How to create a Strengths-based studio culture
The ‘Discover your Designer DNA’ workshop series with Leadership Performance Coach, Jason Biggs, is happening in March 2023 this year across Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch. In this workshop individuals will discover how to deeply understand and apply their individual CliftonStrengths assessment in order to achieve their personal and career goals.
A key theme we’ve been chatting about recently at Design Assembly is how we as a creative industry can do better to foster healthier studio cultures, and therefore healthier people (See recent chats on ‘Metrics that matter when it comes to our people’ and ‘2022 results Never Not Healthy Survey’)
If you’re a Managing Director, Design Director, or in any leadership position at a creative studio or agency, then odds are you’re always working towards that sweet spot which balances the business’ needs with that of its people.
One strategy is to cultivate a strengths-based studio culture, where individuals are encouraged to focus on developing their talents into strengths (the ability to consistently provide near perfect performance). So rather than trying to fix weaknesses which minimise the risk of failure, we can create an environment that drives success through:
- Each team member deeply understanding, applying , and confidently voicing their unique approach to how they work
- Your team has increased empathy for others. We all do things differently, acknowledging that through intentional partnerships we can make our work more impactful
- We have the tools to get right the information from those we work with by adapting our style, leveraging our talents, and most importantly by asking the right questions
This ultimately leads to a better team synergy, achieving greater success and fulfilment for both individuals and on an organisational level.
Fostering a Strengths-based studio culture involves several key components:
- Assess individuals’ strengths: The first step in creating a Strengths-based work culture is to determine each individual’s strengths using the CliftonStrengths assessment. This assessment measures 34 different strength themes and provides individuals with a detailed report of their top five strengths, their 1 in 33 million point of difference. To find out more about the assessment, watch this short video.
- Build upon strengths: Once individuals review their assessment of their innate talents, they can begin to focus further on understanding and developing those talents into strengths. From a leadership perspective, this may involve providing your staff with new development opportunities to use their strengths. For each team member the question to ask is “Is there a particular skill you would like to acquire or opportunity to pursue to help you learn and grow? What is the best way for you to acquire it?
- Create a Strengths-based team: A Strengths-based work culture also involves recognizing and valuing the strengths of others. By encouraging individuals to deeply understand their own natural ways of thinking, feeling, and behaving, we build a team with more empathy who, as a whole, understands and values how we all do things differently. Good questions for the team to share their answers with one another are 1. You get the best of me when… 2. You get the worst of me when… 3. What I promise to do is… 4. What I need from this team is…
- Celebrating successes and progress: This includes acknowledging and rewarding individuals when they use their strengths effectively, as well as celebrating the team’s successes as a whole and in a way that resonates with who they are. For more on this idea check out this video from Simon Sinek. The questions to ask are; What aspect of your work do you find most satisfying? Tell me about the best recognition you have experienced, what was it the best? How would you like to be recognised when you achieve your goals?
This approach can lead to greater success and feelings of fulfilment for each member of your creative team, as well as improved performance and productivity for your creative studio as a whole.
Coming up in March 2023 we’ll be running the “Discover Your Designer DNA” workshop with Leader Performance Coach, Jason Biggs in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch.
Each attendee will uncover their own unique talents and strengths, what they mean, and how to develop them into something they can depend on both at work and at home.
“Jason has worked in the corporate sector for over 20 years, managing teams and marketing brands like NESCAFÉ, KLEENEX and HUGGIES. He helps people understand why they do what they do and to leverage this to get what they want. In the last ten years he has worked with over 50 organisations from senior leadership teams to front line leaders, from large organisations to teams of 5, and has coached hundreds of people.“
Interested in putting a name to the things you do best and how you and those you work with can utilise your strengths on the daily to achieve your goals?
Find out about the “Discover Your Designer DNA” workshop and reserve your spot to attend below:
