Building a High-Performing Team
Diverse Strengths & Shared Values
The Research: Which Puppet Would You Choose?
We Tend to Gravitate Towards People Who Are Just Like Us . . .
It Happens in the Workplace Too . . .
Common Ground is Important . . . So is Diversity
Shared Values
Diverse Strengths
Do Values Really Matter?
"We wanted to come up with committable core values and by committable, meaning we're actually willing to hire or fire people based on whether they're living up to those values, completely independent of their actual job performance.“
-- Tony Hsieh, Zappos Founder
How can you find out what their values are?
Assessments (VIA, etc.)
Zappos hiring process - $10,000
Values & Motivation
“Man is so made that when anything fires his soul, impossibilities vanish.”--Jean de la Fontaine
Passion = Values in Action
How Can We Get Them to Bring Their Values to Work?
A Word About Strengths
Is it just something that you’re good at?
Is it different from a skill or ability?
Traditionally we would define a strength in terms of the output
Strengths theory defines it in terms of energy and engagement
Gallup Strengths Framework
Executing
Influencing
Relationship Building
Strategic Thinking
Map Your Strengths
Know Thyself
A leader needs to know his strengths as a carpenter knows his tools, or as a physician knows the instruments at her disposal. What great leaders have in common is that each truly knows his or her strengths – and can call on the right strength at the right time. This explains why there is no definitive list of characteristics that describes all leaders.
- Dr Donald O. Clifton
Why do we fail to get to know ourselves?
Fear – maybe we don’t measure up
Compartmentalization
The “busyness” of life and other distractions
Dan’s Personal Leadership Definition
Leadership is the capacity to influence human thought, emotion, and behavior starting with my own.
How do I identify my strengths?
What is working well and how can I do more of it?
What things energize me?
Do I feel a sense of yearning or inevitability?
Would I do this even if I weren’t getting paid?
VIA and SBL surveys
Group Exercise
Go around your group and give each person the opportunity to share
What did you learn?
What really jumped out at you?
Does the report seem to accurately describe you and your strengths?
Compounding . . . Small, Intentional Tweaks
Change the Frame
Why Focus on Strengths . . . What About Weaknesses?
Focus On Strengths
Not Weaknesses
Strengths in Overdrive
How Well Do You Know Your Team?
Why Should I Get to Know My Team?
Can’t they just put their heads down and do their work?
This is a fast-paced work environment. We focus on results. We don’t have time for personalities.
I’m not your therapist. We have a job to do, so let’s do it.
Strengths and Motivation
What works for one employee may not work for another. The approach needs to be tailored to each team member.
A Tale of Two Staff
Executing
Relationship Building
Personalize
We’re all unique (no this is not photo shopped)
Build a Common Vocabulary
Strengths assessments are a doorway to a conversation . . .
Build a Common Vocabulary: A Case Study
Engagement – The Holy Grail of Organizational Success
Jack Welch Story
Hands
Head
Heart
How Engaged is a Pitcher in the Batter’s Box?
Why did I swing at a sinker?
Please don’t miss!
When can I get back on the mound?
Are any of the members of your team playing out of position?
How good are A. Rod’s
lawyers?
Gallup 12 Keys to Engagement
At work, I have the opportunity to do what I do best every day.
In the last seven days, I have received recognition or praise for doing good work.
My supervisor, or someone at work, seems to care about me as a person.
There is someone at work who encourages my development.
In the last six months, someone at work has talked to me about my progress.
Bringing It All Together: Strengths in Teams
Individual Exercise• Think of a team project that went really well. Why did your team
succeed? What roles did different members of the team play?• Think of a team project that went off the rails. Why did your
team struggle? What roles did different members of the team play?
• What strengths are missing on your current team?• Is there anyone who is currently playing out of position?
Brainstorm other roles they may be able to play.• Do you notice any strengths in overdrive, individually or
collectively?
E-Bay: A Case Study
“Jeff and I had very complementary skills,” Omidyar told us in our interviews. “I’d say I did more of the creative work developing the product and solving problems around the product, while Jeff was involved in the more analytical and practical side of things. He was the one who would listen to an idea of mine and then say, ‘OK, let’s figure out how to get this done.’ ”
Team Strengths in Overdrive
Case Study #1: Is too much Harmony a bad thing?
Case Study #2: Achievers collide . . .
Contact InformationDan Griffiths, CPA, CGMA is the Director of Strategic Planning at Tanner, LLC, a Salt Lake City-based professional services firm with about 80 team members. Prior to merging his practice with Tanner, he co-founded Proficio Services Group to provide strategic & business planning, leadership development, and business coaching services. Dan is a graduate of the 2010 AICPA Leadership Academy and in 2011-2012 served as the chair of the Young CPA Network Committee for the AICPA. Dan has also been very active with the UACPA and in 2011 was recognized as the Outstanding CPA in Business and Management. He was recently selected to serve as Utah’s elected member of the AICPA Governing Council. Dan is an avid flyfisher, backpacker, and gardener. He and his wife Bibiana just welcomed their fourth child to the family.
Contact Dan at: [email protected] Or connect with him on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/dangriffithscpa
