An Introduction to the Connectedness® CliftonStrengths Theme
Looking to learn more about Connectedness? Whether you want to know more about how to use your Connectedness 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 Connectedness?
Connectedness 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 Connectedness theme have faith in the links among all things. They believe there are few coincidences and that almost every event has meaning.
People complete the CliftonStrengths assessment to learn which of the 34 themes, like Connectedness, are strongest in them.
The following theme description highlights the thoughts, feelings and behaviors you are likely to experience if you have strong Connectedness:
Things happen for a reason. You are sure of it. You are sure of it because in your soul, you know that we are all connected. Yes, we are individuals, responsible for our own judgments and in possession of our own free will, but nonetheless, we are part of something larger.
Some may call it the collective unconscious. Others may label it spirit or life force. But whatever your word of choice, you gain confidence from knowing that we are not isolated from one another or from the earth and the life on it. This feeling of Connectedness implies certain responsibilities.
If we are all part of a larger picture, then we must not harm others because we will be harming ourselves. We must not exploit because we will be exploiting ourselves. Your awareness of these responsibilities creates your value system. You are considerate, caring, and accepting.
Certain of the unity of humankind, you are a bridge builder for people of different cultures. Sensitive to the invisible hand, you can give others comfort that there is a purpose beyond our humdrum lives. The exact articles of your faith will depend on your upbringing and your culture, but your faith is strong. It sustains you and your close friends in the face of life's mysteries.
Connectedness is a theme in the Relationship Building domain of CliftonStrengths.
People with dominant Relationship Building themes like Connectedness build strong relationships that hold a team together and make it greater than the sum of its parts.
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 Connectedness Theme
Making the most of your Connectedness talents starts with gaining valuable insights into what you naturally do best.
How people with strong Connectedness talents describe themselves:
- "I am incredibly aware of the borderless and timeless human family."
- "I need to be a part of something bigger than myself: a family, a team, an organization, a global community, a cosmos."
- "I love circles of life and threads of continuity."
- "I hate an 'us vs. them' mentality."
- "I bring an appreciation of the mystery and wonder of life and all creation"
How to Apply Your Connectedness to Succeed
The most successful people invest in their strongest talents. The only way to develop your Connectedness 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 Connectedness to achieve your goals:
Work With Connectedness: Within your organization, help your colleagues understand how their efforts fit in the larger picture. You can be a leader in building teams and helping people feel important.
Lead With Connectedness: Your philosophy in life compels you to move beyond your own self-interests and the interests of your immediate constituency and sphere of influence. As such, you see the broader implications for your community and the world. Explore ways to communicate these insights to others.
Live With Connectedness: Help people see the connections among their talents, their actions, their mission, and their successes. When people believe in what they are doing and feel like they are part of something bigger, commitment to achievement is enhanced.
Check out our in-depth videos from Gallup experts for more ways to use Connectedness to make the most of your potential.
Connectedness:
If You're a Manager With Connectedness
Your Connectedness 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 Connectedness
Encourage them to build bridges to different groups in the organization. They naturally think about how things connect, so they should excel at showing different people how each relies on the others. Properly positioned, they can be a team builder.
Use the CliftonStrengths Assessment to Discover More About Connectedness
How Strong Are Your Connectedness Talents?
Purchase CliftonStrengths 34 to reveal your complete unique talent profile and learn just how strong your Connectedness talents are. You'll get personalized insights into your CliftonStrengths results and ideas for maximizing your potential.
How to Work With Others With Strong Connectedness Talents
Gallup offers resources and products you can use to help others succeed by developing their Connectedness theme and all their CliftonStrengths.