The {4 StrengthsFinder Domains} Will Make You Think Differently About the Success of the American Founding

There is no end to what people can accomplish when they work together, and the American Founding Fathers were no exception. The four Fathers we’re sharing about today all brought very unique perspectives to that historic era in 1776,  and without any one of them who knows what could have happened!

Each of the StrengthsFinder 34 Talents Themes not only stand alone, but also fall into one of different four Strengths domains: Executing, Influencing, Relationship, and Thinking. These four domains help to better identify your most natural path to leadership and success—and help see where your Strengths can make your TEAM thrive!

This holiday weekend, here at Isogo we are particularly reflective on America’s history and the legacy we have followed these past 2.5+ centuries. So, for fun {and a bit of enlightenment!} we’ve given our best speculation on the Strengths Domains for four of the most influential founding Fathers.

If Alexander Hamilton, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson had not been so uniquely gifted, and tolerated {if not appreciated!} the Strengths of each other, they may never have created the most monumental and significant community of government in history.

Executing :: Alexander Hamilton

Alexander Hamilton was an Executor-extraordinaire. Of the original 85 Federalist Papers, Hamilton wrote 51! He could not stop. George Washington noticed his executing super power and instead of allowing him to lead a battalion, he took Hamilton on as his scribe and right-hand man—putting to word and practice all Washington’s leadership and convictions. He had an internal drive that kept him pushing and doing and getting things done—so much so that Elizabeth Schuyler-Hamiliton, his wife, often implored him to spend more time with his family, to which he rarely responded in the affirmative.

Influencing :: John Adams

The small, physical stature of John Adams was overcome by his powerful gift of persuasion and influence. He was filled with sometimes over-exuberant energy and an incessant need to find an audience for his external processing and communication. Despite his disagreement with British occupancy, his persuasive talent won acquittal for a British soldier in the Boston massacre trial. And perhaps most significantly, he played a key role in the first continental congress, where he was impatient for action and played a leading role in persuading congress to declare independence.

Relationship :: Benjamin Franklin

Known as a peculiar and optimistic man, Benjamin Franklin won favor and position by his skill and natural inclination toward Relationship talent. Even as a youth, he found success by building relationships, such as his early apprenticeship at a newspaper printing press. Later, in 1776, based on his relationship with British Admiral Howe, the infant US congress sent Franklin to foster their best attempt at peace negotiation. Subsequently, he was also sent to France as Ambassador, to build relationships and favor with the new ally. At home in the US, he often preferred the pub over the office as the most desirable meeting place to make decisions and political advances.

Thinking :: Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson was a man who was always inside his head, unapologetic about his strong inclination toward deep thinking and ideas. He used his pen to think and put his thoughts to pen, which would have stayed otherwise unknown. He was a man of ideas and small, practical inventions, like the rocking chair and a duplicating pen. Over his life time, he followed his curious spirit and became the master of a random variety of disciplines, such as, architecture, religion, philosophy, horticulture, math, mechanics, and surveying. And of course, most notably, his talent was spotlighted in his intentional and thoughtful choice of words in the writing of the Declaration of Independence.