Belief®: Developing Your Leadership Skills

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Explore Gallup's CliftonStrengths^® for Leaders Report and discover its ability to help you maximize the impact of your -- and others' -- unique leadership talents and strengths, in this Season 2 episode of The CliftonStrengths Podcast. Join Jim Collison and Dr. Jaclynn Robinson as they discuss the Belief^® theme, its power in a leadership role, how it can help or hinder you as you lead others, and how you can leverage it with the CliftonStrengths for Managers and CliftonStrengths for Sales Reports. Unlock the leadership potential of your Belief talent -- because everyone leads something.

If you have Belief, you have certain core values that are unchanging. Out of these values emerge a defined purpose for your life.

Jaclynn Robinson,1:01

Individuals at work want to know that what they do matters. So this leader is that person that can clearly connect guiding principles and values of the company to the work of the employees.

Jaclynn Robinson, 4:38

Jim Collison 0:00
I am Jim Collison, and this is The CliftonStrengths Podcast, Season 2, recorded on March 15, 2023.

Jim Collison 0:06
In this CliftonStrengths Podcast series, we'll look at the CliftonStrengths for Leaders Report one theme at a time, and today's theme is Belief. If you're listening live, love to have you join us in our chat room -- the link right above it for me there. If you're listening after the fact on the podcast or on YouTube, you can send us your questions: coaching@gallup.com. Dr. Jaclynn Robinson is our host today. She works as a Senior Learning and Development Consultant, joined me for Season 1 of The CliftonStrengths Podcast, where we looked at the book Wellbeing at Work; we did that one theme at a time. Jaclynn, always great to be with you. Welcome back!

Jaclynn Robinson 0:53
Thank you, sir!

Introducing Belief

Jim Collison 0:54
We are digging in on Belief today. Why don't we get kicked off with an intro of that.

Jaclynn Robinson 1:00
All right! If you have Belief, you have certain core values that are unchanging. Out of these values emerge a defined purpose for your life.

Jim Collison 1:09
It's a theme, as we think about this theme, it's often tied to this idea of religion, whether we think of it in, in a Western or an Eastern or a Southern or a Northern or maybe a moon religion -- whatever that, whatever those are, tough to include them all. But how do we think a little bit about that from, Do I have to be -- do I have to have a religious belief, or does it have to be religious in nature? Can I, could I be agnostic in that and still have this, this talent theme of Belief?

Jaclynn Robinson 1:42
You sure can. You sure can. I think where the, the spirituality and religion piece came from is because you might have some folks with Belief, and their core principles and value system feels like it aligns with the morality that they find in a religion or the purpose that they find in their religion. But that doesn't mean that everyone gets their morality or their purpose from a religion. So it might come from something entirely different. But we hear that sometimes, for sure.

Jim Collison 2:15
We do. We do. No, and I think it's, I think it's kind of good just to get out there. And it's like, Oh, well, I don't have, I don't hold. It's, it's OK.

Jaclynn Robinson 2:25
Yes. Belief does not equal religion. Although you might find that as a part of your core value system, and find it in the lines.

What Is the Power of Belief in a Leadership Role?

Jim Collison 2:33
It can be a big part of it. Right? It can, it can, because that's a part of your value system. And I love this idea, I think, as we tie Belief to values, right, those things, those values, those things we hold to be true for us internally, and that we, that we -- not to use the word in the definition -- that we value, right? And so I bring that up, I mean, I think this influences all 34 themes in some way. But in Belief, we have that discussion a little bit more. And even in the label of it, it, I think sometimes it's just good to address this and to kind of think about it from that standpoint. So we're spending time this season thinking about it in the context of leadership. We have this new CliftonStrengths for Leader Report -- for Leaders Report. And so let's talk about the power of this theme in a leadership role.

Jaclynn Robinson 3:19
Yes. This leader is confident in the vision and mission they see for the company, or it could be for the department or their team. And they can lead with confidence and clarity as they move folks forward based on set principles, actions and values. They could do so in quite an inspiring way, I'll add, which is oftentimes why we have this in Executing, because they can inspire people by the way that they speak to that mission or that purpose. People go, Ooh, I like what this person's telling me. I'm going with them! Put me in this group.

How Can Those With Belief Lead Others?

Jim Collison 3:52
Well, this unwavering or, you know, this concrete conviction of something. Now I hold this to be true for me; I'm standing on it. Doesn't mean it's always going to be that way. People change, things change, ideas change. What I believed 30 years ago, I may not believe today, right, after experience and some of those kinds of things -- additional knowledge, truth, some of those. But in the moment, I hold this, these values to be true. And I'm going to stand on them. And there's something, there's a something incredibly, especially in a leadership role, there's something incredibly attractive to that at times, or can be attractive, from a team perspective. Let's think about it then -- how can this theme lead others? What are some other practical ways that it can lead others?

Jaclynn Robinson 4:38
Individuals at work want to know that what they do matters. So this leader is that person that can clearly connect guiding principles and values of the company to the work of the employees and help them see quite clearly how their contribution matters to the end goal or to the consumer. So in this regard, they can give them hope that what they're doing today is indeed creating that better, brighter future -- especially if we're thinking about the 4 Needs of Followers; they can, they can bring that out of people.

Jim Collison 5:05
Yeah. Well, let's talk about that. We, we've been weaving that in to the conversation this season: Hope, Stability, Compassion and Trust. In the context of those four, of those four names, those four themes as we -- not themes; that's the wrong -- strike that. I didn't say, because there -- as we think about these needs, where does that fit in?

Jaclynn Robinson 5:29
Yes. Well, I see Hope. I see Hope, because they know where they're heading. They know what they're standing on, to your point. And they can help other people see their, their contribution to that effort, which I think is Compassionate. Because people don't feel like they're just a cog in a wheel, this person can help them see what you're doing is creating impact and value, and this is how. And because they're so secure in where the company is moving, how that aligns with the, the core values and mission of the company, that can create Trust and Stability as well. So I very quickly can see all four of these pop up.

How Could Belief Hinder Your Leadership of Others?

Jim Collison 6:09
Yeah, yeah. And I love that you beautifully weaved that across all four. There's, like in anything, even as we think about these in the context of domains, these themes can move, and more, I think we'd say, sometimes more of a membrane than a wall between each other. And even in these 4 Needs, they can morph across all 4. My wife has Belief very, very high. And she, I've used it for stability in our, in our marriage at times. I know when she says something, that's a value to her. It's not going to -- at least in that moment, it's not going to change. Like, it's black and white for her. And she's, she's OK with that. I'm all shades of gray, but I've learned to depend on that in our relationship, to know where she's gonna go on this. I'm like, No, she has high Belief; she's gonna go that way. And I can be stable. Right? It provides Stability for me, right, in that. As we think, we also have a section in the report where we talk about how can this theme hinder? So how can this theme of Belief hinder others, or your leadership of others?

Jaclynn Robinson 7:16
Well, it's helpful to remember that not everyone's motivated by purpose or a core set of values. And I would even say, in particular, unwavering values. So in these cases, it's best to remain curious of other people's motivations and remain really open-minded when data or other assumptions or perspectives sway from that particular leader's own views. And there could be an opportunity to merge the viewpoints -- to see that that other person's view might still be in alignment with the end goal, and they're just getting there differently, through a different motivation or a different value system.

How Can You Use Belief as You Lead, Together With the Managers and Sales Reports?

Jim Collison 7:49
I feel like you were talking to me in that. Because I'm, I do fit that definition a little bit, where I, I am easily, I am easily moved when I see reason. Right. And so I may have a belief today that I'm standing on, but when I get evidence contrary, I don't spend a lot of time; I move. Right, I move with it. That's frustrating for some. That's frustrating. It's a breath of fresh air for others. Right. And, you know, so, to someone -- and I think maybe early on in our marriage, I probably frustrated Sarah with those, with that kind of movement. We just decided we -- I thought I understood you! I don't actually understand who you are. So it happens in that. Well, 34 years; we've, we've made it this far. Let's think about this, throughout the season, we're spending some time thinking about this, as we put this together or the opportunity to do report dynamics. What if we, what if we looked at the CliftonStrengths for Sales Report and the CliftonStrengths for Leaders Report, and we put those two together? The results of those two -- what could that look like? What do you think, Jaclynn?

Jaclynn Robinson 9:04
Well, their passion for the product or service offered can be witnessed in conversations that they're holding with their team, with the, with the prospects, with the clients. They can help highlight how the product or service offering can better serve the consumer and communicate its value, I think, in a really purposeful, authentic and passionate way.

Jim Collison 9:23
Yeah, in a representative way, right? In a powerful, it speaks to the word brand. I think sometimes, and maybe I hadn't thought of it in this in this way, but maybe when we think of values and brand, and to the opening conversation about faith or religion, that's a brand, right, in, in a lot of ways. And so thinking of that, delivering that product, providing that product or service, whatever that is, in a way that's authentic and passionate, just, just oozes brand, right. I don't know, as I say that, any, what do you think, as I think, when I say that word brand to you, how does that fit into this, this conversation?

Jaclynn Robinson 10:08
That's a good way of putting it. And I'm just thinking about how in business, when you're thinking about sales, someone with this, if they don't believe in that product or service or the brand of the company overall, then they're not going to sell it; they're not probably even going to be a part of that company. And so for them, you really hear that passion and purpose come out. And it sounds very authentic, because it is. Because they're not going to put their heart and mind and soul into something that they don't believe in. And we know every company has a brand that they want to be seen as, and a purpose and a value system that's supposed to be, you know, kind of an operating manual for how people show up in the workplace. So I love that you just thought of it as a brand. Cause we're thinking of the organizational identity, purpose, brand and culture are those Big 3 we often think about. Yeah.

