The CliftonStrengths (StrengthsFinder) Responsibility Talent Theme is a unique theme in the Gallup CliftonStrengths (StrengthsFinder) group of talent themes.
A guide to understanding the CliftonStrengths (StrengthsFinder) Responsibility Talent Theme
Over the next few weeks, we will be taking some time to look through your CliftonStrengths (StrengthsFinder) Talent theme. Let’s deconstruct each theme and dig in to uncover some insights on what each of these talent themes are about.
For this week’s agenda, we will be looking at the talent theme of Responsibility.
The Gallup Organization defines individuals with the talent theme of Responsibility as those who take psychological ownership toward the things they commit to. They are known to be the ones who keep to their words and promises. This gives them a reputation of being dependable as you can count on them to follow the task through to completion. Their conscientiousness, drive to do things right and impeccable ethics certainly add to their dependable quality.
The Power of Responsibility
Folks with the talent theme of Responsibility are committed to stable values such as honesty and loyalty.
They are also willing to break their backs working on what they have promised to deliver. If they’ve promised to do something for you, they’ll make sure you get it – by hook or by crook. This is because they think that others measure their character by their ability to keep promises.
It isn’t surprising then, that they tend to feel emotionally bound to their commitments. Due to their deep sense of dedication and ownership, others know they can trust and depend on them to get things done.
If they somehow end up failing to deliver what they promised, they will instinctively look for ways to make up for their mistake. They find it difficult to rest until they have made restitution.
What The CliftonStrengths (StrengthsFinder) Responsibility Theme Loves
Individuals with the talent theme of Responsibility love being able to live up to their commitments. Once they have promised to deliver something to someone, they do everything within their power to keep their word.
They also love producing work of quality. The standard of their work defines them and they are always eager to take up or volunteer for new responsibilities.
What The CliftonStrengths (StrengthsFinder) Responsibility Theme Hates
With all that’s been said, it’s clear that people with the Responsibility Talent Theme hate being unable to deliver their promises. If they happen to make a mistake, apologies never seem to be enough. They will strive to do their best to make up for their errors. They dislike being rushed as they believe it will negatively affect the quality of their work.
Since they enjoy taking up responsibilities, there may be times where these individuals end up over-committing as they find it hard to say ‘no’ despite already having too much on their plates. They may also prefer doing a job themselves rather than being responsible for someone else’s work.
Responsibility’s Basement Behaviours
When individuals with the talent theme of Responsibility push their talent too hard, others can find it hard to keep up with them. If caught on their bad days, these may be some of the problems you may encounter with these individuals:
- Perfectionist – Their tendency to micromanage can get the better of them. They enjoy taking up responsibilities and delivering the best quality of work. In cases where they do decide to delegate tasks, you may notice them sneaking in comments to improve upon a point. They really don’t mean any harm! In fact, chances are they’re just looking out to make sure that they deliver what they promised. But it may hurt others as teammates could feel like they’re being micromanaged.
- Over-commitment – People with the talent theme of Responsibility also have the tendency to take on too much too soon as their willingness to volunteer is a part of their natural instincts. This is also the cause of their inability to say ‘no’.
- Too independent – There may be times when they prefer to do the job themselves instead of delegating the task. Always taking on the full workload for every single task could lead to a source of frustration for them.
Responsibility’s Best Contributions
Individuals with the talent theme of Responsibility are, more often than not, very dependable people. When assigning new responsibilities, people will look to these individuals first because everyone knows that they will get things done.
Their conscientiousness and constant strive for perfectionism are qualities that team members look up to them for.
When it comes to promises relating to work, it naturally occurs to them to propose a deadline. They estimate the hours that will have to go into the completion of their project and make sure they stick to their plan to get it done and dusted right on time, if not a second earlier! Their tendency to produce results by a certain timeline is yet another reason why they are thought to be reliable.
While time and promises are of essence to them, these individuals also take pride in the work that they produce. Hence, as mentioned before, they do not allow for the quality of their work to take a hit. They would rather get time extensions to create better work than submit something of poor standards.
By now, you would be able to see how individuals with the Responsibility talent theme thrive on new opportunities and enjoy volunteering for more duties as they can deal with them effectively. This makes them a great source of motivation for their teammates to work towards the same goals together.
StrengthsAsia has helped many individual and corporate clients all throughout the region in identifying and maximizing their talents, in driving engagement and increasing motivation in their work and life.
If you want to learn more about the 34 talent themes or discover how you can apply your talent themes in the areas of your work and your life, feel free to reach out to us here.
Reshma is StrengthsAsia’s content writer and research contributor. She enjoys spending her time writing anything from poems to screenplays, and everything in between. She also finds joy in reading novels, baking and catching movies with her family. Participating in creative activities helps her find inspiration and new ideas for her work.