In this Strengths Dynamic, we change tack slightly from our usual considerations of how different strengths interact with each other. This time, we turn our attention to the question of "organising strengths", or more specifically, the consideration of the fundamental strengths which influence how, when and why all other strengths are used.

There are five strengths that meet the criteria of being an "organising strength". These five strengths can be seen as a spiral hierarchy of the deployment of strengths in practice, with the effective use of strengths building and increasing sequentially through each of the five levels of the organising strengths. The nature of the spiral, however, means that one would then start the journey again, but from a higher level of awareness.

At the first level, the organising strength is Self-awareness. If we do not know the strengths we have, we have little hope of being able to use them most effectively. This is why most management and leadership development begins with a focus on the self. Understand your place in and impact on the world, and you can then start to shape what you want that impact to be. From this first level foundation of Self-awareness, we can then seek to build the effectiveness of our strengths.

At the second level, the organising strength is Efficacy. If we feel confident and capable in our strengths and what we can achieve with them, we will use those strengths more - and more effectively. If we lack this confidence and self-belief, we restrict our own capability and undermine the realisation of our potential. Yet success breeds success: identifying and using strengths helps us to build our competence and capability, thereby enhancing our Efficacy in turn.

At the third level, the organising strength is Strategic Awareness. This helps us to understand the bigger picture and where we fit in to what is going on. Strategic Awareness helps us understand that if we do A, then B is likely to result, and the fact that X is coming to pass means that Y is likely to follow. Harnessing Strategic Awareness in this way, we get as close as we can to predicting the likely future without having to resort to gazing at crystal balls.

At the fourth level. the organising strength is Moral Compass. The deep values base of this strength means that it will organise our activities in a way that ensures the soundness of their morals and ethics. However we deploy the other strengths that may exist across our profile, the organising strength of Moral Compass will work to ensure they are deployed to an ethical end.

At the fifth - and highest - level of our spiral hierarchy, the organising strength is Judgement. We know what our strengths are (Self-awareness). We are confident in using them and our capability in doing so (Efficacy). We understand the broader context into which we fit (Strategic Awareness). We operate in a way that respects the basis of our ethics and values (Moral Compass).

With these foundations in place, our attention can turn to the most optimal and effective deployment of these strengths. Judgement enables us to know which strengths to use, when to use them, to what extent to use them, and to what end they should be directed. Judgement is the calibration dial that helps us decide when and where to use our strengths more or less. It is the directional compass that helps us decide the right thing to do and when. It is the giver of perspective that integrates the eagle-eye view of Strategic Awareness with the values-based decision making of Moral Compass.

Ultimately, it is Judgement that allows us to integrate all of these diverse perspectives and to arrive at the decision that will move us forward. Judgement allows us to resolve the challenge of the golden mean of strengths use: the right strength, to the right amount, in the right way, at the right time. For this reason, we consider Judgement to be the highest manifestation of organising strengths.

If you were making your "Desert Island Discs" choice of a strength to develop (i.e., an extremely limited choice with no opportunity to change your mind), we would recommend Judgement for your selection. As we recommended in Strengths Dynamics #5, judge well and judge wisely. Do this, and everything else will work out in the best way it can for you.

Life is one long series of decisions. Realising your Judgement strength will help you make the right ones.

With best wishes,

Alex Linley & Jonathan Hill