# Activator 行动 (xíng dòng) Domain: 🟧 Influencing ### Signature Theme Description “When can we start?” This is a recurring question in your life. You are impatient for action. You may concede that analysis has its uses or that debate and discussion can occasionally yield some valuable insights, but deep down you know that only action is real. Only action can make things happen. Only action leads to performance. Once a decision is made, you cannot not act. Others may worry that “there are still some things we don’t know,” but this doesn’t seem to slow you. If the decision has been made to go across town, you know that the fastest way to get there is to go stoplight to stoplight. You are not going to sit around waiting until all the lights have turned green. Besides, in your view, action and thinking are not opposites. In fact, guided by your Activator theme, you believe that action is the best device for learning. You make a decision, you take action, you look at the result and you learn. This learning informs your next action and your next. How can you grow if you have nothing to react to? Well, you believe you can’t. You must put yourself out there. You must take the next step. It is the only way to keep your thinking fresh and informed. The bottom line is this: You know you will be judged not by what you say, not by what you think, but by what you get done. This does not frighten you. It pleases you. ### Shared Theme Description ### People exceptionally talented in the Activator theme can make things happen by turning thoughts into action. They want to do things now rather than simply talk about them. “行动”才干主题突出的人能够将想法付诸行动。他们想此刻就付诸行动，而不仅仅只是谈论。 ### Additional notes: - 11% have Activators in top 5 - Challenge of Activator: How do I push people in a way that, that feels good to them and gets the results that I have? - Where it's pushing intentionally versus impulsively - Activators know they need people (source: 3) - **Activators** learn by doing, and they bring energy to most any situation that needs a boost. - **Activator** is energized by starting, but usually not so much by finishing. In fact, those high in Activator may get bored half way through a project and look around for something else to get started (source: 2) - Togetherness is I think something that has to do with Activator -- that ability to not just say, "I'm ready to go," but "I want you to come with me." They're a mobilizing force and a starter. (source: 4) ### Helps and Hinders ***Help***s - With Activator in your top 5, you likely excel at mobilizing your team to action -- you communicate what has to be done and then instill a sense of urgency - You are a catalyst for saving your organization time, energy and money. You are impatient for action and get things moving when projects stall. - You are not afraid to take risks, which can make you a great innovator. - Your energy and action-oriented approach instill momentum -- you keep things progressing forward. _**Hinders**_ - You may have a tendency to charge ahead and act without a concrete plan. Challenge yourself to stop and consider alternatives and consequences before taking action. - Your drive to get started means you may miss important ideas from others. Give others on the team a chance to give input. - Because you believe only action leads to performance, you may be perceived as unorganized or impulsive. If you are a manager or team leader, take time to explain your reasoning and make sure you are clear about your expectations. - You start things quickly and that may cause others to feel left out, unappreciated or undervalued. Take time to listen to others to ensure you are headed in the right direction. (source: 4) Activators tend to be catalysts, naturally turning ideas into action and making things happen. They tend to have a contagious energy and bring instant momentum to nearly any situation. And it's not only about getting things started for themselves, it is also about getting others going; Activator can be more "Let's get going" than "I need to get going." There is an inherent need in the Activator talent theme to bring others along as they start the journey. (source:4) ### Raw vs Mature Raw: Pushes impulsively, impatiently, indiscriminately and selfishly Mature: Pushes "intentionally, urgently, relevantly." (source: 3) ### How To Feel More Energized At Work #### Questions for Individuals - Basic Needs - Track your activities and accomplishments to see what has been initiated and what has been completed. So at the end of the day you can look back at things you kick started, and if that was off course or something expected. A tracker will bring clarity - Activator loves try-and-fail approach. Ask "what growth activities do I want to try to take on" and be comfortable with trying and failing until you get it right. In the try & fail process, it could be very helpful to jot down what works, so you can continue to drive towards excellence. - Activator can help encourage partnerships or just naturally blossoms with them -- they can take ideas and start driving them towards action. They can really be a catalyst for, for bringing people together with the ideas they have and putting it in action. They might not come to completion with it -- that's not where the energy is gonna be -- but they're gonna get it started. ### With other Themes: #CS/Activator🟧 and #CS/Achiever🟪 Both **Achiever** and **Activator** tend to be "high energy" themes. But again, that energy comes from a different motivational source. • **Achiever** is driven to get things done; **Activator** is driven to get things started. • **Achiever** wants to finish the list, **Activator** wants to start the list. • **Achiever** says "I will get it done," and **Activator** says "Let's get going." (source: 2) ^132b9c #CS/Activator🟧 and #CS/Achiever🟪 A subtle -- but important -- distinction is in the pronoun: I vs. we. • **Achiever** is an Executing theme; it helps an individual be productive and complete tasks. **Activator** is an Influencing theme, and there is typically an "other" component to Activator; • **Activators** move others to take action and not just sit around talking about what might happen. In such a meeting, **Achiever** will make the list of the things he will do, while Activator will use her influence to get the group moving and commit to getting started. (source: 2) ^3a4965 • **Activators** are Opportunist. Getting things started / **Achievers** are about Getting things done (source: 3) **Activator** + **Self Assurance** = I