Builders With Determination Talent: Seeing Beyond Roadblocks

On this episode of Builder Talent Tuesday Season 1, Jim Collison, Gallup's Director of Talent Sourcing, and Maika Leibbrandt, Senior Workplace Consultant, discuss the Determination talent with guest Alexis Taylor.

People who are especially talented in the Determination talent pursue their goals with tenacity. They are intensely committed to success and are eager to take quick action. They rely on high motivation to turn adversity into opportunity. They can see beyond roadblocks and visualize a better future.

Determination is the stick to it no matter what theme. It can be stubborn at times when it exercises its perseverance and grit. There is a great combination between creativity and work ethic. Individuals with this theme are persistent and tenacious in pursuing their goals. They have a tremendous work ethic and unique ability to overcome obstacles and setbacks. They do whatever it takes to achieve the desired business outcomes.

What does Determination look like in action? You can confront obstacles head on. There is also a quick recovery to any setbacks. This leads to a recognition of opportunities that others might miss. This could be in business or relationships. Determination leads to incredible start up creation. This can lead to attainment of business goals, and energizing employees.

Some potential blind spots can come from being so committed that you can't change gears even when you need to. Commitment to following through on a course of action can sometimes be blinding from necessary change to that action. In order to invest in this talent and see it through we advise keeping a close eye on the business outcomes. Adjust the course and strategy as part of the plan. If from the very beginning you can set the expectation on keeping the bigger picture in perspective that certainly will help you make sure that your Determination is in the place to get the best return on your investment.

Also consider having multiple business goals. Know that not every goal can be equally attainable or important. Really stay curious and use great partners to help you align that ability to knock down barriers. This needs to be not only because you said you were going to do it, but because it is the right thing to get you to the bigger picture of your business goals.

Another blind spot can be that you can take it incredibly personally when something fails. You have a passion to propel you forward to knock down barriers, but it can also mean that you take those barriers that much more personally. This can lead to disappointment, discontentment and regret when you do fail. So think about setting yourself up with that expectation from the very beginning. Consider what you are learning at every stage of the game. Energize any setbacks and failures with what you're learning and can move forward with.

How do you help maximize that kind of perseverance? Think about how you see possibilities when others see barriers. Find the best way to illustrate what you can see, because you can be a visionary leader of hope and of a better future. Individuals high in Determination tend to get a lot of energy from creative people. So surround yourself with inventors or with people that have ideas that others can't see or aren't noticing. It can be a fantastic partnership with your grit and perseverance and their creativity.

Always keep the big picture in mind, and always keep the big picture in metrics. This will bring you inspiration and help you prioritize what you need to attack. Also think about tuning into the shifting business landscape. Once you have your sights locked into something, your Determination can help get you through. Plant ideas and plant stopping points to be able to stay up to speed on what's ahead of the curve. Reflect on your success to determine when the best place is to take your next steps.

Alexis Taylor's Top 5 CliftonStrengths are Achiever, Connectedness, Learner, Ideation and Positivity. Alexis' Top 4 BP10 talents are Determination, Independence, Confidence and Relationship.