The best way to develop people and net the greatest return on investment in their growth is to identify their talents, then help them add the skills and knowledge that build strengths -- the ability to provide consistent, near-perfect performance.
Extensive research indicates that people learn, change, and improve the most in those areas of the brain that already have the strongest synaptic connections. As Joseph LeDoux, professor of neuroscience at New York University, notes:
"New [synaptic] connections formed by activity [by 'activity,' he means practice, training, and experience] are not created as entirely new entities, but rather are added to . . . pre-existing connections. Added connections are therefore more like new buds on a branch rather than new branches. Activity thus does not produce wholesale rewiring of the brain." -- as quoted in The Four Disciplines of Sustainable Growth
There is a widespread belief that people can do anything well if they learn enough or try hard enough. Training and development programs that attempt to teach "steps," "habits," or "behaviors" ignore the fact that everyone's steps, habits, and behaviors are different -- and should be different if people are to use their natural talents and strengths. This remedial approach often produces disappointing results. It rarely, if ever, helps the person achieve excellence, and it wastes training and development dollars.
Gallup Consulting, in contrast, emphasizes developing areas of talent into strength, rather than correcting weaknesses. We have investigated the nature of human talents and strengths for more than 30 years. The best-selling book, Now, Discover Your Strengths (Free Press, 2001), presents what we have learned from studying talented individuals. We have interviewed approximately 2 million people in a wide range of roles and industries and have discovered what made those people successful.
The Clifton StrengthsFinder: a Revolutionary Tool for Developing Human Potential
The foundation of Gallup Consulting's strengths management practice is the Clifton StrengthsFinder, the product of a 25-year, multimillion dollar effort to identify the most prevalent human talents -- the building blocks of a strong and productive life.
Gallup Consulting conducted extensive research into the nature of talents, or recurring patterns of thought, feeling, and behavior that can be productively applied. The research revealed 34 themes of talent that are indicative of success. The Clifton StrengthsFinder assessment tool measures a person's talent in each of these 34 themes, then reveals his or her five most dominant themes, or "Signature Themes." It also reveals that person's entire sequence of 34 themes in order of dominance. Individuals who focus on their Signature Themes -- their areas of greatest talent -- have the best opportunity to build strengths and become more successful; the full theme sequence provides insights into their remaining themes and the talents they offer.
Over the past few years, millions of people have used the Clifton StrengthtsFinder to discover their talent themes. The Clifton StrengthsFinder has been translated into more than 20 languages and is used by businesses, schools, community groups, and individuals in more than 100 nations around the world.
Strengths Management and Development Programs
Gallup Consulting helps individuals and organizations become more strengths focused using consulting and developmental approaches.
* The Great Manager Program teaches managers and executives strategies based on the Four Keys to Great Management. It builds on the concepts presented in the best-selling book, First, Break All the Rules (Simon & Schuster, 1999).
* Executive performance coaching helps senior leaders and managers increase their own -- and their organization's -- effectiveness.
* Building the Strengths-Based Organization helps executives and managers create strategies to develop and sustain a high-performance culture. This course expands on the concepts presented in the best-selling book, Now, Discover Your Strengths.
* Integrated, organization-wide programs provide employees with the tools, education, and coaching needed to develop a strengths-based culture.
* Certification programs teach individuals to serve as strengths consultants in their organizations.
Maximizing Organizational Performance
Gallup Consulting's strengths development and management programs are a powerful first step for organizations seeking to maximize individual performance. Organizations can achieve even greater results when they address all points on The Gallup Path. We have developed integrated and comprehensive performance management solutions that support organizations in achieving crucial business goals.
In addition to consulting on strengths-based development approaches that boost employee productivity and engagement and increase organizational performance, Gallup Consulting offers tools for:
Workplace and Leadership Practices
- devise and implement an effective organizational performance strategy
- provide executive performance coaching for senior leaders
- measure and improve employee engagement
- recruit and hire world-class performers
- create an objective and easy-to-use performance evaluation and development system
- develop an effective succession management system
- design a performance-based compensation system for all roles
- increase sales force effectiveness
Marketing and Customer Practices
- measure and improve customer engagement
- increase the overall impact of brand management programs
- improve marketing strategies through objective, research-based ideas and insights
We have the resources and experience to support organizations that seek to improve their business performance by developing better leaders, more profitable customers, and more productive employees. Our successes demonstrate Gallup's effective consulting and performance improvement solutions.
Contact us to learn more about how Gallup Consulting can help you or your organization achieve higher levels of performance.
(Source: Gallup Consulting - Strengths Development, May 20, 2007
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