Talents & Burnout: Consistency®

By Chad T. Ahern

"People exceptionally talented in the Consistency theme are keenly aware of the need to treat people the same. They crave stable routines and clear rules and
​procedures that everyone can follow."
- Gallup CliftonStrengths® Theme Quick Reference Guide

Burnout Concerns

In a world that is full of change right now, those with Consistency® talents can easily be pushed toward burnout in the following ways:

• Those with this talent theme want things to remain relatively unchanged. With so waves of change hitting so quickly, intensely, and repeatedly they can be left leaving exhausted trying to adapt.
  
  
• With “rhythms” of business (e.g. the typical occurrences throughout the year) now disrupted, thrown out, or accelerated they can begin to feel un-moored; especially from traditional time frame landmarks.
  
  
• As new work arrangements are launched, they can be left unsure of how to connect and work with their closest colleagues – especially if there were great practices in place beforehand.
  
  
• Asking -- or worse, requiring -- them to redesign a work product in the midst of change is going to lead to frustration and burnout. (e.g. recreating a budget right now in light of new or decreased funding; whereas they normally create a budget once at the beginning of their organization's fiscal calendar and then depend on it for the rest of the year.)
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• They may bristle at seeing individuals (or groups of people) receiving different accommodations, or being required to go above and beyond when others don’t have to.

Addressing Burnout

While change might be pose challenges to those with Consistency® talents, they can provide teams a stabilizing force in the midst of chaos. Like a keel on a ship, they can buffer against the winds blowing on the sails. To get the best out of them and help ensure they don't burnout, you as a leader or teammates can:
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• Be aware of and respect, as best you can, what patterns and routines are most important to team members with these talents.
  
  
• Minimize “on the fly” requests or changes to processes
  
  
• Set up new routines your Consistency® -inspired team members can count on.
  
  
• Focus on how the organization is looking to maintain “consistency” with health guidelines as each person needs to complete their specific and unique role. 
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• Invite them to be part of developing the “new world of work” policies and procedures people can count on going forward.  

As with coaching any individual, their combined set of talent themes will effect how their Consistency® talents show up, and how to best manage them. As a beginning, next time you check-in with them, ask

Right now, what do you feel is most important to
keep the same?

Photo by Jason Dent on Unsplash

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