# Self Assurance 自信 (zì xìn) Domain: 🟧 Influencing ### Signature Theme Description Self-Assurance is similar to self-confidence. In the deepest part of you, you have faith in your strengths. You know that you are able —able to take risks, able to meet new challenges, able to stake claims and, most important, able to deliver. But Self-Assurance is more than just self-confidence. Blessed with the theme of Self-Assurance, you have confidence not only in your abilities but in your judgment. When you look at the world, you know that your perspective is unique and distinct. And because no one sees exactly what you see, you know that no one can make your decisions for you. No one can tell you what to think. They can guide. They can suggest. But you alone have the authority to form conclusions, make decisions and act. This authority, this final accountability for the living of your life, does not intimidate you. On the contrary, it feels natural to you. No matter what the situation, you seem to know what the right decision is. This theme lends you an aura of certainty. Unlike many, you are not easily swayed by someone else’s arguments, no matter how persuasive they may be. This Self-Assurance may be quiet or loud, depending on your other themes, but it is solid. It is strong. Like the keel of a ship, it withstands many different pressures and keeps you on your course. ### Shared Theme Description People exceptionally talented in the Self-Assurance theme feel confident in their ability to take risks and manage their own lives. They have an inner compass that gives them certainty in their decisions. ### Additional notes: - Those high in Self-Assurance are confident in their own ability to lead their own lives, make the right decisions, and successfully reach goals without much advice or help from others. There is a self-reliance to the Self-Assurance theme that is particularly influential; people tend to follow those who know where they are going. (source: 2) - Individuals with Self-Assurance in their Top 5 don't tend to ask for a lot of advice, and when they do it is typically to confirm what they are already thinking. (source: 2) - Those with high Self-Assurance need to be in control of their own destiny, and they take steps to ensure that they are. (source: 2) - They are confident in what they do well, and not threatened by others who are talented in areas where they are not. They will recruit and recognize talented individuals, secure in their own abilities. (source: 2) You're willing to take necessary risks, and you might believe and really understand that your perspective is unique and different. It's really that you don't really need other people's input in order to make a decision, and that might mean that over the course of your life, you've had other people seek out your advice because it's something that they can't find anywhere else. (source: 3) They're not easily swayed by popular opinions or trends. This might translate as confidence. But I've coached plenty of people with Self-Assurance who tell me they don't feel confident and they don't like it when it looks like confidence on their talent profile. And I think if we really dive into Self-Assurance, it's not the same thing as all-encompassing confidence. But what it does equal, is trusting yourself more than you trust outside influence. And when that happens, when someone knows they're certain about what they're doing, they can look pretty unstoppable. And that can look like confidence. (source: 5) There is a very attractive quality in certainty. Unwavering, unquestioning clarity that can accelerate a team when they need to take action. Sometimes, especially in times of chaos, what you need most is not the option to explore. It is someone to have an internal truth that they trust, so that you can get your feet underneath you and and move forward. (source: 5) Typically, people with Self-Assurance don't believe they can and should do everything. But when it comes to their own self-concept, they do have that kind of certainty about their own talents and how they can best contribute and how they can best serve others. And that sets other people up really well. (source: 5) ### Helps and Hinders _**Helps**_ - You exude confidence in your decisions and guidance, and that instills confidence in others. - You have an entrepreneurial approach to your work, which drives you to confidently set out into uncharted territory rather than shying away from risks others may not be willing to take. - When you make a decision you know is right, your confidence in the direction you set inspires others to follow. - You know what you do well, and you like to surround yourself with others who are as confident in their abilities as you are in yours. You are not threatened by others' excellence -- and this enables you to build world-class teams. _**Hinders**_ - You are your own person and set out on your own path, regardless of who may or may not follow. If you find yourself swimming upstream by yourself more often than not, it may be time to re-evaluate your communication and interpersonal skills. As the old saying goes, "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together." - Others may often experience your confidence as arrogance. Being self-confident does not mean you have to be unkind. - You might not only be perceived as stubborn; you might actually be stubborn. Sometimes the most effective way to create followership is to admit when you've made a mistake. Then, correct your course and ask others for their input. - Because you speak with confidence, others might be hesitant to ask questions. Be sure to give people opportunities to ask questions, gain clarity and provide input. While your initial thinking might be on target, the additional dialogue and input will only elevate the outcome. (source: 4) ### Raw vs Mature Raw Self-Assurance is a lone soldier who doesn't need to know they have an entire army behind them to go out into battle. Self-Assurance does not qualify their decisions based on the feelings of others. It can be a powerful thing, but it can also be a dangerous thing. It can lead to jumping in and going for it without assessing risk. The mature side can be the tip of a spear. It is being comfortable being there and going alone, but knowing that perhaps you don't have to. You just have to go first. It is the ability to connect people to a cause because you are representing it with such courage and bravery. It is the mentality of me vs. we. If you are leading and no one is following, you are not really leading. You are just out there by yourself. Mature lends you that ability to get to lead from the front, and instill the confidence and trust in the people you are pulling behind you. Raw can be closed off. You don't need anyone, anything or any information. It can lead to missing social queues, as well as credible information. Going with your gut decisions, rather than looking for opinions. This can lead to a sense of isolation. Mature is connected. It is plugging in to a cause, and building the credibility around it. Most people with Self-Assurance do not want to talk about it. They don't want to claim the power of it when it's at its most mature. Self-Assurance is not synonymous with self-confidence, but rather courage. Raw Self-Assurance is just that courage. It is the blind ability to factor yourself into the equation. You are there without armor, because you are an important part to solving the problem. The mature side is confidence. What drives you from one end of the spectrum to the other is credibility. It is a quest for knowledge, experience and subject matter expertise. The more credibility you have, the more confidence you can bring. ### Ideas for Action #CS/Self-Assurance🟧 and #CS/Command🟧 and #CS/Activator🟧 Seek roles in which you convince people to see your point of view. Your **Self-Assurance** talents (especially when combined with **Command** or **Activator** talents) can be extremely persuasive. Leadership, sales, legal or entrepreneurial roles might suit you. (source: 1) #CS/Self-Assurance🟧 and #CS/Strategic🟩 and #CS/Deliberative🟪 and #CS/Futuristic🟩 Partner with someone with strong **Strategic**, **Deliberative** or **Futuristic** talents. This person can help you assess the goals to which you commit. You need this help because once you set your sights on a goal, you are likely to stay with it until you achieve it. (source: 1) ^3ee889 ![[🟧 CS_Activator#^d257ec]] ### With other Themes #CS/Self-Assurance🟧 and #CS/Belief🟪 Certainty is a common denominator of both Self-Assurance and Belief, so the outcomes and behaviors can look similar. • For **Self-Assurance,** that certainty comes from trust in oneself, while for **Belief** certainty comes from trust in truth outside of oneself -- values, ethics, mission, etc. • Those with strong **Belief** talents are passionate and uncompromising about core values; those with strong **Self-Assurance** are internally confident in the midst of uncertainty. This "unwavering" quality of both Self-Assurance and Belief is attractive to those looking for someone to follow. • **Belief** can be seen as rigid or inflexible when it comes to core values; **Self-Assurance** can be seen as rigid and inflexible when it comes to personal autonomy. (source: 2) ^5508fb #CS/Self-Assurance🟧 and #CS/Strategic🟩 Both **Self-Assurance** and **Strategic** are forward-looking and forward-moving themes. • Those with strong **Self-Assurance** talents internally know the best route to take; those with strong **Strategic** themes assess options to determine the best route to take. • **Strategic** sorts between options; **Self-Assurance** trusts intuition. • Individuals high in **Strategic** look outward with great peripheral vision, seeing the entire playing field; those high in **Self-Assurance** look inward, paying attention to their internal compass. • **Strategic** tends to have a back-up plan and makes course corrections along the way; those high in **Self-Assurance** tend to be confident in the original path they've set out upon. (source: 2) ^f8cfc6 #CS/Self-Assurance🟧 and #CS/Discipline🟪 Both **Self-Assurance** and **Discipline** are part of a theme "package" centering around an orientation towards self. As such, both themes display a confidence about them that makes them somewhat similar in some aspects. • **Self-Assurance** is primarily about self-confidence, whereas **Discipline** is primarily about self-control. • But while those with **Discipline** need structure, predictability, and routine, **Self-Assurance** needs freedom, autonomy, and independence. • Both have a confidence in their decision making. The confidence from those high in **Discipline** comes from having a well thought out and detailed plan -- and then executing the plan. The confidence from those high in Self-Assurance comes from within -- knowing or feeling that this is the right direction to take, and then taking it. (source: 2) ^1ae74c #CS/Self-Assurance🟧 and #CS/Command🟧 Command is more about the ability to quickly and effortlessly delegate and guide others. It's almost more external than Self-Assurance is; Self-Assurance is about your own internal confidence to manage your life, to manage your decisions. (source: 5) ^75fe07 ![[🟧 CS_Significance#^22c618]] ![[🟧 CS_Command#^3c204c]] ![[🟧 CS_Woo#^0e4aff]] ### Themes that Moderate Empathy, Relator, Includer, Harmony, Connectedness, Woo (source: 4) ### Themes that Intensify Command, Activator, Competition, Achiever, Belief, Discipline (source: 4) ### Comments From Social Media #CS/Self-Assurance🟧 and #CS/Discipline🟪 Self-Assurance gives me confidence in my instincts, Discipline keeps me grounded in structure. It’s like having an inner compass and a roadmap at the same time. [Sherry S](https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:ugcPost:7298714449501114368?commentUrn=urn%3Ali%3Acomment%3A%28ugcPost%3A7298714449501114368%2C7298778267895934976%29&dashCommentUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afsd_comment%3A%287298778267895934976%2Curn%3Ali%3AugcPost%3A7298714449501114368%29) ### Instagram Posts ![[CliftonStrengths_Self-Assurance_1.png |220]] ![[CliftonStrengths_Self-Assurance_2.png|220]] #CS/Self-Assurance🟧 and #CS/Belief🟪 ![[CliftonStrengths_Self-Assurance_Belief_1.png|220]] ![[CliftonStrengths_Self-Assurance_Belief_2.png|220]] ![[CliftonStrengths_Self-Assurance_Belief_3.png|220]] #CS/Self-Assurance🟧 and #CS/Discipline🟪 ![[CliftonStrengths_Self-Assurance_Discipline_1.png|220]] ![[CliftonStrengths_Self-Assurance_Discipline_2.png|220]] ![[CliftonStrengths_Self-Assurance_Discipline_3.png|220]] #CS/Self-Assurance🟧 and #CS/Strategic🟩 ![[CliftonStrengths_Self-Assurance_Strategic_1.png|220]] ![[CliftonStrengths_Self-Assurance_Strategic_2.png|220]] ![[CliftonStrengths_Self-Assurance_Strategic_3.png|220]] ------------ ### 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. [Self-Assurance: Highlights From Your CliftonStrengths 34](https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/268286/self-assurance-highlights-cliftonstrengths.aspx) 4. [How You Can Productively Aim Your Self-Assurance Talents](https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/249485/productively-aim-self-assurance-talents.aspx) 5. [CliftonStrengths Self-Assurance Theme: Teams and Managers](https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/310634/cliftonstrengths-self-assurance-theme-teams-managers.aspx)