How to Improve Your Wellbeing With Input®

Below are audio and video plus a transcript of the conversation, including time stamps.

Your CliftonStrengths^® can empower the 5 elements of your wellbeing -- career, social, financial, community and physical. But how does this happen if you are struggling in one or more of these elements? If you have Input, Appendix 1 of Gallup's Wellbeing at Work book has Strengths Insights and Action Items that can move you from struggling to thriving as you apply your Input talent to fuel your wellbeing. Join Jaclynn Robinson and Jim Collison on this CliftonStrengths Podcast to discover how.

When individuals and teams are looking for resources, they know they can count on you to have that information or to know who does have the information. So you're that trusted resource, incredible adviser.

Jaclynn Robinson, 1:35

Think about what information or artifacts you're desiring more of, and, to create more of a social experience for yourself, identify a person in your network with knowledge who would be more than happy to give you those insights

Jaclynn Robinson, 7:37

Jim Collison 0:00
I am Jim Collison, and welcome to the CliftonStrengths Podcast. On this podcast, we'll be covering topics such as wellbeing, teamwork, professional development and more. Now enjoy this episode.

Jim Collison 0:10
In this CliftonStrengths Podcast, we'll look at the Strengths Insight and Action Planning items from Appendix 1 in the Gallup book Wellbeing at Work one theme at a time, and today's theme is Input. If you're listening live, love to have you join us in our chat room, just a link right above me to jump in there. Or if you're listening after the fact and you have questions, you can always send us an email: coaching@gallup.com. Dr. Jaclynn Robinson is our host today. She works as a Gallup Learning and Development Consultant and was the primary contributor to Appendix 1 in the Wellbeing at Work book that we're talking about. Jaclynn, always great to see you. And welcome back!

Jaclynn Robinson 0:10
Thanks. Thanks, friend. Good to see you.

What's the definition of Input?

Jim Collison 0:15
Good to see you as well. Let's dig in on Input. Let's start with that definition.

Jim Collison 0:22
OK. For those that have Input, you kind of need to collect an archive. So those with Input may accumulate information, ideas, artifacts or even relationships.

Jim Collison 1:08
And how does that, as we think about this theme, how does it relate to you? And then how does it relate to others?

Jaclynn Robinson 1:14
If I think about how it relates to you, acquiring knowledge or resources that could serve useful to you in the future likely enhances your sense of preparedness and credibility. Even collecting memories from a travel adventure or outing can serve a useful purpose down the road for providing context or color to a specific topic. And then in terms of how it relates to others, when individuals and teams are looking for resources, they know they can count on you to have that information or to know who does have the information. So you're that trusted resource, incredible adviser.

How does Input look when it's thriving vs. struggling?

Jim Collison 1:48
I love that. I, I often think, for me, folks with high Input that I need are those who collect solutions, which is like, Hey, I, there are certain things that, that I've checked out or that I know that work. And those are my go-to kind of things for it. And so that's, I think that's just super helpful. There's people like that who, like, yeah, this works. And they collect those things, which is, which I think is super helpful. We've, of course, are focusing on wellbeing during the series. And as we think about this theme in a thriving state and in a struggling state, what -- contrast those for me.

Jaclynn Robinson 2:26
Yes. So thriving is when you're viewed as a trusted, credible resource for others and have the opportunities to provide information that can be helpful and, and applicable. Struggling is when you feel like you have valuable insights or information to offer, and you're either not able to speak to it, or people just don't want to hear it. I think that's when it's like -- Just listen, listen to what I have to say! I've got the resources available.

Jim Collison 2:54
It's the same thing, is that the same thing if they don't receive it well or if they don't, they just don't, they just won't take it? You know, like, "Hey, I've got these, I've collected it for this rainy day. I want to give it to you." And they're like, "Nah, I don't need it."

Jaclynn Robinson 3:09
Yes. I'm good. No, I'm good. But wait! Yes.

