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The Strengths Connection Part 6: Maximizing Team Performance

Writer's picture: Jen PasqualeJen Pasquale

Updated: Jan 30

Part 6 of our 8-part Strengths Connection Series


Welcome back to our sixth installment of the Strengths Development Series! I’m Jen Pasquale, founder of Lead with Curiosity, and I’m excited to guide you through today’s discussion on how strengths-based work impacts teams.


For the following two videos in this series, we’ll shift focus to team dynamics and how leveraging individual strengths enhances collective performance. One of the primary tools I use when working with teams on talent awareness is the team grid—a powerful visual that summarizes the strengths of every team member.



For readers, we've summarized the essential highlights of the video below.


Understanding the Team Grid

The team grid is more than just a collection of data—it’s a dynamic map that highlights the talents and gaps within a team. By plotting out where everyone’s top talents lie, we can see patterns of strength and areas that may need more attention.


For example, I recently worked with a team in the HR space where the grid revealed a strong presence of relationship-building talents. Many team members led with talents like Empathy, Developer, and Relator—skills that make them exceptional at connecting with others and building trust. However, this people-focus also revealed an important risk: these individuals carried an emotional and mental load by consistently being available for others.


The Impact of Strengths on Team Well-Being

Through this process, we discovered that the team was pouring a lot of energy into emotionally supporting peers and clients. While this is an incredible strength, it also became clear that the team needed intentional opportunities for self-investment. Their leader quickly recognized the need to create space for the team to recharge, celebrate wins, and focus on their own development.

Strengths-based development isn’t just about recognizing talent; it’s about ensuring teams have the right balance and support. In this case, the team needed to take breaks from emotional labor to avoid burnout and to keep performing at their best.


Strengths Gaps and Strategic Thinking

On the other hand, I’ve worked with teams that have a concentration of strategic thinking talents. This is where strengths like Analytical, Futuristic, and Intellection dominate the grid. For these teams, the challenge often lies in execution—sometimes projects stall because of overthinking, or decisions may lack a people-focused perspective.


In these cases, the team grid helps leaders balance the workload. They can ensure that relationship-building and executing efforts are present in discussions to round out the thinking process. Knowing who to tap into for specific talents becomes a game-changer for team collaboration.


Enhancing Team Productivity

The team grid also serves as a valuable tool for leaders. By understanding the strengths and gaps within their teams, leaders can ensure that each individual has what they need to do their best work. This is where we see retention, productivity, and overall team efficiency improvements.


When teams operate in alignment with their strengths, they become more engaged and productive. Projects run smoother because team members can contribute in ways that fit their natural talents.


Strengths in Action

Strengths-based development is more than an individual exercise. It’s about building a team where everyone knows how to leverage their strengths and collaborate with others to fill in gaps. When leaders use tools like the team grid, they not only see individual talents but also get a clear picture of how those talents influence team dynamics.


Thank you for joining me for this installment of the Strengths Development Series!


Stay tuned for our next session, where we’ll continue to explore how team dynamics are transformed through strengths work.

Until then, stay curious!




Gallup®, CliftonStrengths®, StrengthsFinder®, the 34 CliftonStrengths® Talent Theme Names® and Domains® are all trademarks of Gallup, Inc. Copyright © 2022 Gallup, Inc. All rights reserved.

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