“That guy I was dating was SO negative. All he could do was point out all the things I needed to fix and it just wore me out! I won’t want to be with someone who is constantly trying to fix me!”
“My son is always tinkering in the garage or out back in the shed. I swear, I think he takes things apart just to put them back together again. He gets so involved he won’t even come inside for dinner!”
“I have no idea where to send the Christmas card this year — they never stay anywhere long! Every time I catch up with them, they’re knee-deep in another house remodel.”
Restorative: they bring solutions.
Strengths: They See What Needs Fixin’
Is someone in your life making you crazy because they are always fixing stuff? Maybe they have their head under the hood of an old, beaten up car at crazy hours of the day. Or maybe they spend most of their time re-habbing old houses when you prefer modern and new. Or perhaps they seem to get entangled in yet another girlfriend’s life that’s awash with personal baggage. Or maybe they’re just hyper-critical and always complaining when things are out of order or out of sorts.
You may have bumped into someone who is especially gifted in the StrengthsFinder talent theme of Restorative.
Restorative: The Problem Solvers
Those who are strong in Restorative are excellent problem solvers. They see brokenness: broken systems, broken patterns, broken people. And they are solution oriented and often know exactly how to fix the problems they see. Breakdowns energize them into finding a fix. They love to restore things to their original glory so they shine yet again. They like to figure out the underlying issue, determine a solution, and then implement the resolution.
Because they see when things are not operating with maximum efficiency and often say so, they can appear to be negative. But just because they’re noticing the negative doesn’t mean they are. They will be frustrated when they bring solutions that are ignored or discarded. Especially when the same situation rears its head again. Same problem, different day.
Restorative: Fixing, rehabbing and restoring.
Love Your Restorative
My friend, Andrew, is a general contractor who specializes in flipping houses. He’s always on the hunt for some kind of broken down place that he can repair and refurbish and then either rent or sell at a profit. Not only does he run a crew of independent contractors who handle certain aspects of the job, he doesn’t mind getting his own hands dirty in the restoration process. It’s worth it in the end when he has pride in ownership and a new asset for the family coffers!
So the next time someone starts to drive you nuts by pointing out all the broken things, ask them what the finished project looks like to them. This will give you insight into the particular things they love to fix and repair. It will also allow you to not take their observations personally or internalize them as negatives.
When partnering with someone strong in Restorative, ask yourself: where do we need to restore order or bring renewal to a part of our business, project or home? They may be just the ones to offer the perfect solutions!
To learn more about personal development, your talents, Strengths and StrengthsFinder, be sure to visit www.GallupStrengthsCenter.com.
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