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In a recent interview, Mike Rowe, of Dirty Jobs fame, was talking about how different professions tend to have different viewpoints and methods for how they work and communicate.

• A general will give quick, concise orders for action in the heat of battle.
• A business leader will take in information from multiple channels, evaluate costs and benefits, collaborate with others, and lead their team to action.
• A scientist will develop a theory, conduct experiments, test different approaches to an issue, and alter course accordingly.
• An academic thought-leader will research in depth to substantiate an idea before providing a thorough and detailed response.
• An attorney will take a premise and expand it to cover all the possible contingencies.
• A teacher will take the complex and make it simple, so their students can learn and understand.
• And even in a single profession – nursing, for example – there are differences in the swift, direct actions of an ER nurse versus the nurturing actions of a hospice nurse.

As you can see, the communications, actions, and methodologies of different professions vary widely. And though vastly different, it is essential that they each bring their gifts to the table of serving others.

It is when the roles, communications, and expectations are not channeled correctly that you begin to see issues.

For example, in a life-threatening situation, there is no time for in-depth research, exploring possibilities, creating meeting agendas, or reading a business journal. This is the time for swift, targeted action.

Now, when it comes time to find a cure for a disease, then you want those who can patiently explore, experiment, collect data, and analyze results.

If you switch these two groups of colleagues, both geared toward saving lives, the results would be devastating.

And that is the point.

Every person brings a unique set of skills and experience in service to others. Knowing your strengths AND knowing where and when to apply them makes all the difference.

Mapping Strengths

As a leader, it is critically important to know your strengths and your best channels of leadership. It is just as important that you know the strengths of your team members and guide them into the channels where they serve best.

You will want to create teams for various needs that will arise in your organization. Determine who will comprise each team.

• Innovation Team
• Marketing and Sales Team
• Production Team
• Systems Team
• Compliance Team
• Management Team
• Quality Control Team
• Crisis Management Team

Conventional placement by roles is important, but taking strengths and communication styles into consideration will create an organization that is well equipped for all aspects of service.

Action Steps

1. Consider the types of teams you need in your business. Some examples are noted above.
2. Note the types of action and methodologies that each team will need to have. Example: Quick Action, Attention to Detail, People-focused, Systems-minded
3. Now, map your team members to the strengths-based teams above. Some may map to more than one team in a small company. But the important thing is to base this mapping on their strengths and the needs of the team.

For valuable resources on Strengths, Mapping, and Strategy, click here.

Deb Ingino is a highly sought-after executive coach, mentor, consultant, and speaker worldwide. Deb is well versed in business operations and in the importance of asking key questions most business leaders won’t ask themselves. She brings deep experience in leadership development, strategy, high performance team building and effective communication. She has a passion for leading people to discover and maximize their strengths as well as those of fellow team members, while offering advanced strategies to achieve high performance. Deb is the perfect fit if you’re ready to take your leadership and impact to the next level!