bit of an oxymoron to say focus on your whole life. The point is to elevate what is important in your personal life.

Doing things right doesn’t matter as much if you’re not doing the right things.

When you get to the end of your life, it won’t be the work you’re remembered for. It will be the relationships. Keep the people in your life in focus.

If you want help focusing your life around what’s most important, try my free 5-day journey to living from your priorities.

As you learn to lead using your focus strength, you can help others move from focusing on the many to focusing on the few.

No more hearing leaders say everything is a priority. Lead from your focus strength to align others around shared goals and put collective effort toward achieving them. 

If the #1 focus-related risk is focusing on too many things, then the #2 risk is focusing on only work.

Leaders with the StrengthsFinder focus talent can struggle with an antipattern of fixation. Learning the strengths antipatterns will allow you to continue growing as a healthy, intentional leader. 

You are on an extraordinary journey to living and leading from your strengths. You can explore the list below to learn about the rest of your top 5 strengths.