People strong in the Individualization theme are intrigued with the unique qualities of each person. They have a gift for figuring out how people who are different can work together productively.

 

You can tell a person strong in Individualization by these attributes (source: Dr. Hulme, APU):

More about Individualization:

• Needs on a team: To appreciate uniqueness in people
• As a Leader: Join people together
  
• In Conflict: Recognize varying viewpoints
• Partner with: NONE LISTED
• In academics: – loves the uniqueness of others – will enjoy reading about people and studying different cultures – appreciates profs that value diversity and allow students to design their own assignments – will not want to be treated as a “typical” student but will expect the advisor to appreciate their uniqueness and help them plan courses that are especially suited to their learning style or other needs – will enjoy courses with lots of class discussion where they can learn from others – tends to enjoy literature, sociology, psychology, and other courses about people

• Overall, Individualization ranks 13th, occurring in around 16% of the population’s Top Five (17% of Females and 15% of Males)

Individualization may be one of your signature themes if…

• You love the uniqueness of each person and differences that individuals bring to the table.
• You dislike generalizations and stereotypes that seek to classify people into categories.
• You like looking at how each person thinks, builds relationships, and finds motivation.
• You are very thoughtful at picking out gifts for others.
• You understand that some people appreciate public praise, while others do not.
• You are a keen observer and can see the strengths in people.
• You work productively in teams.
  • Source: Let’s Talk Personality

A more detailed explanation from Gallup:

Your Individualization theme leads you to be intrigued by the unique qualities of each person. You are impatient with generalizations or “types” because you don’t want to obscure what is special and distinct about each person. Instead, you focus on the differences between individuals. You instinctively observe each person’s style, each person’s motivation, how each thinks, and how each builds relationships. You hear the one-of-a-kind stories in each person’s life. This theme explains why you pick your friends just the right birthday gift, why you know that one person prefers praise in public and another detests it, and why you tailor your teaching style to accommodate one person’s need to be shown and another’s desire to “figure it out as I go.” Because you are such a keen observer of other people’s strengths, you can draw out the best in each person. This Individualization theme also helps you build productive teams. While some search around for the perfect team “structure” or “process,” you know instinctively that the secret to great teams is casting by individual strengths so that everyone can do a lot of what they do well.

Action Items for This Theme

• Select a vocation in which your Individualization theme can be both appreciated and used, such as counseling, supervising, teaching, writing human interest articles or selling. Your ability to see people one by one is a special talent.
• Become an expert in describing your own strengths and style. For example, answer questions such as these: What is the best praise you ever received? How often do you like to check in with your manager? What is your best method for building relationships?
• How do you learn best?
• Ask these same questions of your colleagues and friends. Help them plan their future by starting with their strengths, then designing a future based on what they do best.
• Make your colleagues and friends aware of each person’s unique needs. Soon people will look to you to explain other people’s motivations and actions.
• Study successful people to discover the uniqueness that made them successful.
  Consider that you might be able to write a novel.

Be ready to:

• Help others understand that true diversity can be found in only the subtle differences between each individual, regardless of race, sex, or nationality.
• Explain that it is appropriate, just, and effective to treat each person differently. Those without strong Individualization might not see the differences among individuals and might insist that Individualization is unequal and therefore unfair. You will need to describe your perspective in detail in order to be persuasive.
  • The Clifton StrengthsFinder and the 34 Clifton StrengthsFinder theme names are protected by copyright of Gallup Inc., 2000. All rights reserved.

For the more visually inclined:

 

 

 

Podcast episodes to help you understand and leverage your Individualization Strength

• Episode 1: Appreciating Uniqueness – “The Enneagram Journey”
• Episode 2: Understanding Personality Traits – “The Personality Hacker Podcast”
• Episode 3: Navigating Individual Differences – “The Psychology Podcast”
• Episode 4: Customizing Strategies for Success – “The Tim Ferriss Show”
• Episode 5: Personalized Approaches to Growth and Development – “The High-Performing Student Podcast”
• Episode 6: Women Leaders Embracing Individual Differences – “The Confident Woman Podcast” (Host: Sherry Parks)
• Episode 7: The Individualizing Woman: Navigating Diversity in Leadership – “Women Who Lead” (Host: Andrena Sawyer)
• Episode 8: Celebrating Uniqueness: Insights from Women in Leadership – “The Female CEO” (Host: Stacey Sargison)

Listen to great Strengths Podcasts

• Theme addicts is a series created by UnleashStrengths to highlight the massive impact the StrengthsFinder assessment through interviews and discussions.
• Lead through your strengths features many interesting guests and Career Q and A about leverage your strengths at work.
• Maximize Your Strengths features interviews and discussion on developing your strengths. She really drills into each of the themes by interviewing real people on how a specific theme shows up in their lives.
• Called to Coach is a webcast resource for those who want to help others discover and use their strengths. We have Gallup experts and independent strengths coaches share tactics, insights and strategies to help coaches maximize the talent of individuals, teams and organizations around the world.
• ISOGO TV promises a lot: So dramatically increase your energy and decrease your frustration at work, that you cannot help but take the Strengths paradigm home to your family. Fueling life-changing stories.
• The True Strength Podcast by Ian Pettigrew (Kingfisher Coaching) features inspiring true stories of how people succeed through applying their strengths and being resilient. It often includes a Gallup StrengthsFinder profile.
• If you are looking to identify and develop your strengths and talents, take calculated risks and make decisions, The Strengths Revolution with Steve Morgan will help your personal development, as well as helping you support your clients, employees, teams and wider organisations. Knowing your strengths will also support positive risk-taking and decision making as part of good risk management.

 

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Sources:

• Balconies and Basements
• Leadership, team and conflict
• The Genius and Beauty of Strengths
• Strengths-based academic Advising
• Strengths partnerships