Jim Collison 3:14
Yeah, well, I mean, that is --

Jaclynn Robinson 3:16
It feels almost restrictive, I think, when you have to kind of pull back on the information you might want to provide to someone.

Jim Collison 3:22
Yeah. I think, I think of it like sometimes in terms, you know, at our, at our church, we have at the end, you know, we've got some people, if you need to talk to somebody. They're just -- that's, that's what they do. They're just available, right? And I always tell people, like, don't be afraid to go see them. That -- they like this. They like doing this. They wouldn't say, "Yes" if they didn't like doing it. And I think the same with Input in some ways. It's like, they -- for some, this may be different, and maybe we can chat about this midshow with the chat room. I think in some ways, it's, it's, that's their gift. They want to give it back out. Like, Hey, I kept this for a reason. And it's right now! Like --

Jaclynn Robinson 4:01
Yes. I like the, "And it's right now."

Jim Collison 4:05
Let's do something with this, right? So, well, let's, we've got some examples -- in Appendix 1, we've got some examples by a, by one of our wellbeing, you know, one of the wellbeing pillars. Can you talk a little bit about that in the context of Input?

Jaclynn Robinson 4:19
Yes, for Input, I chose financial wellbeing. Thought that would be a fun one. Since this person loves collecting and sharing information, they might thrive when asked to study investment options for their colleagues and to report those discoveries to the group. So for this, if I pull back a moment, think about someone with Futuristic and Input, if we start to do a theme combo. They might be really interested in what the future holds for investment. So they might be already pulling resources on cryptocurrency and NFT and are willing to share it. But if someone maybe has Context and Input, it could look different, and they're thinking about downturns we've had in the past and how to stabilize in the here and now, or where to invest your money when there is a downturn. So maybe even just, as I think about theme dynamics, I think there's a value-add there in how they might provide valuable resources.

Jim Collison 5:10
How do you think that plays? So we've, we always talked about the me versus we. And we've talked a lot about the we already with Input; that's a kind of a natural, give those things away -- advice, stuff, solutions, whatever that is, whatever that happens to be. What does that look like internally, do you think, for the me? How does an, how does an Input like in, from a financial wellbeing standpoint, what do you think Input can do for their own wellbeing?

Jaclynn Robinson 5:36
Oh, that's a good -- well, the output is, once you have that knowledge, you're able to see that in your investments as they build and rise. So I think there's a little bit of excitement that comes from that. And even if you're able to share that with your financial adviser or your, your partner or someone else who likes to talk about investments, even though it's for you, you get to talk about it or you get to see that growth happen and share it out.

For those with Input, how can it be used to support others?

Jim Collison 6:06
Yeah, I think maybe the satisfaction of, of completeness and knowing, Hey, I've got enough to give away, or I've got enough for me, right? And that satisfaction of knowing, Yeah, I've, for whatever that is, I have what I need. And so maybe a great opportunity there. We have 4 other elements. And I think these are just great for coaches and individuals to go through, look at those, work, work through those elements. We've got 4 more in the back of the book and some great tools to be able to do that as well. So Jaclynn, with this idea of Input, How do you think, and -- kind of back to now others, How do you think we use it to support others?

Jaclynn Robinson 6:46
Well, if you're a manager, you're leading a team, when it comes to opportunities to help someone learn and grow, this is where your resourcefulness knows no bounds. You could refer them to powerful partners or mentors, or you could share different courses or resources you know of that are, you know, connected to their career development plan. So this is where you know no bounds, and you can really help them with people resources or continuing education resources or whatnot, to further their career development. If you're on a team, one thing to consider is, is What does the team currently need that could enhance their efficiency and knowledge?

Jaclynn Robinson 7:23
So if you've already gathered some hard-to-find and scattered information that would also be beneficial to the team, you could consider adding that to a team public folder for everyone's benefit. And then if I think about you as an individual, think about what information or artifacts you're desiring more of, and, to create more of a social experience for yourself, identify a person in your network with knowledge who would be more than happy to give you those insights -- as opposed to going right to the library or going down that Google rabbit hole -- so that you can really just, you know, find enhanced energy and enthusiasm with someone else where you could get that knowledge from.

