The effort to tap into workers’ intrinsic strengths is taking root across Rhode Island, fueled by training and tours offered through Leadership Rhode Island.
The program, which begins with an online assessment created by Gallup, called StrengthsFinder, is more than a management tool, said Leadership Rhode Island Executive Director Mike Ritz. “It’s a movement,” he said.
It involves the identification of employee strengths from a list of 34 qualities, including “analytical,” “consistent,” “futuristic” and “deliberative.” Employers typically get a list of each person’s top five strengths, with an explanation of how that person might approach a conflict, seek to influence others or approach their work.
It is intended to guide management in creating strength-based teams within workplaces, and in managing people more effectively.
“The theory is if you use your natural strengths all day, you become more productive, happier,” said Ritz. “You have less stress.”
Since 2014, more than 70 companies, nonprofits and government agencies have incorporated the assessments into workplaces and received management training. More than 15,000 employees have now taken assessments in the Ocean State, Ritz said.
Leadership Rhode Island holds regular “strengths tour” events, which take participants into the workplaces and cultures of companies that are actively using strengths.
VIBCO Vibrators is one example. Led by President Karl Wadensten, the Richmond-based manufacturing company started embracing “strengths” in its management more than 15 years ago, he said.
All employees, including Wadensten, have taken assessments and have a card in their workplace that identifies their top five strengths.
Wadensten has formed teams representing people from various departments within VIBCO based on their strengths.
Other companies that are training in strengths assessments include Gilbane Building Co. and Citizens Financial Group Inc., both based in Providence, Woonsocket-based CVS Health Corp., and National Grid, according to Ritz and Wadensten.
All of this has had a cumulative effect.
In a Gallup survey in 2017 comparing states, Rhode Island moved from worst to 15th over three years, Ritz said.
In 2013, another Gallup report ranked Rhode Island dead last in having the most “actively disengaged” employees. That dismal showing prompted Leadership Rhode Island to prioritize making the state a strength-based leader four years ago.
For each actively disengaged worker, Gallup has found the employer loses $3,400 for every $10,000 in salary.
Reversing that is a leadership problem, one that management training in strengths seeks to address, Ritz said.
“The science is, if you do what you’re naturally good at, and you do that every day, you’re really happy being you,” Ritz said.
Mary MacDonald is a staff writer for the PBN. Contact her at Macdonald@PBN.com.