want to be my own boss #CS/Self-Assurance🟧 ^d257ec #CS/Activator🟧 #CS/Command🟧 I have Activator #4 and Command #7. In tandem, these work like a Quarterback in football. You call the play and put the right people in motion. When leading initiatives, these two are great for kicking off projects and changing direction based on new information. ([Jamal Cornelious](https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:ugcPost:7235273923741818880?commentUrn=urn%3Ali%3Acomment%3A%28ugcPost%3A7235273923741818880%2C7237660543661023233%29&dashCommentUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afsd_comment%3A%287237660543661023233%2Curn%3Ali%3AugcPost%3A7235273923741818880%29)) #CS/Activator🟧 and #CS/Command🟧 Both **Activator** and **Command** have a decisiveness about them that moves things forward. But while there is a natural impatience with Activator, that may not be the case with Command. • Depending on other themes, **Command** may be very content to get all the data, weigh all the options, and then give the orders to act. But strong **Activator** doesn't need or want to wait; "we don't have to get it all figured out, let's just get started and we'll learn along the way." • **Command** will take charge; **Activator** will take action. • **Command** will confront; **Activator** will urge. • Both **Activator** and **Command** are influencing themes, but while Command tends to influence from the front of the pack, Activator tends to influence from the midst of the pack. **Command** is in the driver's seat; **Activator** is the spark plug. (source: 2) ^a74573 #CS/Activator🟧 and #CS/Ideation🟩 There is a certain sense of positive attitude and optimism about both Activator and Ideation that brings energy and creativity to a team. And individuals with high Activator can be great partners with individuals high in Ideation. • **Ideation** says, "What if we did this?" and **Activator** says "Let's do this!" **Activator** doesn't necessarily think up things to do, and Ideation doesn't necessarily act on everything it thinks of • **Activator** is energized by getting started on a creative plan, while **Ideation** is energized by conceiving a creative plan. • **Ideation** sees possibilities, and **Activator** acts on possibilities. • For **Ideation**, thinking is doing. For Activator, doing is doing. • Both **Ideation** and **Activator** can tend to be seen as impractical, yet creative. **Activator** might say, "Let's just do it and see what happens, and then we can adjust accordingly;" while **Ideation** might say, "I have an idea that may sound crazy, but it just might work. If it does, great! And if it doesn't, we'll just think of something else." • Both **Ideation** and **Activator** can motivate teams to think -- and act -- outside the box. (source: 2) ^0408a4 #CS/Activator🟧 and #CS/Woo🟧 There is a positive energy and sense of fun that can be associated with both **Activator** and **Woo**. • Both **Activator** and Woo **can** motivate others and influence the decisions and actions of a team. This makes both themes look somewhat similar in their outcomes, but the motivation comes from different sources. • **Woo** (Winning Others Over) finds energy in meeting new people, creating a network, getting people on its side, bringing energy to social situations. **Activator** finds energy in getting things moving, starting a project, getting a decision and then acting. • For **Woo**, meeting people and networking feels like an accomplishment in and of itself, while for **Activator** the purpose of meeting people and networking is to "rally the troops" to take action and get going. • Small talk often times may not feel productive to an **Activator**, while for those with Woo **small** talk can feel very productive -- because it builds relationships that add to the network. (source: 2) ^0be3d1 ![[🟧 CS_Command#^4403b8]] ![[🟧 CS_Command#^6355e6]] ![[🟧 CS_Competition#^e17411]] ![[🟧 CS_Competition#^af7da3]] ### Themes that Soften #CS/Relator🟦 #CS/Empathy🟦 #CS/Deliberative🟪 #CS/Analytical🟩 #CS/Includer🟦 #CS/Focus🟪 #CS/Context🟩 #CS/Intellection🟩 #CS/Deliberative🟪 **Activators** can temper the edge by partnering with **Deliberative** who can help think thru decisions before jumping into it. ### Themes that Sharpen #CS/Achiever🟪 #CS/Arranger🟪 #CS/Ideation🟩 #CS/Positivity🟦 #CS/Command🟧 #CS/Woo🟧 #CS/Competition🟧 ### Instagram Posts ![[CliftonStrengths_Activator_1.png|220]]![[CliftonStrengths_Activator_2.png|220]] ![[CliftonStrengths_Activator_HelpsHinders1.png|220]]![[CliftonStrengths_Activator_HelpsHinders2.png|220]] #CS/Activator🟧 and #CS/Achiever🟪 ![[CliftonStrengths_Activator_Achiever_1.png|220]]![[CliftonStrengths_Activator_Achiever_2.png|220]]![[CliftonStrengths_Activator_Achiever_3.png|220]] #CS/Activator🟧 and #CS/Ideation🟩 ![[CliftonStrengths_Activator_Ideation_1.png|220]]![[CliftonStrengths_Activator_Ideation_2.png|220]]![[CliftonStrengths_Activator_Ideation_3.png|220]] ##### Quotes: 💬 "It's my #1! I am already around the corner before others started their engine... It is my talent to bring things into action, cause only the action counts at the end. I learned the last 5 years to also inform and take people with me before I am around the corner 😃 " - Jelle Zijlstra 💬 "My number 3! I have learned to wait when it's necessary but I love taking risks and learning along the way. I allow to do this more in my personal life." - Sarah Seckman (source: 6) ### Strengths Whisperer Podcast ![[💪 The Strengths Whisperer Coach to Coach Podcast Notes#^0fecac]] ------------ Sources: 1 Theme Descriptions: Rath, Tom. _StrengthsFinder 2.0_. Gallup Press, 2007. 2 [Comparing and Contrasting CliftonStrengths Themes](https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/250409/comparing-contrasting-cliftonstrengths-themes.aspx) 3 [Activator: Learning to Love All 34 Talent Themes](https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/251432/activator-learning-love-talent-themes.aspx) 4 [The Activator Theme: How to Productively Aim Your CliftonStrengths Talent](https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/249920/activator-theme-productively-aim-your-cliftonstrengths-talent.aspx) 5 [Activator®: How to Feel More Energized at Work](https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/608897/activator-how-to-feel-energized-at-work.aspx) 6 [CliftonStrengths LinkedIn Post](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/cliftonstrengths_activators-cliftonstrengths-achievegoalswithcliftonstrengths-activity-7154865406766186496-mO96)