Possessing the Ideation talent makes you an incredible asset to any team or employer. Explaining how you use ‘ideation’ to a future employer can sometimes be a challenge. Here are some great tips to make it easier.
Understanding and leveraging our unique talent DNA can make finding work worth doing so much easier! In this series, we examine each of the Clifton StrengthsFinder talent themes and identify ways each can be used to build a great career. From resumes to interviewing, negotiation, and search strategy using your innate talents will transform your process.
Want to discover your innate talents and find work worth doing? Contact us today!
Ideation
People exceptionally talented in the Ideation theme are fascinated by ideas. They are able to find connections between seemingly disparate phenomena.
Demonstrate Ideation in your resume
Idea people are some of the most fun people to have around. They can often take any problem and brainstorm multiple solutions in a matter of minutes. They even make it look easy. Companies are always seeking problem solvers. If you are talented in the Ideation theme, you likely thrive on identifying solutions and sharing them with others. People succeed under your leadership because you likely empower them to try new ideas. Demonstrate your Ideation theme by using these keywords when describing your accomplishments:
- Creativity
- Connection
- Idea driven/Innovative
- Solution-oriented/Trouble Shooter
- Team builder/Team player
- Strategy or Strategic
- Inquisitive
- Listener/Listening
- Cross-collaboration/Cross-functional collaboration
- Sounding board
Infusing Ideation into your interviews
Sharing how your Ideation theme impacts your success and your team’s success is key to your interview strategy. Be sure to share your approach to building solutions that have met the needs of your team and your organization. Share the outcomes of your best idea and how you implemented them.
Avoid anything that would make the interviewer think your ideas are random, not thought out, or never acted upon. Sharing a story about how you bring your ideas to life through teamwork will get their attention.
Win negotiations with Ideation
Using your ideation talent, you easily find solutions to problems and people want to work with problem solvers. This will make you a desirable candidate for many organizations and positions. Once you know your absolute ‘yes’ and absolute ‘no’ numbers, approach the negotiation as a problem you’re looking to solve. Look for creative ways to get what you both want and create win/win solutions. Even if the initial answer is ‘no’, you can likely create a solution that will still work for you. If not, lean into this theme to exit the negotiation gracefully and preserve the relationship with the hiring manager. You never know when you might cross paths again.
Making Ideation the cornerstone of your career strategy
Building and maintaining a strategy throughout your career is key to success. This is especially true during times of job searching or pursuing promotions. These can be trying times that make even the most talented and confident person doubt their abilities. Use your Ideation to brainstorm creative ways to approach the job search. Just remember to stay on task and not get too distracted.
This is part of the Merrfeld Strengthsplanation series outline each of the Clifton StrengthsFinder talents and how you can use them to build the career of your dreams. Want to discover your innate talents and find work worth doing? Contact us today!