Jim Collison 11:06
Yeah. Also gets me thinking, we haven't been going to the chat room this season, and I won't start now. But Ralph had mentioned something in chat just a few minutes ago, talking about the meaning, the, you know, the, the actual word they use in German for Belief. And I think this adds, as we think about different languages and then filling in different cultures on this. And it reminded me, as I said that word brand, that it has this unique idea and concept in English, in the way we under, we, the way we understand it. But then, when you, when you take that from a multidimensional standpoint, and you think about it in another language and their culture and that bit, this is a whole nother discussion to have, right? I mean, this is the value of this, of thinking through, Here's this concept, but what does that mean in the context of this language and in this culture and with this history, and how this all comes together? So while we are talking about these things in English, right, love the idea, if you speak another language, or if you're working in another culture, and you have the, you have the privilege of knowing more than one language, which is awesome. You're listening to this in English, and maybe you speak another language, how does that translate? I love that, I love that idea of thinking, OK so that we use brand, but what would you use in the language to represent that -- or whatever, in this? Gets me, gets me, gets me thinking --

Jaclynn Robinson 12:29
I like it!

Jim Collison 12:30
On that, yeah. What if we took, let's get back to the, OK, now the, the podcast already in progress. Let's, as we think about Manager and Leader, we take those two reports, what do you get from that, Jaclynn?

Jaclynn Robinson 12:43
Well, if this employee feels misguided in their workload, then this leader's management style can really help them realign with that North Star, or the primary goal. So they can support them in reshuffling their portfolio of work responsibilities, so that the ultimate goal or mission is at the forefront of what they do, while also helping this individual see how their role is creating impact. So I think this person will leave with a lot more pep in their step. They're like, Oh, that's what we're aiming towards. This person just helped me reshuffle work so I can make sure I'm aligned with it. Oh, and this is the impact I'm creating.

Jim Collison 13:17
Yeah. Maybe it sounds a little bit of tip of the spear, like, out in front, leading from the front -- all those, all those terms we would say, like as, in leaders and managers, of taking that consistent -- well, we just spent some time thinking about Consistency, so this would be small "c." But in Belief, saying this is, no, this is where I'm at, the conviction I have. Fill that in. Again, I understand it, because I don't have it very high; I don't understand it. I'm learning through this process. So appreciate you guys being tolerant with me; I'm learning through it. Jaclynn, I want to kind of get your final thoughts as we, as we put a bow here on, on Belief. Final thoughts?

Jaclynn Robinson 13:58
Yes, ooh, Belief. It's one of those I, you hear it when people have it, because it just comes out emotively in the way that they speak. And I think they can be such a powerful leader and manager, as they pull people along and highlight the value that they're creating -- that, again, that North Star that everybody's aiming towards. So they're a really good, they're a really good, just, person to have in the workplace that can help people feel Hope for the next day. They see that -- I love the way that you just had all those different metaphors for how the leader might show up. I even think of them as that person in the trench, guiding people. It's like, We've got this! We're in this together, and this is where we're heading. It's just such a level of Stability and Hope that they offer folks.

Jim Collison 14:51
Yeah, and it's interesting. I hear some Woo; I hear some Command, when we think about that. And yet, this comes from, this has a, this, this maybe has a deeper tie to values, right, in that.

Jaclynn Robinson 15:04
Values, principles.

Jim Collison 15:06
Yeah. And a great reminder that that this theme, for you, is influenced by those themes that are around it and your own individual experience and your, the own, your own values that you bring to it. And we want to encourage you -- I'm hoping we're inspiring you not to just take our word for it, but to spend some time thinking about it. Like, Hey, how does this work for me, with all this information that I have around it? So, Jaclynn, thanks for spending some time with me on Belief. This is a, this is always a difficult one for me. Thanks for helping me work through it. These two that we've done today are good thinking ones; I'm gonna have to spend some time thinking about them.

Jaclynn Robinson 15:43
They really are.

Jim Collison 15:47
With that, we'll remind everyone to take full advantage of all the resources we do have available now in Gallup Access. Head out to gallup.com/cliftonstrengths. Log in, hit menu in the upper left. Choose Resources, put in "Belief," and you'll see all the, all the resources we have available on this. Plenty of resources on Gallup Access too in the, in the CliftonStrengths Dashboard -- lots of things available for you there. Explore those; get out there. Read some things. It's good for you. Stay up to date with all the webcasts by following us on Eventbrite: gallup.eventbrite.com -- B-R-I-T-E on that -- gallup.eventbrite.com. Join us on any social platform by searching "CliftonStrengths," and we want to thank you for listening to us today. If you enjoyed it, share it, like it, subscribe -- you know, all those things the kids are doing these days; you know, thumbs up, whatever. Get it done for us. That's always nice to get that feedback from you. If you're listening live, stay around for a little bit of postshow. Some interesting things from chat. With that, we'll say, Goodbye, everybody.

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

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