An Introduction to the Positivity® CliftonStrengths Theme
Looking to learn more about Positivity? Whether you want to know more about how to use your Positivity theme to succeed, or how to help someone harness theirs, you've come to the right place.
What Is the Definition of Positivity?
Positivity 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 Positivity theme have contagious enthusiasm. They are upbeat and can get others excited about what they are going to do.
People complete the CliftonStrengths assessment to learn which of the 34 themes, like Positivity, are strongest in them.
The following definition describes the thoughts, feelings and behaviors you are likely to experience if you have strong Positivity:
You are generous with praise, quick to smile, and always on the lookout for the positive in the situation. Some call you lighthearted. Others just wish that their glass were as full as yours seems to be. But either way, people want to be around you. Their world looks better around you because your enthusiasm is contagious.
Lacking your energy and optimism, some find their world drab with repetition or, worse, heavy with pressure. You seem to find a way to lighten their spirit. You inject drama into every project. You celebrate every achievement. You find ways to make everything more exciting and more vital. Some cynics may reject your energy, but you are rarely dragged down.
Your Positivity won't allow it. Somehow you can't quite escape your conviction that it is good to be alive, that work can be fun, and that no matter what the setbacks, one must never lose one's sense of humor.
Positivity is a theme in the Relationship Building domain of CliftonStrengths.
People with dominant Relationship Building themes like Positivity 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 Positivity Theme
Making the most of your Positivity talents starts with gaining valuable insights into what you naturally do best.
How people with strong Positivity talents describe themselves:
- "I am cheerful, hopeful and fun-loving."
- "I need freedom to experience the joy and drama of life."
- "I love living life to its fullest."
- "I hate negative people who drain the life out of others."
- "I bring contagious energy and enthusiasm."
How to Apply Your Positivity to Succeed
The most successful people invest in their strongest talents. The only way to develop your Positivity 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 Positivity to achieve your goals:
Work With Positivity: Plan highlight activities for your friends and colleagues. For example, find ways to turn small achievements into events, plan regular celebrations that others can look forward to, or capitalize on the year's holidays and festivals.
Lead With Positivity: You tend to be more enthusiastic and energetic than most people. When others become discouraged or are reluctant to take risks, your attitude will provide the impetus to keep them moving. Over time, others will start to look to you for this "lift."
Live With Positivity: Avoid negative people. They will bring you down. Instead, seek people who find the same kind of drama and humor in the world that you do. You will energize each other.
Check out our in-depth webcasts from Gallup experts for more ideas on ways to use Positivity to maximize your potential.
Watch Gallup experts explain how you can use your Positivity talents to perform at work and in life with excellence.
Managing Team Members With Strong Positivity Talents
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.
Gallup's research in the bestseller It's the Manager proves that this strengths-based approach to being a coach, not a boss, is essential to leading a high-performance team.
Read the following example of how you can help team members develop and apply strong Positivity talents to succeed in their roles.
For more examples of how to use a strengths-based approach to guide your team to success, check out the CliftonStrengths Resource Guide for Managers.
Use the CliftonStrengths Assessment to Discover More About Positivity
How Strong Are Your Positivity Talents?
Purchase CliftonStrengths 34 to reveal your complete unique talent profile and learn just how strong your Positivity talents are. You'll get personalized insights into your CliftonStrengths results and ideas for maximizing your potential.
How to Work With Others With Strong Positivity Talents
Gallup offers resources and products you can use to help others succeed by developing their Positivity theme and all their CliftonStrengths.