Have you ever observed someone step up her game when the pressure is on? Who surfaces as a leader in chaos? If you do, then you may know someone who has the strength of Command®.
A person with the Command strength can take charge, especially in times of crisis or conflict. They thrive with clarity and honesty and hate unresolved conflict. They prefer to expose conflict so it can be dealt with quickly. Command frequently ask questions no one else has the courage to ask.
I have Command as one of my top strengths. I’ve traced this strength through my family tree. Lieutenant Presley O’Bannon, my great-great-great-grandfather, was called the Valiant Virginian, and there’s even a book written about his feats. As captain, he was the first marine on the shores of Tripoli. He organized a crew that went to Africa, marched across the desert, overcame the enemy, freed the slaves and hostages, and brought everyone back home.
He was awarded the Mameluke sword, deemed the O’Bannon sword. Lieutenant Presley O’Bannon was a courageous fighter and defender, who later used his “take charge” strength to help lead the state of Kentucky. I’ve got some pretty big shoes to fill, but Command is in my heritage. People with Command are adept at breaking bottlenecks and creating momentum as entrepreneurs. They have the desire to lead and feel energized by taking charge.
How have I monetized my Command strength? In 1993, I started a private counseling practice, which multiplied to 5 office locations, 13 counselors, and more clients than I could handle. Those early days I leveraged my Command gaining local and national contracts providing counseling and training for juvenile offenders in boot camp, probation department drug offender programs, crisis counseling for those on suicide watch, and facilitating domestic violence and anger management programs. My Command was paid well to have courage to work with these challenging situations.
In 2006 I was studying positive psychology, and a business coach introduced me to StrengthsFinder®, now re-branded as CliftonStrengths®. Just reading my customized report ignited a transformation in my personal development, my career, and my purpose. Over the next several years, I used my Command strength to build a niche as a strengths based training and coaching business.
Now I’ve facilitated more than 27,000 coaching sessions, administered 6,000+ CliftonStrengths® assessments, and given more than 750 presentations to organizations across the globe.
Hundreds of people have gone through my free online course Breakthrough with Strengths and my Coach Business Builder Masterclass has helped new professional coaches to gain courage and confidence to market and sell their services with their strengths. My Command had the boldness to write Selling Strengths: A Little Book for Executive and Life Coaches About Using Your Strengths to Get Paying Clients. The books vision was to empower professional coaches to launch, leverage, and lead 6 & 7 figure businesses with their authentic strengths.
My Strengths Champion Certified Coach® Masterclass is an exclusive high-performance workplace training and coaching program, and has helped companies catapult employee engagement, lower employee turnover, increase product quality, boost collaboration between managers, and ultimately increase profits.
I thrive on workplace training, keynote speaking, and coaching people just like you to grow stronger, work smarter, and live richer with your strengths.
Command individuals do have a heart, but sometimes they need other people to soften them up. I think it’s ironic that my wife has four out of five relationship strengths, and therefore helps to balance my Command strength.
Dealing with a person who has the Command strength is somewhat unique. You must recognize their need to lead, but at the same time, they want your honest feedback. If they are hurting the organization or being too pushy, they want to know it.
When a person with Command is overpowering, you must help them slow down. Some refer to Commanders as “pit bulls,” and don’t we all want a pit bull on our side when it’s time to fight?
When I’m giving a keynote, for example, standing there on the big stage, Command gives me presence, and it’s natural to be the sage on the stage. However, in a coaching session or even when facilitating a small team workshop, I need less telling and more facilitation as the guide on the side. To work smarter, I call on my Individualization talent theme to soften my Command, so I’m working smarter. My Individualization slows me down enough to listen, watch body language, create a safe place for exploration, empowering others to open up and share.
What talent themes in your top five can you leverage to regulate or monetize your Command so that you’re working smarter? Let me know in the comments below. Want to talk with me about this or other strengths questions you have? Please schedule you free Ask Brent Anything call, and let’s talk strengths.
