CliftonStrengths Relator®
- vnstrengths
- Oct 16, 2025
- 4 min read
Originally written in Vietnamese by Vietnam Strengths Academy. We recommend reading the Vietnamese version for the best experience.
Relator is one of 34 Gallup CliftonStrengths Talent Themes. This is a talent (theme) in the Relationship Building group - helping people build sustainable relationships.
If you're looking to further explore your Relator talent and turn it into a competitive advantage, but don't know where to start, this is the article for you!
This article will help you learn:
💡 What is a Relator?
✨ What does Relator bring?
⚠️ Blind Spots - Blind Spots to Avoid
🪼 The Needs of a Relator
🛠️ What to do to "sharpen" the Relator in you?
🌟 What Strengths Make Relator Shine?
📒 Conclusion

💡 What is a Relator?
Relator is a strength in the Relationship Building group within CliftonStrengths.
People with outstanding talent in this group enjoy close relationships with others. They feel great satisfaction in working hard with friends to achieve goals.
(Source: Gallup)
A Relator typically describes himself as:
I need time and opportunity to connect deeply 1-1 with others.
I enjoy deep, close friendships that involve a lot of things in common.
I hate feeling uncomfortable when I first meet someone new.
I bring insight and transparency to social interactions.
Refer to the original definition from Gallup 👇🏻
✨ What does Relator bring?
Each talent, when used effectively, will help you achieve your goals or work more effectively in a very unique way. Like a superpower or a weapon, a Relator will be very effective if you know how to use it properly:
Deep commitment and transparency in relationships.
Naturalness and intimacy help others feel secure and comfortable.
Strong, sincere, mutually beneficial relationships foster trust.
Ability to work together and collaborate with peers to achieve common goals.
⚠️ Blind Spots - Blind Spots to Avoid
Every strength has two sides. If you “overuse” Relator, you may encounter the following limitations:
Prioritize acquaintances over new people → limit network expansion or unintentionally create a sense of cliques.
Difficulty connecting with strangers , affecting the ability to cooperate in new environments.
Uncomfortable with superficial social relationships → easily miss opportunities to connect or learn.
Can be misunderstood as closed off or uncaring if not proactively opening up to people outside of the “close circle”.
🔎 Needs of a Relator
Every theme has certain needs that must be fully met in order to contribute effectively to its goals. If these needs are not met, it will be difficult for this talent to reach its full potential. (Just like a plant needs the right soil - water - air environment.) For Relator to reach its full potential, your environment and way of working must meet the following needs:
Opportunity for deep 1–1 connection.
Take time to learn about other people's goals and values.
A space to discover the talents and strengths of those around you.
Opportunity to build meaningful, close relationships with colleagues.
People take precedence over process.
So pay attention and "satisfy" your Relator to excel in work and life!
I keep my friends as misers due to their treasure, because, of all the things granted us by wisdom, none is greater or better than friendship. - Pietro Aretino
🛠️ What to do to "sharpen" the Relator in you?
Now that you understand your Hidden Talent, take full advantage of Relator's potential to become a more confident version of yourself! Start by:
Show others that you trust them .
Take the initiative to let your colleagues know that they can trust you .
Always stay in touch with close friends, no matter how busy you are.
Care about the real person and the story behind , not just the title or role.
Specific actions to show interest: mentoring, connecting people, or creating activities outside of work to get to know each other better.
Make time for regular 1–1 meetings with your manager or key colleagues.
🤝 What Strengths Make Relator Shine?
In a Strengths profile, talents do not exist in isolation. They combine, interact, and influence each other. Some talents amplify each other, while others moderate or balance each other.
Talents that tend to amplify Relator: Individualization, Empathy, Developer, Arranger, Deliberative, Maximizer.
Talents that tend to moderate with Relator: Woo, Positivity, Includer, Harmony, Consistency, Activator.
🌟 Conclusion
Relator is a talent that is both emotional and practical, helping you build a cohesive team, creating performance from trust and companionship . When nurtured properly, Relator not only helps you achieve work results but also brings lasting value to relationships in life.
Are you ready to turn your Relator strengths into outstanding advantages in work and life?
Are you an HR looking for solutions to elevate your team and leadership?
📩 Discover solutions for developing individual and team talents at the Solutions page ( Our Solutions ) of Vietnam Strengths Academy, where you and your team can make a breakthrough with your own inherent strengths.
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