Talents & Burnout: Arranger

By Chad T. Ahern

"People  exceptionally talented in the Arranger theme can organize, but they also have a flexibility that complements this ability. The like to determine how all of the pieces and resources can be arranged for maximum productivity."
- Gallup CliftonStrengths Themes Quick Reference Guide - 

Burnout Concerns

Having team members with Arranger talents is ideal in times of crisis & change because of their ability to arrange and rearrange people and resources. As you help your team define your new world of work, those with Arranger talents may be pushed toward burnout when:

• So many new pieces have been put on the board -- video conferencing, webinars, daily-changing direction, new digital platforms, new websites, new requests, and new challenges to old problems. The time and effort one must invest in understanding each new piece takes away from efforts to actually put them in play. If you're used to putting together 1,000 piece jigsaw puzzles and now you're being asked to put together a brand new, 5,000, 3D, jigsaw puzzle; it might lead to frustration and burnout.
  
  
• So MANY pieces are suddenly absent. If your Arranger-talented team members are used to arranging a certain level of resources (human, financial, physical, electronic, etc.) and then those pieces disappear because of layoffs, decreased financial resources, or diminished / eliminated physical locations, then team members with Arranger talents might soon find "holes" in their metaphorical puzzle and could also lead to frustration.
  
  
• There isn't clarity about precisely what they need to "arrange" for. When cataclysmic change occurs (like our current COVID-19 pandemic) and we are redefining new work paradigms, then teammates with Arranger talents might be frustrated when teams aren't clear on exactly what they want to accomplish. Without this clarity, they can't put the right people and resources in the right places to fulfill the cause. 

Addressing Burnout

As a leader you can help people still use their Arranger talents, manage frustration, and avoid burnout by:

• Assist them in defining the right "puzzle(s)"; particularly in times of rapid change. Be clear about what the team or organization must accomplish. This way your Arranger-talented teammates can focus on what resources or people must be put in play.
  
  
• Keep them updated on which pieces are still viable. When change happens quickly it can be tough to keep track of which resources still exist (for those that are being eliminated).
  
  
• Similarly, update them on which pieces are being added and why. Be aware as you do, that if too many pieces are being added all at once it can also cause frustration and/or burnout. To alleviate this situation, help them evaluate and "prioritize" the resources. Help them figure out which pieces much be part of the solution, and which ones might just serve as add-ons.
  
  
• Be sure they have your trust. Trust is critical for those with Arranger talents, even when not in the midst of dramatic change. Reinforcing your base of trust with actions and regular communication will put your Arranger teammates at greater ease as they tackle evermore complex situations.

As with coaching and supporting any individual, their combined set of talent themes will effect how their Arranger talents show up, and how to best manage them. If nothing else, when you check in with them ask: 

What puzzles or projects are you tackling in this moment and what pieces do you still feel you (or we) need?

Photo by Ross Sneddon on Unsplash