An Introduction to the Communication® CliftonStrengths Theme
Looking to learn more about Communication? Whether you want to know more about how to use your Communication theme to succeed, or how to help someone harness theirs, you've come to the right place.
You'll find definitions and descriptions made popular in the international bestseller StrengthsFinder 2.0, plus ideas for how to better understand and use this CliftonStrengths theme.
What Is the Definition of Communication?
Communication and the rest of the CliftonStrengths themes are comprised of natural talents that Gallup has identified through decades of research.
People exceptionally talented in the Communication theme generally find it easy to put their thoughts into words. They are good conversationalists and presenters.
People complete the CliftonStrengths assessment to learn which of the 34 themes, like Communication, are strongest in them.
The following definition describes the thoughts, feelings and behaviors you are likely to experience if you have strong Communication:
You like to explain, to describe, to host, to speak in public, and to write. This is your Communication theme at work.
Ideas are a dry beginning. Events are static. You feel a need to bring them to life, to energize them, to make them exciting and vivid. And so you turn events into stories and practice telling them. You take the dry idea and enliven it with images and examples and metaphors.
You believe that most people have a very short attention span. They are bombarded by information, but very little of it survives. You want your information -- whether an idea, an event, a product's features and benefits, a discovery, or a lesson -- to survive. You want to divert their attention toward you and then capture it, lock it in.
This is what drives your hunt for the perfect phrase. This is what draws you toward dramatic words and powerful word combinations. This is why people like to listen to you. Your word pictures pique their interest, sharpen their world, and inspire them to act.
Communication is a theme in the Influencing domain of CliftonStrengths.
People with dominant Influencing themes like Communication take charge, speak up and make sure others are heard.
Each of the 34 CliftonStrengths sort to one of four domains -- Executing, Influencing, Relationship Building and Strategic Thinking. These domains help you understand how to use individual CliftonStrengths to succeed when you join, create or lead a team.
Learn more about the CliftonStrengths domainsHow to Better Understand Your Communication Theme
Making the most of your Communication talents starts with gaining valuable insights into what you naturally do best.
How people with strong Communication talents describe themselves:
- "I am an entertaining conversationalist."
- "I need a sounding board, an audience."
- "I love stories and storytellers."
- "I hate experience without expression."
- "I bring attention to messages that must be heard."
How to Apply Your Communication to Succeed
The most successful people invest in their strongest talents. The only way to develop your Communication talents is to use them every day -- at work, at home and everywhere else.
The following are a few ideas for how to apply your Communication to achieve your goals:
Work With Communication: Identify your most beneficial sounding boards and audiences -- the listeners who seem to bring out your best communication. Examine these individuals or groups to learn why you are so good when you speak with them or to them, and look for the same qualities in potential partners and audiences.
Lead With Communication: Volunteer for opportunities to present. You can become known as someone who helps people express their thoughts and ambitions in a captivating way.
Live With Communication: Your Communication talents can be highly effective when your message has substance. Don't rely on your talents alone; take your communication to the level of strength by developing your knowledge and expertise in specific areas.
Check out our in-depth videos from Gallup experts for more ways to use Communication to make the most of your potential.
Communication:
If You're a Manager With Communication
Your Communication talent makes you stronger. Lead with your strengths so both you and your team can succeed. A strengths-based approach to management will lead to:
- better conversations
- stronger partnerships
- higher team engagement
- greater collaboration
For manager-specific insights and strategies, check out your CliftonStrengths for Managers report and explore your top 10 themes and how you can use them to reach your goals.
Discovering the collective talents of your team using the CliftonStrengths assessment is just the first step.
To successfully manage or lead others, you must individualize your approach. You must understand what makes each of your team members unique. And you must lead meaningful conversations about performance that focus on what each person naturally does best.
An Example of Managing Team Members With Communication
They are likely to do well in roles in which they need to capture people's attention. Help them hone this talent by finding opportunities for them to refine and practice clarifying ideas and telling stories so that they'll get better each time.
Use the CliftonStrengths Assessment to Discover More About Communication
How Strong Are Your Communication Talents?
Purchase CliftonStrengths 34 to reveal your complete unique talent profile and learn just how strong your Communication talents are. You'll get personalized insights into your CliftonStrengths results and ideas for maximizing your potential.
How to Work With Others With Strong Communication Talents
Gallup offers resources and products you can use to help others succeed by developing their Communication theme and all their CliftonStrengths.