I love this time of year.  A fresh start.  New beginnings.  A hope for things to come.

I'm sure most of you have thought about your goals, resolutions, or things you want in 2015.  I know I have.  As a "self development junkie", I've thought about how I can take what I've learned in 2014 and make 2015 the best year yet. How can I use my strengths more intentionally?   A new year.  A new me.  A better me.  

So with this new year-what do you want?  What do you hope for?  What do you dream of?  How can we take the lessons learned in 2014 and leverage them in 2015?  How can we use our strengths everyday to meet our goals?  How can we stay focused this year?

Here are a few of my favorite ideas that help me stay intentional about my goals:

1)  Make a vision board.  Take magazines and cut out images, words, and pictures that resonate with you.  Hang it where you can see it everyday.   This is a great visual reminder.   To learn more about vision boards click here.

2)  Journal.  Successful people journal.  Here's a great article by Forbes about why journaling is so important.  Click here.

3)  Get an accountability partner or mentor.  This helps us take responsibility for what we say we will do and hold us accountable to those actions.  Here's another great article on accountability partners and goal setting. Click here.

I'm excited about this year for you!  You're going to do great things.  As Zig Ziglar said, "You don't have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great."

Thanks for supporting reCreate over this past year.  It's truly an honor to be apart of your lives.  I look forward all the new and exciting things happening here!  Stay tuned!

With much love,

Sarah 


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Anticipating obstacles and taking serious care when making decisions or choices allow individuals with high deliberative to be “risk-reducers”.

How do they think?

Life is a minefield.  Considering all options and thinking through the pros and cons of each scenario enables these individuals to carefully identify the dangers, weigh their relative effect, and then walk deliberatively with care.

How do they feel?

Although situations might seem in order, they sense many risks that lie beneath the surface.   They are compelled to draw each one out into the open.  Making the correct choice is more important than the time it takes to do so.

How do they behave?

Needing time to listen and think before being expected to speak is important for high deliberators.  Before moving on, these individuals are double and triple checking their work to make sure there are no landmines and the right decision has been made.

 

Tips for living your best life as someone with DELIBERATIVE:

•   Be sure to set aside some time each day for yourself.

•   Make sure when making decisions you have enough viable time to do so and don’t feel rushed.

•   Help others think through their decisions before they act too quickly.

 
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WOW!  What a great year this has been!

When the holidays arrive I start reflecting on what life has held for the last 12 months.  This year I am in awe of all the wonderful things reCreate has been apart of and how much richer my life has been because of people like you.  Yes...I'm talking about you.

I think about how blessed I am to do what I do everyday.  When people ask me about my work, how many of us get to say, "I get to talk about what's right with people"?  I know this world could use a few more of us out there. I think about the hope I've seen in peoples faces when they realize their uniqueness.  I think about confidence gained due to doing more of those things they love and less of those they don't.  I think about better communication between individuals, families, teams, and organizations.  I think about better boundaries.  I think about better understanding. I think about more grace given. And I think about the change that's occurred in me and around me because of such conversations.  All because we started talking about what's right with people.

As 2014 comes to a close and 2015 begins, I challenge you not to get lost in the hustle and bustle of a new year but to be mindful of being a light for someone else. Start talking about what's right with them. Investing in them.  Encouraging them.  Spending the time necessary to understand them and help them.  If all of us just chose one person to love on this year imagine the change the world would see.

Thanks for being apart of the reCreate family!  I so look forward to this new year with you and all the fun and exciting things to come!  Stay tuned!

With much love,

Sarah

Someone who is using his or her Strength of input will be very inquisitive.  Their interests guide them and are always on the look out for information that can be helpful down the road.

How do they think?

People with high Input always want to know more.  They ask a lot of questions and have this insatiable thirst for new information.  They think the world is an exciting place because of its limitless variety and complexity.

How do they feel?

Individuals with input feel compelled to use the information they know for others.  They have a constant need for acquiring new knowledge to help others when the information can be called upon.

How do they behave?

Those with high input acquire, compile, and file things away.  They are deemed “collectors” of books, facts, memorabilia and other things that interest them for future use.  By bringing tangible tools that can facilitate growth and performance, those with high input are great resources to a team.

 
A few tips to help those with Input to live at their best: 

•   Make sure you are scheduling time to read books and articles that stimulate you.

•   Create a system that will help you store and organize all your information you’ve collected. 

