Every leader wants to be viewed as "gifted." It's a designation that speaks to the impact and skills of their leadership. But when we think about how we develop leaders, we often adopt the language of strengths and talent. There are countless inventories that help us identify where we are strong. But there's an important difference between these approaches and seeing through a gifts lens.
The focus on strengths built steam in early 2,000 with Donald Clifton's work which ultimately became the Clifton StrengthsFinder, which identies top "talent themes." That's certainly useful, and helps organizations to focus on positive leadership growth.
Why we focus on gifts
Strengths sound like gifts, but they are actually different. The idea that individuals are endowed by the creator with specific characteristics is clearly an idea from the Bible. It is found in the first book of the Bible where mankind is described as uniquely created in God's image.
The shift from thinking that a person has been gifted by God to someone who possesses strengths and talents started to creep into Western thinking during the 1500s as the divine source of human nature was replaced with reliance on reason.
Today, it seems we're uncomfortable even suggesting that our talents have their source in our creator.
That shift is actually not that subtle. Here's why: If I view my development based upon "my strengths and talents" that creates an inward focus. However, if I consider that I am gifted, I have to consider the source of those gifts. The focus is entirely different.
If I focus on my strengths, then those talents are mine to manage and use or fail to employ at all. But if I am gifted, I am accountable for that gift. It has been given to me, and what I do with that gift means that I have to respond to the gift-giver.
If I am the recipient of unique gifts, then the gift-giver may want to be involved in how I put them to work.
On a humorous note, that's the same reason that we hold onto odd gifts that people give us. Even though we don't use it or want it, we have to keep it around because of the person who gave it to us may ask, or even notice if their gift is still around.
When we view our unique capabilities as gifts, it brings accountability because gifts are a trust.
You get a car! And you get a car! And you get a car!
The surprise experience of everyone in a studio audience receiving a gift has stuck with us since it first appeared on Oprah. It turns out that not only are some leaders gifted, but all humans are gifted. That's actually the Biblical teaching.
Those gifts vary and have a unique expression found in every human. But not every human realizes or leans into those gifts. For many, those gifts remain hidden and unrealized.
To quote the ancient Hebrew proverb, "It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out.: (Proverbs 25:2). It's part of our life journey to uncover what the creator has hidden in our lives.
Gifts-thinking unlocks purpose
It's not a big step to go from how we are created to thinking about the purpose of those gifts. Gifts and the gift-giver are connected to the purpose that every human needs, and every business needs to find. In the same way that strengths is inwardly focused, and gifts focus us on the creator, gifts-thinking takes us to purpose much more directly. And there is a connection between our ability to recognize the gift nature of our skills and the higher calling of our purpose.
Without acknowledging our giftedness, it is much harder for us to connect to purposeful living and thinking. The two things support each other.
Using all that Bible gift language at work?
OK, that's a fair concern. Some of the words the Bible uses to describe the gifts given to people are confusing and seem out of place. That doesn't make the fact that we have gifts any less true.
But while holding tight to the concept that the creator has gifted us with unique gifts, we can simply use marketplace language to help everyone on our team appreciate them. While Ephesians 4 refers to apostles, in the marketplace, we refer to that as the gift of being a pioneer. That resonates with all of those visionary, get things done, and move the ball forward kind of people. And while the term "evangelist" is used in the marketplace when we're talking about brand evangelists, we use the term "champion" to describe that person who loves to win others to the cause and uses stories to help people connect into the community.
Gifts-based thinking doesn't have to be weird. We can help everyone on a team begin uncovering how they are gifted. And while they might not be ready to take that gift back to the giver, it does help them to understand the unique way they are wired. And it helps others to understand them better, too.
When gifts are clearly understood, leaders develop more fully, and teams operate with greater effectiveness.
