Growing Talent to Strength: Featuring StrengthsFinder 'Arranger'

People with Arranger in their top 5 StrengthsFinder results enjoy managing different variables and moving parts as they work towards a productive outcome. They are energized by the process of aligning and realigning to find the best configuration possible. They are often seen and known by many as the conductor, the orchestrator or the coordinator. They enjoy working through other people to get stuff done. Arrangers are often linked to collaborative productivity while those with the StrengthsFinder Achiever theme are known more for personal productivity. Often, those with Arranger can juggle several different smaller tasks that build towards a bigger goal without feeling overwhelmed. In fact, juggling these smaller parts makes the Arranger feel invigorated and therefore more productive. 

While there are people who enjoy reacting to changes, such as people with the StrengthsFinder Adaptability theme, the Arranger enjoys making and creating the changes. Arrangers prefer to be in control so that they can be the ones sorting and finding the best configuration. The genius of Arranger talents lies in their ability to organize and make the best use of resources to produce great results. Uniquely different from others, having things to juggle makes an Arranger more productive. When it comes to multi-tasking, Arrangers tend to have an edge over the average person because of their unique wiring. They enjoy having the flexibility to adjust and readjust and to keep things fluid as things move along. Some Arrangers are great project managers who can manage many different schedules and individual preferences. Some simply love to coordinate large group gatherings and find common timings that fit everyone's availability. Regardless of the roles, one thing is for sure - Arrangers are at their best when it comes to managing multiple variables while remaining productive.

I saw this Arranger talent theme play out powerfully when I attended the wedding of one of my close friends. With Arranger in her Top 5, she almost single-handedly coordinated the entire wedding, which included the schedule, seating and catering arrangements, different vendors involved, family members and close friends giving speeches, and so on. Even though there were so many variables involved, she juggled all of these variables beautifully and organized a wedding in which every individual in attendance thoroughly enjoyed every part of the wedding.

How can a person with Arranger turn this talent into a Strength? Here are a few suggestions:

1. BEING OPEN TO OTHER CONFIGURATIONS

Arrangers are often seen to be very productive and able to finish many tasks efficiently. However, a common feedback is that Arrangers might not be as aware of the emotional needs of others in the team, especially when their desire for productivity kicks in strongly.  

For example, in a project setting, Arrangers pride themselves in their ability to see the best configuration or most efficient use of resources to produce a desired outcome. With this unique wiring, Arrangers can often come across as being critical or closed towards other configurations suggested by team members. When teammates perceive that the Arranger in the team is not open to feedback, especially with regards to how resources can be utilized and how different configurations can also be of use, the result can be a heightened level of distrust and unhappiness with each another. 

It is therefore important that Arrangers demonstrate an openness to listen while negotiating ways to come up with the best configuration. In seasons where there are many deadlines, it is important that Arrangers be more intentional to communicate to others how things can be done more efficiently. They also need to intentionally gather feedback on how people are feeling.

2.HAVING CLARITY ON THE MAIN OUTCOME

Arrangers are at their best when there is a complex project and they are required to coordinate the resources. When there are multiple configurations and deadlines, Arrangers often need to be reminded of the main outcome. When there are so many different tasks to complete, it is often easy to forget what the main desired outcome is to be. Having constant reminders on the main outcome helps the Arranger to stay focused. Questions that Arrangers can ask themselves to gain greater clarity are: “What is the key outcome of this project? What kind of tasks can be done together to increase my productivity? What is one main theme that can tie the different parts together?" 

Another aspect that we often identify with Arrangers is that they love to configure and reconfigure. They are very much driven by the idea of efficiency. Arrangers will sometimes embark on a reconfiguration of resources when they see another route possible that will help them to be more efficient. However, constant reconfiguration can cause tension in a team if it’s not properly managed. Having clarity of the main outcome can help the Arranger to avoid overdoing the adjustments. This is especially so when the adjustment to become more efficient can have a more detrimental effect on the team dynamics and morale.

3. SEEK COMPLEMENTARY PARTNERSHIPS

Partner those with Focus
People with Focus are often single-minded and are able to keep themselves centered on the bigger goal. They prefer to filter and work on the priorities that will help them achieve their goal. In contrast, Arrangers tend to be more about multiplicity, and they love to juggle the various smaller goals and be productive. Partnering with people with Focus allows the Arranger to have a greater clarity on the destination and on the big picture. This partnership often empowers the Arrangers to coordinate and manage the resources with greater impact. This partnership also helps the Arrangers to come back to the core focus when they are overly consumed with the smaller projects. 

Partner those with Discipline
People with Discipline prefer predictability and enjoy things that are orderly and pre-planned. People with Discipline set up routines and focus on the different deliverables required in a project. Arrangers tend to be more fluid and dynamic when it comes to workflow or a work plan. Knowing that Arrangers will make adjustments to the work plan whenever they see opportunities to be more efficient and more productive, people with Discipline serve as the sounding board or an alarm. Partnering people with Discipline allows Arrangers to receive feedback on the changes made, especially when certain reconfigurations can lead to many unsettling adjustments for team members. The valuable feedback from the people with Discipline helps Arrangers to avoid overdoing the adjustments. 

Partner those with Individualization 
People with Individualization are intrigued by the unique qualities of each person. They focus on the differences between individuals and instinctively observe each person’s style. They are also keen observers of other people’s strengths and enjoy drawing out the best in each person.  People with Individualization desire that each person be in the right fit for projects because they care a lot about the engagement level of the individual. In contrast, Arrangers desire productivity and are interested in having the right people in the right role in order for the team to be functioning at  optimum productivity. Such a partnership allows for great discussions on team productivity and engagement. 

Concluding thoughts: Arrangers are very productive and are excellent managers when it comes to complex projects with many different moving parts. They can sometimes be the ones who create tension in a team with the different changes they make in order to move things forward. But one thing is for sure - they can be counted on to deliver the results, especially in projects that are filled with many variables and are full of complexity.  

Written by Victor Seet

Activator • Communication • Strategic • Self-Assurance • Command

As a Gallup certified Strengthsfinder coach, Victor is passionate about strengths engagement and now runs his own training company, Strengths School™ (strengthsschool.com). He has been actively giving Strengthsfinder leadership and team building workshops to businesses and schools in Singapore as well as Hong Kong, China (Shanghai) and India.