•   Be aware that you will never feel that you know enough.

 

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Someone who is using his or her Strength of empathy has an intuitive sense of other’s emotions and feelings.  They sometimes can hear the unanswered questions and anticipate needs of others before it’s even expressed.

How do they think?


People with high Empathy put themselves in other’s shoes.  They can instinctively understand the thoughts and emotions of those around them, sometimes before that person has the ability of understand it themselves.

How do they feel?

Individuals with Empathy feel or perceive people’s joy and pain.  Their disposition is powerful and assists them in saying the right thing in the right tone.

How do they behave?

Those with high empathy see the world through the eyes of others and share their perspective.  They help other’s express their feelings and find the right words.  Building and forming relationships that have great emotional depth is a trademark of someone high in empathy.

 
A few tips to help those with Empathy to live at their best: 

•   Make sure you take time each day to decompress.

•   Help others name their feelings and become aware of those feelings around them. 

•   Practice refining your words to help you more clearly articulate the feelings you experienced and observed in others.

 

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The ladies of reCreate were asked to be guest speakers on Called to Coach with Gallup on November 21, 2014.  Here's our interview for all those who missed it!

Having the natural ability to orchestrate people and resources for maximum effectiveness is what gives arrangers their real power and edge.

How do they think?

Arrangers are thinking about how they can organize and reorganize people, pieces, or resources to achieve maximum productivity.  They enjoy thinking about all the variables and how they can align and realign them to create the perfect and most productive configuration.

How do they feel?

They feel confident and are best in dynamic situations.  They intuitively sense how different people can work together.  They are up for a complicated challenge that allows them to think on their feet about how everything will fit together.

How do they behave?

They jump into the confusion, devise new options, hunt for new paths, and figure out new partnerships.  The ability to organize while also having the flexibility to change on a dimes notice really highlights the effectiveness in arrangers.


Tips for living your best life as someone with ARRANGER:

•   Seek complex, dynamic work environments in which there are few routines.

•   You may feel happiest when you’re apart of a team-look for this both personally and professionally.

•   Develop successful strategies for getting things done.  Challenge yourself to find new ways to become most efficient.

 

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Fairness and is the hallmark value for someone who is highly talented in Consistency. They get things done in their own lives and within teams they are a part of by setting consistent rules and practices.

How do they think?

Individuals who are high in Consistency are keenly aware of the need to treat people the same. They believe people function best when they are in a consistent environment where clear rules are applied to everyone.

How do they feel?

People high in Consistency feel like they are guardians to what is fair and what is just. They never want anyone to gain an unfair advantage by bending the rules in someone else’s favor because they feel this is truly offensive.

How do they behave?

Balanced is a good way to describe the behavior of someone with Consistency. They set clear and consistent rules that make their lives and the lives of others predictable. And creating predictable environments is how they try and set up their lives.

 Tips for living your best life as someone with Consistency:

• Make a list of consistent rules and structure to live by in your personal and professional life

• Seek out roles to provide help to disadvantages people to create a level playing field for them

• Know when it’s acceptable to bend the rules to avoid being inflexible
  

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What are your Top 5?
Woo
Relator
Communication
Positivity
Includer

How do you see them playing out in your life?
The primary focus in my life and business is to have meaningful conversations and develop trust-ful relationships with others.  My Woo helps to connect with others easily no matter who they are.  I try to see the best in others and what they have to contribute to their workplaces and lives.  I am always excited and positive about the potential impact others may have on their world.

What is your favorite theme?
My favorite is the Woo.  I truly love connecting with people in authentic ways.  I feel fulfilled when after I meet with someone and then collectively unlock the courage to take action together.

What one theme that gets in your way?
My Includer sometimes gets in the way of me executing tasks and moving projects forward as I am constantly concerned if we’ve addressed all the potential issues with an initiative.  It takes time to hold everyone’s perspectives, and it can slow down the process of delivering the fun work we do.


How has knowing your Top 5 empowered you to live a more authentic life?
Knowing my strengths has empowered me to be more of who I am and not work on being better at what’s ‘unnatural’ to me.  I admit openly to needing other people to help me execute projects since I tend to focus on relationships and influencing groups.  I also talk about my strengths and others’ strengths so that I know HOW to work with others in order to raise engagement as well as do our best work as humans.

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-Erin Passons is the president and founder of Passons Consulting.  Her goal is to help people do what they do best, at work and in life.  -


For more than a decade, I’ve had the unique opportunity of helping business leaders, managers, and employees improve their effectiveness using the StrengthsFinder assessment as part of professional development workshops and coaching.  As a leadership development consultant and coach, one of the most common questions I’m asked from my clients is, “How do I use this information about Strengths to create a more effective team?”

While StrengthsFinder provides significant value to an individual by helping them identify their own natural talents, one of the more powerful applications of the tool (and a Strengths-based approach in general) is to help people work more effectively with others, both at work and in their personal life.  The interpersonal dynamics that can be explored, explained, and improved within a team is one of the most fulfilling (and fun!) parts of my job. 

It’s easy to find research from Gallup and others enumerating all the ways that a Strengths-based approach increases engagement, performance, and overall productivity; the data is extensive.  But what does that look like in action, especially with teams?  How can highlighting Strengths promote increased team communication, camaraderie, and ultimately, performance?

A real-life case study from a client can help bring this into focus.  In the example that follows, an information technology team within a large high-tech company was having some communication troubles that affected their performance and effectiveness, and a few simple insights about their Strengths helped them to become more productive. 

When we brought the team together for the StrengthsFinder workshop, the issue of less-than-effective meetings came up during a discussion of “Team Challenges and Opportunities.”  Nearly everyone agreed that they all had the best of intentions at the start, but about halfway through most of their meetings, the conversations derailed into an often-heated and frustrating dialogue.  I asked a few team members to share their perspectives with the group, and heard very different responses:

From Joe’s perspective: “Our meetings are horribly unproductive.  We start out with a clear agenda of what we want to accomplish, and as soon as we start to check off an item on our list and make an action plan, someone brings up another opinion or idea, and we veer off into an unnecessary debate about the merits of that new idea.  We talk in circles for the rest of the meeting and it takes us forever to actually get anything done.  It’s endlessly frustrating!  We need to just commit to one idea and figure out how to make it happen.”

From Rajesh’s perspective: “I disagree completely!  I think the problem is that we don’t dedicate enough time to fleshing out all the ideas we generate, and we try to jump too quickly to making a plan.  How can you make a plan when we don’t yet know exactly what we’re talking about?  We need to debate, discuss, explore and then maybe the right idea will come about.  But too many of the Type A people are jumping in with the to-do list before we’re ready!  It just doesn’t make any sense!”

Clearly this was a textbook case of seeing the world through different Strength lenses, leading this team to miscommunication and disagreement.  Worse, the team dynamics were beginning to lean toward mistrust, negative judgment and even anger.

I started to work toward a solution by asking a simple question of the group - “based on your unique talent combination, what do you need from the meeting experience for it to feel productive to you?”  We heard a variety of responses, but most of them fell into two camps:

1)    I call this first group the “Executors,” people who, like Joe, were primarily driven to accomplish a specific deliverable, make a plan, and check it off their list.  They were action oriented and felt most productive when they had some clear takeaways and to-dos after the meeting.  Their StrengthsFinder talents included themes such as Achiever, Arranger, Responsibility, Discipline, and Focus.


2)    The second group I dubbed the “Ideators,” team members who, like Rajesh, really enjoy the process of brainstorming and watching the connections happen between one idea and the next.  Some of these folks enjoyed the research process, of looking into the viability of each idea, whereas others felt most productive by being part of the energy created by bouncing ideas off of one another until the “right” one made itself known in an organic, free-form way.  Their StrengthsFinder talents included themes such as Ideation, Strategic, Futuristic, Connectedness, Adaptability, Input, and Learner.

Once we agreed that most people could identify with one camp or another (based on their StrengthsFinder Top 5 and their own instinct), I offered a suggestion to the group to help improve their meetings.  I encouraged them to think differently about the way their meetings are set up.  I asked them to think about what would happen if the only other people in their meetings were in their same “camp”?  While the initial response was “heck yeah, I’d love it!” after some chuckling they realized that they needed each other: the Ideators would come up with some amazing ideas but not necessarily know how to implement them, and the Executors could come up with an amazing plan of action, but…based on what? 

So we decided to make some basic modifications to the meetings’ structure:  The Ideators would meet first, and spend the first hour (or more if needed) in the brainstorming phase, moving closer to the right idea toward the end of their time together.  Then the Executors would join the group, hear about the idea finalists, and help the group move to action from there.  The team felt good about this strategy and committed to trying it out, but a few Analyticals remained skeptical. 

Three months after the workshop, I checked in with the Manager to see how things were going.  “You wouldn’t believe it!” he enthused.  “It’s like we’re a whole new team!  This one simple change has improved our productivity by at least 50%, not to mention the morale of the team has changed dramatically for the better.”

This straightforward example highlights the value of thinking through the specific Strengths of each person on your team – or on the team that you coach – as an essential step in improving real-world outcomes.  Leveraging each team member’s unique talent profile can be a powerful way to build cohesion and help your employees see the value of a Strengths-based approach.

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Love Strengths?  Want to become a coach?  Interested in knowing how the ladies of reCreate got started? Where they're heading?  Best practices they can share?

Called to Coach is where Gallup experts and outside contributors share tactics, insights, and strategies to help strengths coaches maximize the talent of individuals, teams, and organizations everywhere.

By: Jamie Librot, Gallup Senior Learning Solutions Consultant 


Affluent 20-somethings in America are in crisis. Most are struggling to find a job, and many who are employed are grappling to find meaning and fulfillment. This Millennial Generation yearns for self-discovery and a connection to a greater good. Social scientists have called this phenomena the “quarter-life crisis.” In previous generations, the angst associated with finding meaning in one’s life happened much later — near the age of 50. As such, it was called the mid-life crisis.

As a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach, organizational psychologist, and Millennial myself, I have been fascinated by this issue. Why is this crisis happening at a significantly younger age, and how can the Clifton StrengthsFinder assessment be used to persist through this difficult time?

History of the Quarter-Life Crisis

The period of adolescence (age 18-29) was not defined until after World War II. Prior to that time, children had to work at very early ages. By the time they were 18, they typically had at least five years of work experience and were considered to be adults. At this age they were getting married and starting a family. Their jobs were something that paid their bills. By 50, their children were grown and their mortgages were paid. The chaotic frenzy of their day-to-day lives (e.g., paying bills and taking care of children) dissipated and became an unnerving silence. In that quiet recess, they found they no longer had purpose in their lives and they didn’t really know themselves.

Today there is a strong middle class in America who has access to free public school until the age of 18. And 60% of all Americans enroll in four-year colleges. Marriage typically does not happen until much later. These circumstances have allowed the current generation to postpone their careers and family lives, and instead spend time focusing on themselves, their needs, and their aspirations. Many of them understand the privilege of their position and feel a fervent need to give back to the community.

What earlier generations had experienced in their 50s, today’s generation is experiencing in their 20s. Many well-known social scientists have verified the phenomena of the quarter-life crisis and have published numerous articles in countless family therapy and psychology journals. Social scientists agree that the 27% of Americans who fall within the 18-29 age range are largely in pain. This crisis is real.

Manifestations of the Quarter-Life Crisis

Today a job is more than something that just pays the bills. Many young job seekers consider the purpose, values, and global impact of companies when making employment decisions. They want a company that donates half its profits to charity, and has team outings that are community service events. They want flexible hours, a non-traditional work space, and the ability to work from home. They expect their entry-level job to directly link to achieving the company’s mission. And they expect to advance quickly through the ranks, just as young billionaires like Mark Zuckerberg promote young people to executive roles. Unfortunately no company can live up to these unrealistic expectations.

My Advice

My advice to escape from the quarter-life crisis is to take the Clifton StrengthsFinder assessment. Then pick a job and find meaning in it yourself, rather than hold out for a job that already has the meaning you’re looking for. For example, you may have achieved an engineering degree and your first job is to answer the phone at a medical device company. If you have Futuristic, think about the direction the company is going and be sure your interaction with customers reflects that brand. If you have Analytical, take note of which customers are frequently calling and whether you can extract data from the pattern.

Be realistic and understand that not everyone can work for Google or Apple. I don’t think that any company can live up to the standards our generation wants them to meet. As the Crosby, Stills, and Nash song goes, “If you can’t be with the one you love, love the one you’re with.” A mentor once told me that any company that has created good jobs for its employees is a company that is doing a good thing. Additionally, if the company you work for doesn’t donate to charity or run community service activities, take the initiative yourself and start leading such activities. Your efforts can make the work place better for yourself and everyone you work with.

