I value my relationships
There are probably many that can relate to some of my thoughts about Relator, my fourth-level strength.
I am an introvert. There are many of us in the world. And when I tell people I work with or have recently met, there is always some surprise at this revelation.
As a kid, I remember wanting to be part of the crowd but never really being comfortable. Even in high school and college, I decided I would be involved - so I ran for student government. I wasn't successful then, mostly because I would freeze when I had to speak in front of people.
Over time, I learned to become comfortable with public speaking. And discovered a genuine love of building relationships and partnerships. I have had the pleasure of speaking and teaching in front of small groups in rooms with hundreds of people. Now, in the age of COVID and online work, I'm getting used to being so close to a camera!
Relator describes your attitude toward your relationships. In simple terms, the Relator theme pulls you toward people you already know. You do not necessarily shy away from meeting new people—in fact, you may have other themes that cause you to enjoy the thrill of turning strangers into friends—but you do derive a great deal of pleasure and strength from being around your close friends.
I have always been family oriented. I love my close relationships with tios, cousins, and second and third cousins! I come from a large family. But to me, family also means close friends.
I can honestly say that I "know" a lot of people. I'm always happy to see them, even if it has been a few years since our last meeting. Those are some of the best interactions because there is usually so much to share and always some laughter.
You are comfortable with intimacy. Once the initial connection has been made, you deliberately encourage a deepening of the relationship. You want to understand their feelings, their goals, their fears, and their dreams; and you want them to understand yours.
The portion of the Strengths Finder Report, in which I have been putting portions of the descriptions in these blog posts, is self-explanatory. I can say "yes" to the whole thing.
When I decided to become an entrepreneur, I thought about what I wanted to provide to my clients based on my life experiences and career. I have been working in public service for over 30 years. Helping people, caring about their questions, and sharing their relief (joy?) when we found answers was the best part of my career. I knew I wanted to do the same thing in this new life adventure. This is how I knew that being an executive and leadership coach was the path that would allow me to continue using my passion for helping others.
For you a relationship has value only if it is genuine. And the only way to know that is to entrust yourself to the other person. The more you share with each other, the more you risk together. The more you risk together, the more each of you proves your caring is genuine. These are your steps toward real friendship, and you take them willingly.
This last portion of the Relator description, I believe, is not only true for personal relationships but for business relationships also. I believe that is the basis for excellent customer service!
After working in public service for more than 30 years, I learned that it is possible to relate to people in an authentic way that serves their needs and maintains some boundaries. Relating is essential when working with a customer (or whatever word you use to describe them). When I experience this from businesses, connectedness, and good service, I amplify it whenever I can.
This is also part of the reason I chose my business name: Madrina Consulting. To me, this is part of the role of a madrina in my family culture. I could provide services with minimal feeling or consider my customers a widget to my own success. But that is not authentic for me. My goal is to see my clients succeed, and that means being willing to walk with them to clear that path to success.
When relating to your customers, strangers, or even family, take a moment to consider the following: Cann I adjust my presentation to make their day a little better?
How would I like this interaction to go if I was the customer?
Can I use my own energy more positively in this interaction so that I also feel good when this is done?
There is one more strength left, Achiever. I'm finding that I need to spend more time thinking about these strengths and how they relate. And how they relate to how I go about my day, work, and interactions with others. I have noticed that I consider my words and actions more. And I am accepting (more often) that it is ok if my strengths aren't like others. These strengths make me unique and successful.
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