Analytical®

A theme in the Strategic Thinking domain of CliftonStrengths

People exceptionally talented in the Analytical theme search for reasons and causes. They have the ability to think about all of the factors that might affect a situation.

Full Theme Description

Your Analytical theme challenges other people: “Prove it. Show me why what you are claiming is true.” In the face of this kind of questioning, some will find that their brilliant theories wither and die. For you, this is precisely the point. You do not necessarily want to destroy other people’s ideas, but you do insist that their theories be sound. You see yourself as objective and dispassionate. You like data because they are value free. They have no agenda. Armed with these data, you search for patterns and connections. You want to understand how certain patterns affect one another. How do they combine? What is their outcome? Does this outcome fit with the theory being offered or the situation being confronted? These are your questions. You peel the layers back until, gradually, the root cause or causes are revealed. Others see you as logical and rigorous. Over time, they will come to you in order to expose someone’s “wishful thinking” or “clumsy thinking” to your refining mind. It is hoped that your analysis is never delivered too harshly. Otherwise, others may avoid you when that “wishful thinking” is their own.

This Theme’s Power and Edge

Those with Analytical talents have valuable insights because they are able to uncover the essential facts needed for excellence in any endeavor. This type of thinking helps them and others become clearer about what excellence is and how it can be attained.

How People with Strong Analytical Talents Describe Themselves

• "I am logical and objective in my approach."

• "I need time to think."

• "I love data and facts."

• "I hate things that are not or cannot be proven."

• "I bring dispassionate thinking to emotional issues."

Theme Contrast

Analytical: Helps and Hinders

Helps

• You are a logical thinker. You gather facts and information, and as such, you make sound decisions.

• Your Analytical theme makes you credible — your evidence-based decision making creates trust.

• You have a knack for asking the right people the right questions, gaining insights into what you and your team need to be successful.

• You have a dispassionate approach to decision making, which makes you an asset in highly emotional situations. You can clearly assess the situation and your data-driven approach can calm the storm.

Hinders

• Your Analytical talents can lead you to take emotion out of the decision-making process, which can be perceived by others as uncaring, skeptical or harsh.

• Because you ask a lot of questions, others may see you as someone who always doubts or questions the validity of their work, which can be demoralizing.

• You may tend to keep your thought processes to yourself, and only share your conclusions with others. Your team members need to see and hear your logic — find ways to let others know how you come to the conclusions you reach.

• Due to your focus on evidence and question-asking to assess the soundness of any approach, others may perceive you as negative toward or unsupportive of new initiatives. That is not necessarily the case, so find ways to communicate to your team that your questioning is not about being negative, but is a way of ensuring all factors are taken into consideration to find the best route forward.

If Analytical is a Dominant Theme for You, Take Action to Maximise Your Potential

• Identify credible sources that you can rely on and serve as references for you.

• Choose assignments or work that allows you to analyse data, find patterns or organise ideas.

• Get involved in the early stages of an initiative or project when you are working in a group. You can assess the feasibility and direction of the plan before it gets too far into the process.

• Develop your Analytical skills by sharing ideas with outstanding analysts who specialise in your area.

• Listen to people with strong Strategic, Belief or Empathy talents. Their insights and intuitions are difficult to measure, but their assessments are often accurate and valuable.

• Volunteer your Analytical talent. You can be particularly helpful to those who are struggling to organise a lot of data or needing someone to bring structure to their ideas.

• Think about the issues your team and organization are facing. This time away from the action will help you fully use your analytical mind to get insights into an effective solution.

Potential Blind Spots to Watch Out for

• Your objective and fact-based approach to decision-making may seem skeptical or critical. Keep in mind that others will have emotional, subjective and personal opinions — and that their input is just as valuable as yours is.

• Because you ask many questions, people may think that you always doubt the validity of their ideas, that you do not trust them and that you are tough to work with. Explain your analysis so they will be more likely to trust your process and your motives.

If Analytical Is a Lesser Theme for You

Having less intense Analytical talents does not preclude you from rigorous thought or objective measurement. It may indicate that you more readily accept things at face value or rely more on your intuition.

• Find those among your top themes that help you uncover the objective truth. Arranger or Harmony talents, for example, might help you invite others to share their observations and opinions. Their perspectives could help you see the big picture.

• When you want to solve a problem or discover the cause of an issue, start at the end and work backwards toward the cause, continually asking “why?” You might need to repeat this question several times until the cause of the problem becomes apparent.

• You might perceive too much thinking or questioning to be “paralysis by analysis.” Be careful not to minimise or dismiss the value of asking good questions and thoughtfully examining the facts.

• When you want to act immediately, stop to research objective sources and get others’ advice.

More Resources for Analytical Theme

• Loving Your Theme

• Theme Dynamics

• Strengths-based Leadership

• Focusing on Success

• Highlights from Your CliftonStrengths 34 Report

• Developing Teams and Managers

Source: Gallup®

“Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler.”

— Albert Einstein, physicist