Also realize that you will most likely need to start in an entry level job. I have used the Clifton StrengthsFinder assessment to coach several Millennials through the frustration they feel in not advancing as quickly as they would like. My best advice for them is to see this period of their life as a gift. If their current job is too easy, then they will have time to learn about the next role above them. When you eventually get promoted, the time you took to learn the higher level role will help you quickly succeed. You can also ask your manager for clear performance objectives that you need to achieve to get promoted. Then work with a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach to help you use your strengths to meet and exceed those objectives.

Lastly, talk about your frustration. Alexandra Robbins and Abby Wilner, coauthors of “Quarterlife Crisis: The Unique Challenges of Life in Your Twenties,” advise those who are experiencing the frustration associated with this time to talk about their feelings. They have found that many Millennials do not believe that they have a right to be upset, so they do not talk about it. This leads them to feel like they are the only ones with this problem, which leads to a feeling of isolation, and more reason to not reach out to others for help. This is a real problem, and you will probably need to reach out to your peers or a strengths coach to get help. Otherwise a quarter-life crisis can loom until it becomes a mid-life crisis.

Feel free to contact me if you are interested in working with a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach. Sarah Davis and Jennifer Fore are also highly-qualified Gallup-Certified Strengths coaches who can help you escape the quarter-life crisis. 



SOURCES
Atwood, J. D., & Scholtz, C. (2008). The quarter-life time period: An age of indulgence, crisis or both?. Contemporary Family Therapy, 30(4), 233-250.

Robbins, A., & Wilner, A. (2001). Quarterlife Crisis: The Unique Challenges of Life in Your Twenties. Penguin.



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For all those who know the webcast, Call to Coach, produced by Gallup-meet the brains behind this incredible program...Mr. Jim Collison!  The creation of Call to Coach is a prime example of Strengths at its finest.  We are honored Jim took time to sit down and talk with reCreate!  Enjoy!

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Becky JB Hammond | Isogo | Producer. Integrator. Seeker.

Achiever*Arranger*Learner*Belief*Connectedness


I have the dream-gift to be on a professional adventure in which I get to do what I love to do every day. In my work with teams, groups, and Individuals, I use the concept of directing our natural Talents at achieving the outcomes we dream of. And, over the past 7 years since I was first introduced, I have seen the power and beauty of Strengths impact lives, outcomes, and relationships. I love sharing this tool, this gift.

For me, though, before the professional commitment came the personal connection. And really, the inceptional and exceptional impact of “Strengths” in my life has to start with a story.  So, here is the scenario...

It is 6:30PM on a Monday evening in late 2006. I have been home just a few moments before David, my husband, walks in the door. I am already busy at work, and we find ourselves with different perspectives on the same moment in time.

My perspective:

I am working happily and steadily, both at my computer and in the kitchen. Closing out a day of work, while doing dishes, making dinner, and prepping lunch for the next day. I am focused on my tasks and David, who is leaning against the counter behind me, is not doing…anything. I’m engaged in the conversation—I rattle off the to-dos of the evening and ask him about his day. He doesn’t get up to help when he sees dishes are piled high. Instead, he tells me while I work. We could get a lot more done if he stepped in to help.

David’s perspective:

I am excited to finally be home and be with the one I love. Glad to fill a glass of water and stop in the kitchen to chat. It is hard to talk to the back of a head…but I try anyway. Becky is working on dinner, so her silence allows me the time to debrief and process my day. I walk over for a kiss and she barely looks me in the eye before returning to her work. We could connect so much deeper if she just slowed down for a few minutes.

Same situation, huge disconnect.

We did not feel that different from each other—both were adventurers, God-followers, committed to the same values. Both professionals working in careers. We both could not see why we would each ask for such unreasonable things from each other. We could not see that we really were not all that similar. It was as if we were both silently singing a song in our own heads—belting it out dramatically even—expecting the other person to guess or just know the tune. 

Our differences were the internal and the invisible Talents that filter our view of the world.

Then, in early 2007, we providentially stumbled upon a new language—the language of Strengths through the Gallup(R) StrengthsFinder(R). And this language—as we studied and learned to navigate it—it changed that scenario standing in our kitchen.

So for us, one of my strongest Talent Themes is ACHIEVER and one of his strongest is RELATOR.

An ACHIEVER has stamina, an internal drive and enjoys lists and getting things done. A RELATOR enjoys close relationships and deep one-on-one connections. With this insanely simple yet new and enlightening understanding of my husband, all of a sudden I was able to hear his internal song—the one he had been singing in his head all along. And, something amazing happened—that understanding opened me to making space for grace in my interaction with him. And now, he hears my song too, and I’m understood by him. I understand now—he is not wired like me, but he is wired intentionally and innately, with so much talent that I just did not understand.


