Strengths Finder Test

VO: Get ready for your semi-regular dose of random ideas from the guys at Codelation. We like to talk about big ideas companies that are winning, and those that aren't along with current events in our crazy world of software startups. So come along with Erick and Josh, who challenge you to think big, start small and turn your ideas into something on this episode of, from idea to done.

Josh: Hey everyone, I'm Josh

Erick: I'm Erick and today's idea is building your startup and team culture. And we have a all team extravaganza kind of plan next week. And on top of some of the fun events that I have, like the nerd Olympics, I wanted to bring some training elements into next week as well. So I thought that I would have everyone on our team take the Clifton StrengthsFinder test. And so Josh, have you taken this test before? And if yes, what are your thoughts on it?

Josh: Uh, yeah, I took it, uh, probably 15 years ago when I worked for a prior job at that time, you know, I thought it was a woo woo kind of touchy, feely, like, get this out of my way. I just need to go get work done. Um, I was really wrong with it. It really helped me understand how to talk to different team members based upon their themes.

Erick: I've actually, I've done it a few times in my career before and my, the actual things I'm good at has kind of shifted a little bit since I took it in my twenties, but they've also kind of similar themed and stayed the same. So I'm having all our nerds take it before they get here. And w what did you end up getting this time around and what are your thoughts on the results?

Josh: Uh, the themes that I got were a futuristic, relator, focus, strategic, and significance, and, you know, as a typical, Midwestern, North Dakota and moderate, when I saw the significance, I immediately felt like that's not fair for me to feel that way or it's okay. It's not okay to have that level of ego, but after reading the description, it talks about the people who are especially talented in the significance theme, wanting to be very important in the eyes of others. They're independent and want to be recognized. I think ultimately, you know, even though that twisted my, my nose a little bit, I think it's true at the core of it. I do want to be influential and I do want to be in part, uh, in charge of important projects. I mean, why else would you try to start a company? If that wasn't true.

Erick: That's pretty true in a very modest way to start a company. That's the American dream North Dakota. And the reason I wanted to do this is basically because, um, I had Maddy our intern at the time. She took it for college and we worked super well together as a team. And I was curious if we would have matched in anything. And I ended up taking the test again and we didn't, we didn't match at all. And I wanted to help people understand that there are things they are all amazing at individually, and they should gravitate towards those in their jobs and, and kind of look for some of the gaps we're looking to grow and see what holes we want to fill with people that are just better than us in those areas.

Josh: You know, I think to your point that even if somebody is a polar opposite, you can still be a good fit with the team. It's more important to know how everyone thrives then to find some sort of a magical theme mix or to match exactly, you know, just be intentional as helps to do so. Uh, Erick, what, what were your themes?

Erick: I got positivity. Woo, Maximizer, communication, and strategic. And basically that means I have infectious, good energy. I can win people over. I can help them reach their highest potential present. Well, and I have thought behind these actions. And so this is the first time we're doing an all team remote meeting. And according to the principles of this test, I should freaking crush it now next week

Josh: Yeah, no, I'm looking forward to next week. And I think being able to lean back into something like surf StrengthFinders just really helps us as a team.

Erick: And I think it's good to just kind of continual learning is an important thing to do. And so, yeah, well, we'll chat about it and some other episodes, and we'll see how things are going. We'll have a follow-up to this next week.

Josh: Thank you for listening. We're hoping that, you know, a startup that use our advice and random thoughts, send them over to codelation-bedrock.flywheelstaging.com to hear the next podcast.