Jim Collison 8:02
Yeah, and I love that idea of someone with high Input being a subject matter expert. So as you think of, was think of that on a team of bringing that collective knowledge or bringing that collective, those collective resources, or, you know, I had a car when I was young, and we had no money, and I had a car breakdown. I was out, I was living out in California at the time. And, and, you know, we're thinking, like, you know, How are we going to -- ? I mean, it was, it was a significant part. And a, and a buddy at church said, "Oh, I got that." And I was like, "What?" He's like, "Oh, yeah, I can totally take care of it. Bring it over tonight, and we'll just replace it." And wouldn't let me pay him for it. And I mean, it was his, it was like, that was a great day for him. And I just, it would have almost been worse if I'd tried to pay for them or tried to pay him back. He, it was so beneficial, right? It filled that need, right, for him.

Jim Collison 8:58
And we all know people who have that and are like, "Oh, yeah, no, I got it. I totally got that thing. I've got that cable," or "I've got that," right, whatever. Or "I've got that experience. We've done these -- I've been collecting these experiences, and we've done these things before; here's some options for it." And so I think that's, I think that's pretty great as we think about that. In Appendix 2, we spent some time walking through the framework for each of these themes. And, and what, let's take a, make, I think, again, another great exercise for coaches or individuals or those even embedded. And, like, taking some of these and doing them in your organization, I think, a great opportunity. Walk us through that with Input.

Jaclynn Robinson 9:38
Yes, so with Input, Ask Yourself: Would my team benefit from additional information about our purpose and goals, especially now that people are focused on mission and purpose and what does 2022 look like for us? Ask Your Team Members: What shared community interests do we have? So again, maybe there's a bridge to connect purpose and community. And then Taking Action is: Identify someone with a shared mission who encourages your growth, and spend more time with them. So you could do this as a team; you could even do this personally.

Jim Collison 9:40
Jaclynn, as we've, as we think about Input, and we kind of, kind of wrap this up, as we think about the last couple years. And certainly, you know, we're recording this March of 2022. And the world hasn't gotten any easier in the last month, right, as we just think about what's going on around the globe. For, for folks with Input, how can, how do you think kind of dealing with this stress -- this stuff that's happening -- where do you think, I mean, what kind of advice can, as, on our way out here, what kind of advice do you think you could give them on some ways that they could really use this theme to both benefit those around them and maybe themselves?

Jaclynn Robinson 10:50
Gosh, in a variety of ways. So those with Input might have a collection of wellbeing resources that help them de-stress that would help their teams and their partners and family members unwind. Others are looking for ways to support overseas. And so they might already know of a collection of resources where people can give their time or their money or their energy to support. I think even going back to, I think even if they think about the community -- and going back to some of those Ask Yourself, Ask Others -- even from a nonwork space, it's what's the, what kind of opportunities do you want to, do you want to have or get yourself involved in in your community? And they might know just, Oh, the Chamber of Commerce could support. Or have you checked out this community, you know, X organization that we see across the world that could, that could end up making them feel like they're doing something more to connect to the community and to the globe itself. So I just see Input as one of those that is so resourceful with information right now that can help with wellbeing or donations or support or just community involvement to feel like you're a part of something greater.

Jim Collison 12:09
Thank you so much for listening to today's episode of the CliftonStrengths Podcast. Make sure you like and subscribe wherever you listen, so you never miss an episode. And if you're really enjoying this podcast, please leave a review. This helps us promote strengths globally.

Jaclynn Robinson's Top 5 CliftonStrengths are Achiever, Strategic, Maximizer, Positivity and Relator.

Gallup^®, CliftonStrengths^® and each of the 34 CliftonStrengths theme names are trademarks of Gallup. Copyright © 2000 Gallup, Inc. All rights reserved.