Pairing and Expanding Your Strengths: Strategic

On this Theme Thursday Season 2 webcast, Jim Collison, Gallup's Director of Talent Sourcing, and Maika Leibbrandt, Gallup Advanced Learning and Development Consultant discussed the theme of Strategic.

What does Strategic really mean? The word Strategic is such an admirable adjective, but we are rarely on the same page with how it is used. People exceptionally talented in the Strategic theme create an alternative way to proceed. Faced with any given scenario, they can quickly spot the relevant pattern and issues. It is almost a supernatural ability to be able to jump into the puzzle and see the patterns. It is not a skill you can learn, it is a distinct way of thinking. When we talk about Strategic we are not talking about how to create a map, how to be thoughtful about the future or how to go from A to B. We are talking about a natural, unteachable, way of thinking.

Individuals with strong Strategic talents bring creative anticipation, imagination and persistence to the groups and projects that they work on. They can quickly weigh alternative paths, and determine the one that will work best and most efficiently. What Strategic is about is seeing the whole board, and constantly seeing what the right move is now, and what is the next move. It is almost like building a process tree in your brain of possibilities. What Strategic is dealing in is sometimes issues that haven't yet arisen. It isn't the same as Arranger, which is more tactical. How do we execute given the reality? Strategic is more about the what-if. It is based more in an imaginative realm of possibilities.

Raw Strategic can become so enamored in the what-if that they can delay in taking action, whereas mature Strategic can plan in the moment. It can say here's our move, here's our next move. Raw Strategic is internal, and all about instinct and being in the moment. Mature can intentionally communicate. You can work it out in your head quickly, but replay it to yourself. You are able to chart that thought process map for other people. It is the ability to be more present with other people, rather than just planning on your own. The ability to lead other people to your plan.

A complementary partner for Strategic can be Strategic. When discussing ideas with another individual with Strategic you don't always have to filter it and make it clean. Strategic is not linear. It goes in a circle pulling ideas from all different points. Sorting it out with someone else with Strategic helps get a cleaner plan to express with other people. You can consider individuals with the same theme as a complementary partner.

To learn more about Strategic, please watch the video or listen to the audio above.