Responsibility is one of the 34 Clifton StrengthsFinder talent themes. More than 28% of people who have taken the assessment have Responsibility in their Top 5 report. Here are 7 ways to develop your Responsibility talent and turn it into a strength!
1. Own it
With your Responsibility talent high, you like to take ownership of tasks and projects that are given to you. When you give your word, you will honor it — no matter what. Let those around you know that you are trustworthy and will get the job done. Claim ownership.
To develop your Responsibility talent, OWN IT!
2. Clarify Control
You like to control every aspect of the deal when you take on responsibility. Recognize that when working with others, they may feel the same about certain parts of the job. Getting clarity on the front end can prevent misunderstandings later. Be clear about what you want to control and what your expectations are of others.
3. Avoid Overload
I know this sounds hard and you might be reluctant to do it, but sharing responsibility can keep you from being overloaded later. Not only that, you allow someone else to grow and develop their own skills and talents. Recognize that they’re not going to do it your way because they have a different perspective. Be open to new ways of meeting objectives and share the load. You really can pass things on to other people as long as you’re willing to set clear guidelines and expectations. You might need to do a little training, too.
4. Check-Ins
When you do choose delegate, set up “check in” times along the way of the deadline so they can report to you what’s completed and what’s still pending. This will give you the sense of security you need (because you are ultimately responsible), and keep you from micro-managing. Start somewhere and delegate something.
5. Practice the Pause
There you go again, volunteering for something else and taking on more responsibility! Resist the urge to raise your hand whenever someone says, “Who will do it?” It’s really okay to lower your hand and not put another thing on your plate. When you feel the urge, practice the pause. Take a deep breath… wait for it… Look! Someone else said, “Yes!”
Develop your Responsibility talent by using the “pause” button.
6. Just Say NO!
I’m sure it’s unimaginable but it’s really okay for you to just say, “No!” If you’re overworked and overcommitted, let someone know you need help. Renegotiate deadlines, timelines and workloads. There’s no shame in that. Letting people know sooner rather than later can keep you from hitting a “breaking point.” You’ll soon learn what you can and cannot do within reason and you’ll make better decisions on taking on new responsibilities as they come up.
7. Celebrate Completion
When you finish a project or a task, do a little jig, smack someone with a High Five or pop the top on a beer. Treat yourself to a night out, a shopping trip or a mini-vacation. Enjoy the satisfaction of another thing finished and take a breather. Chances are, you don’t do that often enough — if at all. If you don’t, you’ll feel like an unappreciated workhorse. Better yet, create a celebration plan right along with your goal setting. It’s important for you to take a moment and celebrate the value you bring, the responsibility to took, from beginning to end.
Develop Your Responsibility Talent
Now you have seven ways to develop your Clifton StrengthsFinder Responsibility talent! Watch the video below, too. If you’d like to learn more, you can visit the Gallup Strengths Center. And join us on Facebook in The Very Best YOU group, where we’re developing our talents every day!
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