Your Activator Talent: Eager To Get Started
"The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing." - Walt Disney
“Activator" is my top talent, and I've come to really love it. My "Activator" drives my excitement for starting new projects and taking action on new ideas. I thrive on new beginnings and getting things off the ground. I do some of my best work in an assisting role, which is essentially what coaching is about. I excel when I can operate a bit like Mary Poppins—floating in to help get things going when someone is stuck, rallying everyone together, and then floating back out once momentum is achieved. I'm the friend you can count on to help take an idea and make it a reality, giving it the initial push it needs to start.
Nestled within CliftonStrengths' influencing domain, the "Activator" talent embodies a drive to push things off-center and get the ball rolling. In the “Activator” talent, there's a continual impulse to take action. And while there is risk in starting something new, "Activator" is brave enough to take that risk.
If "Activator" is one of your top talents, you're a catalyst and a starter. You can quickly turn ideas into action steps. With “Activator”, you possess the confidence and courage to start things that others hesitate to. Your strength lies in pushing the first domino in situations where others are still setting them up. This ability to initiate often puts you in a unique position to see possibilities that others don't.
Similarities + Differences With Other Talents
Understanding the “Activator” talent means recognizing how it stands apart and aligns with other talents:
"Activator" and "Intellection" share a quality of intensity, but in different ways. "Activator" harbors an intense urge to start and sees no substitute for action, whereas "Intellection", a talent in the strategic thinking domain, possesses an intense urge to think, finding no substitute for contemplation.
"Activator" and "Deliberative" both aim to find the right way forward. However, "Activator" does so by quickly making mistakes early on, whereas "Deliberative," which falls in the executing domain, does so by avoiding mistakes.
Leverage The “Activator” Talent
Lead With Activator: You're great at mobilizing people. Get good at delegating actions, especially when you understand the talent themes of those around you, to efficiently leverage everyone's best talents. Start things off, then pass the baton to the most suitable team members.
Work With Activator: Aim for more assisting roles. It’s OK to initiate and then hand something off for next level development. Success isn’t just about crossing the finish line yourself. Learn to delegate effectively and inspire others with the direction to take.
Live With Activator: Avoid taking on too many new projects at once to prevent overwhelm. The thrill of starting something new is often what you’re after. Keep a list of potential projects to maintain that excitement without always feeling compelled to act immediately.
Coach Someone With Activator: When coaching someone with "Activator" high, expect urgency. Help them understand their audience and encourage them to explore new teams and projects beyond their current sphere of influence. Help them put words to why immediate action is good. Help them articulate why what they are doing now is going to help them and others five years down the road.
Discover the Strength of Your “Activator” Talent
Find out if "Activator" is one of your dominant talents with CliftonStrengths 34 or CliftonStrengths Top 5, gaining personalized insights and strategies to maximize your potential.
Discover your top talents with the CliftonStrengths assessment:
