People with strong Harmony talents are at their best when they are bringing a team together toward a common goal or shared vision.

Harmony®

A theme in the Relationship Building domain of CliftonStrengths

People exceptionally talented in the Harmony theme look for consensus. They don’t enjoy conflict; rather, they seek areas of agreement.

 

Full Theme Description

You look for areas of agreement. In your view there is little to be gained from conflict and friction, so you seek to hold these to a minimum.

When you know that the people around you hold differing views, you try to find the common ground. You try to steer them away from confrontation and toward harmony. In fact, harmony is one of your guiding values.

You can't quite believe how much time is wasted by people trying to impose their views on others. Wouldn't we all be more productive if we kept our opinions in check and instead looked for consensus and support? You believe we would, and you live by that belief. When others are sounding off about their goals, their claims, and their fervently held opinions, you hold your peace. When others strike out in a direction, you will, in the service of harmony, willingly modify your own objectives to merge with theirs (as long as their basic values do not clash with yours).

When others start to argue about their pet theory or concept, you steer clear of the debate, preferring to talk about practical, down-to-earth matters on which you can all agree. In your view we are all in the same boat, and we need this boat to get where we are going. It is a good boat. There is no need to rock it just to show that you can.

 

This Theme’s Power and Edge

The particular brilliance of the Harmony theme is its natural practicality and preference for emotional balance. By reducing friction, people especially talented in the Harmony theme can enhance collaboration. They avert many contentious interactions before they start and quickly help others find a resolution.

 

How People with Strong Harmony Talents Describe Themselves

  • "I am calm and even-keeled."

  • "I need areas of agreement and common ground."

  • "I love the sacrifice of personal agendas to facilitate group performance."

  • "I hate the negative effects of friction."

  • "I bring a peace-loving, conflict-resistant style."

 

Theme Contrast

Harmony “Let’s do what works best.”
Belief “I want to do what matters most.”
Harmony “Being interdependent, I willingly defer to experts.”
Self-Assurance “Being independent, I confidently rely on my own expertise.”
 

Harmony Helps and Hinders

Helps

  • You are good at bringing others together, helping them see that what they have in common is more powerful than their differences.

  • You have a natural ability to sense areas of potential conflict. This allows you to step in and find solutions to conflict before it gets out of hand — before the molehill becomes a mountain.

  • You are a practical thinker and can focus on the most basic, fundamental issues that need to be addressed. You can keep your team grounded in reality.

  • Because you look for common ground, others feel valued, respected and heard when they are working with you on a project.

Hinders

  • You naturally do not like conflict and may tend to leave problems unaddressed, hoping that in time they will just go away so you don't have to deal with them. Sometimes, the sooner you deal with a problem, the faster and easier it is resolved — thus restoring the harmony.

  • Your focus on the practicalities of life my cause others to see you as lacking creativity or as unwilling to take risks that might upset the status quo. When a conversation turns to, "What if …," don't be too quick to pull it back to reality. A little dreaming every now and then can be quite productive.

  • Your easygoing nature and desire to get along may lead others to see you as wishy-washy and afraid to take a stand. Instead of being seen as one who will "keep the peace at all costs," strive to be known as one who will "make peace at all costs." Be a proactive negotiator of fair and amicable resolutions to messy problems.

  • Because your natural inclination is toward conflict resolution, you may tend to reach for the easy solution rather than the best, most lasting one. Resist the temptation to put a Band-Aid on a situation that requires surgery.

 

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

  • Stress the value of reaching consensus when working with others.

  • Look for the practical side of things during discussions, and help others see it. Doing this is the starting point of agreement.

  • Build a network of people with different perspectives on whom you can rely when you need expertise. Your openness to other viewpoints will help you learn.

  • Accept the responsibilities of being a good team member. Your willingness to adjust and your tolerance for differing views can become significant strengths.

  • Ask others in the group to share their thoughts when people argue. By increasing the number of voices in the conversation, you are more likely to find areas where all parties can agree. You can draw people together.

  • Enhance your talents by taking a conflict resolution course in an area such as non-verbal communication. The skills and knowledge you learn will combine with your talents to strengthen your ability to handle conflicts.

  • Partner with someone with strong Command or Activator talents to help you confront the conflicts head-on when your best efforts to resolve it don’t work.

 

Potential Blind Spots to Watch Out for

  • In your desire to move conversations toward practical and common-sense decisions, you may frustrate those who want to share broader ideas and opinions. Allow others to express their ideas fully before bringing them back to the task at hand.

  • You may instinctively downplay confrontational situations and try to suppress others from openly airing their ideas and emotions. Recognise and accept that there will be times when conflict is inevitable and that some people will revel in it.

 

If Harmony Is a Lesser Theme for You

Although building consensus and ensuring people get along are not likely your top priorities, this does not mean you enjoy conflict or are unable to build strong teams.

  • Know when to include others’ thoughts and opinions. Your talents may provide a tolerance for or even a willingness to invite dissenting views. Speak up for the importance of including everyone’s ideas when it is appropriate, but understand that there may be times when you need to be selective.

  • Among your top themes, find those that help you during times of interpersonal conflict. Discipline or Focus talents may help you keep others centred on the purpose of the conversation or meeting. Activator or Strategic talents might help you set the stage for meetings or conversations that will include different points of view.

  • Consider taking a class to fine-tune your interpersonal communication skills. Acquiring negotiation skills may help you adapt to different styles and individuals and help you prevent or resolve future disputes or conflicts.

 
 

Source: Gallup®

 
 

“Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.”

— Henry Ford, founder of the Ford Motor Company