Unlock the secret to successful teamwork by discovering your unique superhero strengths and those of your teammates!

Each superhero contributes a different talent or skill to solving a challenge.

Imagine a world where you’re a superhero, and your team is your trusty sidekick. Together, you’re unstoppable! But just like any superhero duo, it’s important to know each other’s strengths and weaknesses. That’s where discovering your unique superhero strengths comes in. By identifying what makes you and your teammates truly shine, you’ll be able to work together seamlessly, like Batman and Robin, Superman and Lois Lane, or even Ant-Man and the Wasp (hey, size doesn’t matter when it comes to teamwork!).

With remote work and virtual teams becoming the new norm, it’s more important than ever to be able to collaborate effectively with people who may not be physically in the same location as you. By understanding your unique strengths and those of your teammates, you’ll be able to boost innovation, smooth out conflicts and make teamwork a breeze. Plus, it’s pretty cool when you realize that your partner approaches things differently from you. It makes decision-making a breeze.

A common pitfall to not knowing your preference to solving challenges can lead to you being stuck in the same place with a project, always getting the same result. It’s analogous to trying to hammer a screw into a piece of wood. Sure, you might be able to force it in, but it’s not going to hold up in the long run. And just like that poorly-secured screw, your projects can come crashing down if you keep approaching them in the same way, whether you’re in your groove or feeling the pressure.

When we bring this into the context of working within a team, because we all revert to our go to preferences, if someone is using a different one to us, we could end up wrestling with each other versus wrestling with the challenge.

Backed by over 65 years of empirical research, FourSight founders, discovered a universal language for solving challenges:

1. Some of us like to start by Clarifying, not making assumptions. We want to make sure we’re on the same page before we dive in. Albert Einstein was a famous one, saying if he had an hour to solve a problem, he’d spend 55 minutes understanding the context before presenting a solution.
2. Others are Big picture imaginative ideators, they see the problem as an opportunity to create something new and exciting. They are master connection makers.
3. Then there are the Developer types, who focus on Let’s develop a workable solution. They love to brainstorm and come up with a plan of action. Dyson, made over 5000 prototypes before the first bagless vacuum was unveiled.
4. And finally, there are the Implementors, like Nike, the ones who say Let’s just do it. They’re the ones who take the plan and make it a reality.

But here’s the thing, you don’t have to be just one type. You can have a preference for one or a combination.

As with all strengths, there is the dark side of each preference style when it comes to solving challenges? Like every superhero has their kryptonite, every approach has its downsides. But don’t worry, we’re here to shed some light on the subject.

1. Let’s start with the Clarifier. They’re the ones who like to start by making sure everyone’s on the same page and avoid assumptions. But, if they’re not careful, they can fall into the trap of analysis paralysis and over-share, overburdening others with information. It’s like trying to drink from a firehose, it’s too much to handle all at once.
2. Next, we have the ideator. They’re the ones who see the problem as an opportunity to create something new and exciting. But, if they’re not careful, they can get too abstract and jump from idea to idea without fully fleshing them out. It’s like trying to chase a butterfly, it’s beautiful to look at but you’ll never be able to catch it.
3. Then there are the Developers, they focus on developing a workable solution. But, if they’re not careful, they can get caught in the trap of tweaking and developing to perfection that never arrives. It’s like trying to make the perfect sculpture, you’ll keep chipping away at it, but it will never be perfect.
4. And finally, there are the Implementors, the ones who say “Let’s just do it!”. But, if they’re not careful, they can be too quick to act, impatient with others and get half-baked ideas out of the door. It’s like trying to bake a cake with half the ingredients, it might look good on the outside, but it’s not going to taste very good.

But, don’t let the dark side discourage you. Each approach has its unique strengths and weaknesses, and by understanding and managing them, we can work together seamlessly, like a well-oiled machine. So let’s embrace our unique approach and work together to make sure that the dark side never wins.

Together we can be like The Ocean’s 11 team, heroes with different superpowers, ready to tackle any challenge that comes our way.