Strengths

Scores | Charts | Descriptions

Achiever®

People especially talented in the Achiever theme have a great deal of stamina and work hard. They take great satisfaction from being busy and productive.

Score Distribution

Shows scores for this strength across all staff.

Users with Achiever strength

Theme Description

Your Achiever theme helps explain your drive. Achiever describes a constant need for achievement. You feel as if every day starts at zero. By the end of the day you must achieve something tangible in order to feel good about yourself. And by "every day" you mean every single day — workdays, weekends, vacations. No matter how much you may feel you deserve a day of rest, if the day passes without some form of achievement, no matter how small, you will feel dissatisfied. You have an internal fire burning inside you. It pushes you to do more, to achieve more. After each accomplishment is reached, the fire dwindles for a moment, but very soon it rekindles itself, forcing you toward the next accomplishment. Your relentless need for achievement might not be logical. It might not even be focused. But it will always be with you. As an Achiever you must learn to live with this whisper of discontent. It does have its benefits. It brings you the energy you need to work long hours without burning out. It is the jolt you can always count on to get you started on new tasks, new challenges. It is the power supply that causes you to set the pace and define the levels of productivity for your workgroup. It is the theme that keeps you moving.

Action Items

• Select jobs in which you have the leeway to work as hard as you want, and in which you are encouraged to measure your own productivity. You will feel stretched and alive in these environments.
• You do not require much motivation from your supervisor. Take advantage of your self-motivation by setting challenging goals. Set a more stretching goal every time you finish a project.
• Own the fact that you might work longer hours than most people, and that you might not need as much sleep as many other people do.
• Choose to work with other hard workers. Share your goals with them so they can help you.
• Accept that you might be discontented even when you achieve.
• Take a moment to appreciate your successes. You can look ahead tomorrow. Today, celebrate.
• Partner with someone with a strong Discipline or Focus theme. This person can help you use your energy as efficiently as possible.
• Count personal achievements in your scoring "system." This will help you direct your Achiever theme toward family as well as work.

How to Manage a Person Especially Talented in the Achiever Theme

• When there are times that require extra work, call on this person. Remember that the saying "If you want to get a job done, ask a busy person" is generally true.
• Recognize that he likes to be busy. Sitting in meetings is likely to be very boring for him. So either let him get his work done or arrange to have him attend only those meetings where you really need him and he can be fully engaged.
• Help him measure what he gets done. He may well enjoy keeping track of hours, but, more importantly, he should have a way to measure cumulative production. Simple measures such as number of customers served, customers known by name, files reviewed, prospects contacted, or patients seen will help give him definition. Establish a relationship with this person by working alongside him. Working hard together is often a bonding experience for him. And keep low producers away from him. "Slackers" annoy him.
• When this person finishes a job, a rest or an easy assignment is rarely the reward he wants. He will be much more motivated if you give recognition for past achievement and then a new goal that stretches him.
• This person may well need less sleep and get up earlier than most. Look to him when these conditions are required on the job. Also, ask him questions such as "How late did you have to work to get this done?" or "When did you come in this morning?" He will appreciate this kind of attention.
• You may be tempted to promote him to higher-level roles simply because he is a self-starter. This may be a mistake if it leads him away from what he does best. A better course would be to pinpoint his other themes and strengths, and look for opportunities for him to do more of what he does well.