People with strong Individualization talents are at their best when they are noticing and appreciating others’ unique characteristics and treating each person accordingly.
Individualization®
A theme in the Relationship Building domain of CliftonStrengths
People exceptionally talented in the Individualization theme are intrigued with the unique qualities of each person. They have a gift for figuring out how different people can work together productively.
Full Theme Description
Your Individualization theme leads you to be intrigued by the unique qualities of each person. You are impatient with generalisations or "types" because you don't want to obscure what is special and distinct about each person. Instead, you focus on the differences between individuals.
You instinctively observe each person's style, each person's motivation, how each thinks, and how each builds relationships. You hear the one-of-a-kind stories in each person's life. This theme explains why you pick your friends just the right birthday gift, why you know that one person prefers praise in public and another detests it, and why you tailor your teaching style to accommodate one person's need to be shown and another's desire to "figure it out as I go."
Because you are such a keen observer of other people's strengths, you can draw out the best in each person. This Individualization theme also helps you build productive teams. While some search for the perfect team "structure" or "process," you know instinctively that the secret to great teams is casting by individual strengths so that everyone can do a lot of what they do well.
This Theme’s Power and Edge
People with strong Individualization talents notice and appreciate the unique characteristics of each person and can customise their approach accordingly. Like a casting director, they use their intelligence about people to position them to do what they do best. This creates a type of team synergy that leads to a more enjoyable experience and increased effectiveness.
How People with Strong Individualization Talents Describe Themselves
"I am a customiser."
"I need expectations that are tailored for each individual."
"I love people getting to do what they do best."
"I hate a one-size-fits-all approach."
"I bring an understanding of people and where they fit best."
Theme Contrast
| Individualization | "I know who you are.” |
| Relator | “I want to know you, and I want you to know me.” |
| Individualization | Starts with a person and finds the right job for them |
| Arranger | Starts with a job that needs to get done and finds the right person for it |
Individualization Helps and Hinders
Helps
You instinctively notice and appreciate the unique characteristics of each person. You find what they do well and help them contribute those strengths every day.
You are intuitive about people and notice slight shifts in body language, tone of voice and facial expressions. This allows you to tailor your message and individualise your delivery for maximum receptivity.
Because you treat each person you meet differently, depending on their unique perspectives and needs, others feel you understand and care about them.
You are a good partner at work; you know what your partners do best. This allows you to bring what you do best and mesh it with what your partners do best for a productive outcome.
Hinders
Your need to customise your approach for every person and situation can slow things down. Sometimes a standardised approach can be more efficient, more productive and fairer in the long run.
Your intuition about the uniqueness of each individual you meet can cause you to make assumptions about who they really are. Don't assume; ask. Start a conversation and really listen.
The "dark side" of Individualization is often manipulation. Because you are attuned to the uniqueness of each person, you may also instinctively know which "buttons to push" to get what you want. Manipulation is one of the fastest ways to break trust. When people feel manipulated, they will rarely — if ever — trust you again.
With your strong need not only to treat people uniquely but also to be treated uniquely yourself, you may take the approach that the rules don't apply to you. This can make you difficult to work with and get you into trouble. Realise that most rules and regulations, no matter how personally inconvenient they may be, serve a purpose and prevent chaos and anarchy.
If Individualization is a Dominant Theme for You, Take Action to Maximise Your Potential
Become an expert in describing your own strengths and style. For example, answer questions such as “What is the best praise you have ever received?” “How often do you like to check in with your manager?” “What is your best method for building relationships?” and “How do you learn best?”
Ask your colleagues and friends these same questions. Help them plan their future by starting with their strengths and then building a future based on what they do best.
Make your colleagues and friends aware of each person’s unique motivations and needs.
See the great talents in people, and encourage them to follow their own dreams. Help them understand and maximise the power of their talents.
Study successful people to discover what makes them successful.
Help others understand that true diversity can be found in the subtle differences between each individual, regardless of race, sex or nationality.
Explain that it is appropriate, just and effective to treat each person differently. Those without strong Individualization talents might not see people’s differences and believe Individualization is unfair. You will need to describe your perspective in detail to be persuasive.
Potential Blind Spots to Watch Out for
You often know more about others than they know about you, and when people don’t naturally show awareness of your likes, dislikes, motivations and needs, this may disappoint you. Recognise that you will need to share your preferences with people, and don’t assume they will instinctively know.
Your natural impulse is to put individual needs and goals ahead of what is best for the group. To prevent the appearance of favouritism and bias, acknowledge that sometimes you will need to adjust your style for the greater good.
If Individualization Is a Lesser Theme for You
Lacking the intensity of the Individualization theme does not mean that you fail to recognise the different personalities, motivations and aspirations of others. It might mean that you rely on a structured approach that ensures fair treatment.
It may sound simple, but sometimes you might just need to remind yourself that everyone is different — people have their own unique experiences, values, talents and filters.
One way to better understand what makes people tick is to ask them specific questions about their motivations, needs, interests and experiences. Make a list of good questions and use them often when meeting and interacting with others.
When choosing tokens of appreciation or recognition for team members, think about their favourite hobbies, sports teams, types of food, etc. If you aren’t sure, ask others to help you choose something that matches one of their interests.
Be ready to bend the rules when adhering to them keeps a colleague or team member from accomplishing a greater good.
More Resources for Individualization Theme
Source: Gallup®
“Every man […] is a unique being, only once on this earth; and by no extraordinary chance will such a marvellously picturesque piece of diversity […] ever be put together a second time.”
— Friedrich Nietzsche, philosopher