Context & Flux Capacitors

It’s cool to be rare. According to Gallup, Context is one of the 5 rarest CliftonStrengths talents.

I love coming across someone with a rare talent. I currently work on a team with 40 people and only two have Context in their Top 5. And because it’s not as straightforward as some other talents, those team members usually need a little help understanding how it applies to them.

I tend to start with some simple questions:

• Do you usually want to know “the why” of decisions?
• Does getting that clarity help inform what action to take?
• Do stories and examples of what was done previously help to illuminate the path forward for you?

Usually that conversation gets us started and we unlock a whole host of examples of how that talent has shown up for them. That gets us on the path towards how they can maximize that talent into a strength. That process is what Context is all about.

“Why Don’t You Make Like A Tree And Get Outta Here?”

Here’s where I am going to connect Context to… 1980’s time traveling movies.

For some reason, there were a bunch of them. Flight of the Navigator, Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure, Terminator. My favorite was Back to the Future, which is one of the first movies I remember seeing in the theater.

Stay with me on this one. I’m not recommending that individuals and organizations hop in a DeLorean like Marty McFly and go back in time to solve their problems. But in the metaphorical sense, Context is about the talent a person might have that helps the team navigate the present by better understanding and recording the past.

How Context Helps a Team

People with high Context might be good at preparing for a new role, or traveling to a new place. They tend to archive information, storing it in a way that can be easily accessed. Joining a team with a entirely new workplace culture? The person with Context is likely to invest time in researching the new place to avoid misunderstandings and adapt more effectively.

Actionable Tips: Back to the Future

Here are a few steps that I think are helpful for someone who is looking to turn their Context talent into a Strength.

And I am going to attempt to relate these steps to Back to the Future. Great Scott!

1. Marty initially sees 1955 as a simpler time. But as he interacts with the younger version of his parents, he discovers and develops more of an appreciation for 1985.
   • Taking time to understand the past can make you more grateful for the advancements and opportunities of the present.
     
2. Doc Brown’s invention of the flux capacitor is inspired by known scientific principles and technological breakthroughs. This shows how knowledge of the past fuels innovation for the future.
   • No matter your field, studying past advancements can spark creative ideas.
     
3. While Marty relies on his future knowledge, he also leaves an impact on 1955. He inspires his dad to stand up for himself (my favorite scene – “Hey you, get your damn hands off her”). This reinforces the dynamic nature of context.
   • As you learn from the past, consider how your present actions might shape the future for others.

Hopefully those tips can provide you a roadmap for using your Context talent and turning it into a strength. And remember, there’s more than one path to take on the road to success.

Because where we’re going… we don’t need roads.