“My husband drives me crazy with his pipe dreams! He has no clue where we’d get the money for most of his hairbrained ideas!”
“Can you believe it? That kid from the mailroom stood in line all night for the latest iPhone! Bah! Let him pay a fortune for all that new technology! I’m happy with my Blackberry.”
“She always has her head in the clouds! I need her to focus on what we’ve got going on RIGHT NOW. We’ve got a deadline to hit!”
StrengthsFinder Futuristic — Always looking forward.
Strengths: Innovative and Forward
Are you frustrated by the people in your life who seem to space out of where they are right now and live in the future? Who seem to talk nonstop about what’s going to happen six months from now, or two years from now or a decade away? Maybe their ideas sound a bit far-fetched and impractical? Or maybe they are always researching and studying new technologies, or learning about futuristic — and sometimes outrageous — gadgets. They might even say, “I’m going to ______ (fill in the blank),” about something they’re planning to do later — months or years away.
These people in your life may have the StrengthsFinder talent theme of Futuristic.
Futuristic: Visionary
Those who are high in Futuristic are brilliant visionaries! They have the ability to see images in great detail and can see amazing possibilities of the future. They often imagine the future as if it has already happened, although they innately understand that the future is ever changing. Sometimes, they can even smell, touch or feel something within their imaginations and for them, if feels or sounds or tastes real — like it’s happening right now.
They love innovation — new technologies, new ways of doing things. They like to push the boundaries of what is possible. You may find them on top of certain inventions and improvements that create a better product, service or idea. Or maybe they have a passion in a favorite niche — like new gardening techniques on hydroponic growing systems. Whatever captures their interest, the Futuristic thinker is always enamored by what could be. And they are often more than willing to give up something now, in order to have a better future.
Futuristic: Looking far ahead.
Always Looking Ahead
My friend, Tim, is high in Futuristic. He is a strategic business coach who is always pushing the envelope by taking traditional businesses and seeing the possibilities of how that business can grow into the future. He’s up on techie stuff, and he is always talking about the next greatest bell and whistle. All I have to do is listen to him to know what might be coming down the pipe!
Love Your Futuristic Thinker
So the next time it feels like someone in your life with Futuristic is driving you crazy with their heads in outer space, ask them what they see. They love to talk about their visions! Refrain from judging them or peppering them with questions for details because they may not have all their ducks in a row. Their ideas may seem like they’re from a distant planet, but as they think and process and share their thoughts and visions, the more they will be refined, giving you the details you crave.
Give them space and time to dream and visualize and play hi-tech. Even if it means watching fondly as they dress up in science fiction costumes, or play with robots, or geek-out over Star Trek or have a secret crush on Hans Solo, understand that they have a perspective far ahead of our time — one that YOU can’t see without them.
When working with someone strong in Futuristic, ask yourself: Where do we NEED ideas for the future, for innovation, for long-term planning?
Find all your Strengthsfinder resources at http://gallupstrengthscenter.com.
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