“I swear, my boss is a dictator! He’s constantly demanding things and shaking things up and in my face. I don’t know how much more I can take!”
“There’s no doubt who wears the pants in THAT house! What ever she says rules.”
“That new sales manager is pretty controlling, don’t you think? I wouldn’t be surprised to see “heads roll” by the end of the month. He won’t tolerate any slackers, that’s for sure!”
Command: Challenging for clarity
Strengths: Challenging and Clear
Is there someone in your life who is constantly challenging you over your decisions? Maybe they pepper you with questions when you turn in your reports. Or maybe they demand answers in a way that seems overbearing and over-the-top. Perhaps you feel like you are constantly defending yourself and your position whenever they’re around?
You may have bumped up against someone strong in the StrengthsFinder talent theme of Command.
Command TAKES Leadership Roles
Those especially talented in Command TAKE leadership positions — and “take” is an operative word. If they see something they feel is not being done to their satisfaction or detect weakness of any kind in areas they believe are important, they have no problem taking control of the situation. They MUST take control because they must lead others. They are natural leaders in most every area of their lives. They’re not going to wait around watching someone bumble a project or not produce results. They’re going to step in, challenge decisions, and lead others to where they believe they should go.
They have a strong and powerful energy — a presence. You know the minute they walk into a room, shoulders squared, ready to confront anything that doesn’t align with their goals. They do not back down from conflict — in fact, they welcome it because they know that by challenging areas of weakness they see will make everyone clear on what needs to be done. On a group project, they will immediately position themselves as the one in charge.
They Need to be in Command
Command: in charge in an emergency
My friend, MarySue, is high in Command. She’s an emergency room doctor who is absolutely in charge when a patient comes in for urgent care. She takes control of every situation immediately, and directs nurses to do things quickly to ensure those in her charge get the best care possible. I can think of no one I’d rather have handling an urgent medical situation.
Loving Your Commander
The next time you run into someone who is commanding and who seems to push to take over, ask them to help you understand the goals or the mission they see. Understand that they are not being deliberately bossy, but are naturally cutting through the clutter to direct the outcome they are wanting. Find ways to put them in leadership roles before they take them, as they have an energy that attracts others to follow. They offer a safe harbor for those who need direction.
Ask yourself: where do we need powerful leadership? They could be the very ones who will guide others most effectively.
For more information about StrengthsFinder, visit www.GallupStrengthsCenter.com.
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