StrengthsFinder Discussion: Achiever

Jeremy: Our StrengthsFinder discussion continues with “Achiever.”  To very briefly summarize achiever these are the people who have the need to set goals and accomplish them daily.  These are people that are at their best when they are busy and rarely need additional motivation.  Jenny, you and I don’t have achiever in our top five strengths.  When you read the description of an achiever, what insights do you gain in working with the achievers in our office?

Jenny: The insights that stand out the most to me about working with these individuals are that they like more leeway in their positions, don’t need much motivation from a supervisor but do need to feel a sense of accomplishment on a daily basis. Personally, I enjoy working with achievers because of their strong desire to learn and tackle tasks head first on their own. The self-motivation is absolutely inspiring. What insights do you gain working with achievers, Jeremy?

Jeremy: I agree with you on all counts Jenny.  I really will seek to align with the achievers among us to get things done and reach goals.  I think it’s so cool to be able to lean on them when we want to complete a task.  One of my favorite insights when talking to one of our sales guys, Craig was in relation to rewards.  You are well aware of my affinity for Starbucks gift cards.  I love to give them and I love to receive them.  I found out Craig doesn’t think much of them and often gives them out as Christmas gifts.  His real reward is when he achieves his goal and then he moves on to the next one.

Here’s a tough question for you to wrap this up.  What about the achiever strength would you have once viewed as a weakness but you now see it as a strength?

Jenny: Wow, you really did end this with a tough question! I’m not sure if this is the best answer, since I don’t necessarily see it as a weakness but rather something that I personally just cannot comprehend:

After each accomplishment is reached, the fire dwindles for a moment, but very soon it rekindles itself, forcing you toward the next accomplishment.

In my mind, if I achieve something, I’m going to mentally sit with it, analyze it and appreciate it for a while before I really move forward. This may sound silly, but I want that fire to stay with me rather than dwindle. I find it amazing how Craig and other achievers can put so much focus and time into one project and once it’s done, move right onto the next without a second thought. Am I making any sense?

Jeremy: Yeah that makes sense to me Jenny.  I think the thing that I might have previously viewed as a weakness is the fact that these people are driven to work really hard and sometimes long hours.  As a manager, I’m sensitive to not wanting to overload and burn my team out but achievers have a different approach.  They are hard workers and are truly up for the challenge.  The wheels in my head are already spinning as to how we can work better with the achievers in our midst.  What a great discussion!  Stay tuned for our next StrengthsFinder discussion about the “Restorative” theme coming soon.