So now (and not without failing of course!)...

...instead of getting frustrated by him not helping get things done, I can ask him, knowing that it is not natural for him to notice the “tasks” that need to be done.

...instead of ignoring his need for deep connection, I can add that to my list and stop and be with him.

...instead of standing there and not engaging in the work, he can take note to ask the best way to help, since he knows that speaks to me and gets time with me at the same time.

...instead of missing my need to get things done and getting frustrated in the process, he can ask when it would be a good time to connect since I might not see that as a to-do in the day.


I know what I bring and he knows what I bring. Stamina, lists, drive, getting things done.

He knows what he brings and I know what he brings. Deeper level of intimacy, time to connect and grow together. 

And that was the beginning, the impact, the way it all started for me. With a personal story of Talent and Strength and the opening for grace.

And that is where there is power in Strengths in impacting all lives, personal and professional. They provide a common language to bring that song inside your head, out in the open—to be blasted over loudspeakers or into the ear buds of the ones you hold closest. It turns that internal and invisible Talent that you are wired with into something that is palpable, external, and visceral; something that others around you can hear and understand and appreciate—the unique, successful, strong you.

Becky Hammond is an consultant, coach, speaker, and advocate for talent. To learn more about Becky and her company Click here. 

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What are your Top 5?
Woo
Responsibility
Significance
Activator
Arranger

How do you see them playing out in your life?
In my business I can really see where my Woo plays out.  I love talking to every single customer that comes into the restaurant.  I never meet a stranger. With activator I'm always getting projects, orders, schedules started and my arranger is constantly figuring out the best and most efficient way to coordinate all pieces to make our days in the brewery/restaurant run as smoothly as possible.  

What is your favorite theme?
Woo, I love the challenge of meeting new customers and winning them over.  It brings me a lot of energy to go from table to table chatting with the "regulars" and seeing how their days are going or meeting our first-timers as well!

What one theme that gets in your way?
Definitely my activator because my impatience can cause issues. I can make quick decisions that may not always be the best choice.

How has knowing your Top 5 empowered you to live a more authentic life?
It was great to see that I'm truly living in my strengths.  I'm constantly thinking of new ways to continue to sharpen my Top 5 and leverage them for continued success. I can understand why I make certain decisions and do things the way I do because of my strengths.  I work through these strengths without even thinking about it.


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In an exciting change of events, we've decided to take a break from our current blog series in order to explore the many ways Strengths are being use around the country! 

We all know that Strengths are exceptionally beneficial for the individual, but did you know that StrengthsFinder is also a universal tool used in a complete array of industries, including Education, Relationship Coaching, Government & Military, as well as many facets of Corporate America? 

In order to HIGHLIGHT some of the creative ways Strengths are being utilized and to INSPIRE you to bring Strengths more centered into your world, we have asked some amazing Strengths Enthusiasts around the country to share with us their involvement with Strengths and why they believe it's so important for future generations!

Today, we hear from Dr. Brad Johnson and his experience with Strengths and how he is using it in our education system.


Dr. Brad Johnson:

I am an author, speaker, and educator.  For the past two years, I have taught a graduate course called Ethics in Leadership. It was in this course where I was first introduced to StrengthsFinders. Before I taught the course, I first took the test to determine my own top 5 strengths, which are Maximizer, Achiever, Relator, Responsibility, and Competition.  None of the strengths came as a surprise because by this point in my life, I had a pretty good idea of where my strengths lied.  However, I wish I had taken the test back in my early 20’s when I was trying to find myself!

However, I knew this would be a great assessment for my graduate students to take since they were just beginning their leadership program. Since the first course I taught, I have been surprised at just how much the assessment and the course have impacted my students.  I regularly receive emails from students after the course letting me know just how much they learned and how they had never realized they had leadership strengths which would help them become more effective leaders.  Some students remark that they had never thought about having strengths themselves or if they did possess strengths then they must not be that important. Fortunately through my class they realize that they possess many of the same strengths as other effective leaders.  It gives them confidence to realize their potential as leaders.    

Unfortunately in our culture, we always focus on “weaknesses” or “areas of growth” and never give any thought to what people actually do well.  Many students will explain that the only feedback they get from teacher observations for example, that it is only what they can improve upon. They have never had an administrator tell them about the talents or strengths they possess which have benefited the school.  What a sad commentary on how we view ourselves in our culture.  We are constantly looking for “defects” in others, almost to the point that we “fear failure” rather than focusing upon strengths, which would motivate people to “pursue excellence” instead.   

One of the reasons I knew the assessment would be beneficial to my student is that after 20 years in education, I knew that leadership was not a focus in k-12 curriculum.  Students are taught to follow: follow class rules, follow schedules, follow instructions, but they are never taught to be leaders.  In fact the point I made earlier is the foundation of learning in school.  We are quick to point out the defects in students and areas in which they need to improve. This creates a culture of fear where they are afraid to try anything because if they fail, then it is just another defect!  But imagine if instead, schools were to focus on developing student strengths. Students would have confidence and feel a sense of security in taking risks, because they know it would be seen as negative but as part of developing their strengths.

When planning my latest book, What Schools Don’t Teach: 20 Ways to Help Students Excel in School and Life (Routledge), I knew I had to have a section on developing talents and strengths of students. Fortunately, I was able to draw from the expertise of Sarah, Jennifer, and Amanda, and create a chapter on developing leadership in students.  They shared many stories, and activities for me to include in the book.  Their passion for helping others develop their own strengths and to reach their potential is both refreshing and admirable. 

Dr. Brad Johnson is an author, speaker, and educator. To learn more about Dr. Brad Click here. 

To check out his book Click here. 

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What’s your top 5?
Communication
Connectedness
Woo
Activator
Belief

How do you see them playing out in your life?
As a Strengths Coach myself, I sometimes find it hard to identify when I DON’T see my themes playing out! J Our predominant talents really do explain so much of who we are!

As far as my communication, I’m a person of words and always have been. My first word (at 8 months old!) was “Hi” and the only time I got a detention in school was for “talking too much in class”. I’m never at a loss for meaningful words, which I realize is a gift. Whether coaching clients, mentoring young adults or walking alongside family and friends through life, I’m always able to track along with what’s being expressed (that can be a jumbled mess of verbal “rambling” or even non-verbal) and put words around it. This often helps others understand themselves and their world better than they could have on their own.

My connectedness is the “glue” that links every day and all seasons of my life together. I realize that nothing is on accident and so even in challenging times where I don’t “see where things are going”, I can trust that everything I’m experiencing is still part of a bigger plan and I help others to realize the same.

Woo! Ever since I was young, I didn’t know a stranger. I already mentioned my first word was “Hi!” but my mom tells funny stories of how I would relentlessly “greet” strangers with a “hi… hiiii… hiiiiiiii” until they would respond! Clearly I needed to “win them over”! Nowadays, I find my Woo playing out daily with interactions no matter where I am. I’m grateful for the fact that no matter the social, professional or ministry setting I’m always able to find a way to “break the ice” and make a connection with those around me. This is incredibly helpful in situations where people are not on the same page and need to be “brought in” together for greater effectiveness.

My Activator makes me a “thought à action” person by nature. One of the things I find interesting about my Activator strength is that it’s an influencing theme, not executing. So although I may want to “get things done quickly”, I do that best through the avenue of being able to influence others in a particular direction – whether I’m coaching them or working alongside them.

My Belief is expressed in the fact that I have very deeply-held and unwavering ideas about what is true. I’m not easily influenced by others, especially when it comes to my values. Once I have good reason to believe in something, it’s difficult or even near impossible to get me to think otherwise. This makes me a super strong advocate when I’m onboard with something, big or small!

 
What’s your favorite theme?
Wow, that’s a hard one to answer but I’ll say my Connectedness. It’s fun waking up every day with a sense that “Today is not an accident!” On the hardest days, this keeps me going! Complimented with my Communication and Woo, I thrive on conversations, especially with new individuals that I meet in my daily life through friends, family, in the marketplace and in ministry. Undoubtedly, in almost any conversation, I’ll be able to find “a reason” for us talking.

 

What’s one theme that “gets in your way”?
That’s easy. Definitely my Activator. Even in the basic Gallup definition, it says “often impatient” and that couldn’t be more true about me… but I’m learning to temper it. ;) Confession: I’m that driver who “tells” the car in front of me (who can’t hear me) “Moooooove!”… and then I laugh at myself because I realize, “I’m not in a rush! I’m actually going to be EARLY!” I also have zero patience for instruction manuals, which either causes me to break things or set them up incorrectly and, in the end, often wastes time. What I find helps in those scenarios is to call on my Woo to get someone else more knowledgeable and patient to help me with the task at hand. J My Activator also trips me up when I sense so badly the need to “get moving” on something but haven’t taken the time to make a plan. I’m a great partner to the person who wants to plan forever and never get anything GOING.


How has knowing your Top 5 empowered you to live a more authentic life?
We live in a society that claims to encourage “uniqueness of individuals” but the reality is most are simply seeking to be a version of the person next to them.  Knowing, taking ownership of and applying my Top 5 gives me the freedom to love the fact that, in some ways, I’m wired like others… but I’m still unique from all! In the adventure of being a StrengthsFinder coach, I get to glean from others and how they are coaching but I embrace the fact that I get to be me (and will find more success) when I chose to coach in a way that is aligned with how I have been uniquely designed. I think one of the most powerful ways that knowing my Top 5 helps me to live a more authentic life is the fact that I know how I’m meant to be used in the lives of OTHERS, empowering them to do the same.

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Someone who is using his or her Strength of Command will rarely go unnoticed. Just their presence demands attention. They take charge, do what needs to be done and are not afraid of confrontation.

How do they think?

People with high Command see no point in beating around the bush and feel like it’s essential to get their opinion across because it allows them to bring to light what may be normally avoided or misstated which in their mind is necessary.

How do they feel?

Individuals with command naturally are confrontational. They feel like confrontation will lead to resolution of conflicts and misunderstandings and aren’t afraid to be seen as the “bad guy”. Challenging people is the way they feel brings honesty and clarity.

How do they behave?

Those with high command are natural leaders and typically take control of situations. They are good at persuasion and bringing up the hard issues. You will often see them speaking up and not afraid to share their opinion which may be seen as intimidating to others because of the confidence and passion they exude. The gift in that is that they often push others to take risks and people look to them as someone that will take a stand and lead them.

A few tips to help those with Discipline to live at their best: 

• Find roles where you will be able to persuade and lead others
• Ask others for their opinions. Your Command Strength may intimidate others to not speak up. 
• Practice communicating your message with someone to make sure it is will be well received 
  

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Signed, sealed and delivered. That’s what you can expect from someone who is dominant in Responsibility. Their commitment to their responsibilities and promises are as dependable as the sky is blue. 

How do they think?
They are driven by their ethical ownership to follow through on their commitments. They don’t see any other option but to follow through with excellence on anything their name is attached to. Those with Responsibility are extremely conscientious of following things through to completion.

How do they feel?
They feel psychological ownership over anything their name is attached to. They don’t believe in excuses or rationalizations that explain away anything that hasn’t been followed through with the utmost perfection. They love to be needed and love to show their commitment to keeping up their good name.

How do they behave?
Dependable, trustworthy, ethical, moral---these are just a few words that sum up someone with the Responsibility talent. You can expect that they will not only get things done on time but with excellence and quality.

Tips for living your best life as someone with RESPONSIBILITY:

• Make sure not to overcommit. Once people see that you will always get the job done right, you will likely be the first one they go to to ask for help
• Take the time to celebrate your achievements 
• Allow others to take the lead and give them the opportunity to shine in their Strengths
  

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What are your Top 5?
Maximizer
Achiever
Relator
Responsibility
Competition


How do you see them playing out in your life?
I think from an early age I was aware that I was very driven. Whether it was sports or academics, I always tried to be the best.  Just participating or trying just didn’t cut it for me. I had to be constantly improving and making gains in pursuit of perfection. This of course made it difficult as an adult to work under bosses who weren’t as driven or who didn’t like high achievers.  So, it took me a while to find my niche. I have finally found a good balance where I can utilize all 5 of my top strengths. I am an author, speaker, and I also teach a graduate courses in leadership where I incorporate the strengths finder assessment.

What's your favorite theme?
It might sound strange, but I think responsibility is my favorite theme. Any promise I make or task I start, I feel like I have to follow through on it. I feel like building a good reputation is critical to success in life and the responsibility helps build that good name. 

What's the one theme that "gets in your way"?
While it is my top trait, I think maximizer may actually get in the way sometimes. I am all about excellence, and sometimes it is tough to stop, For instance when I am writing a book, I never feel like it is perfect, but at some point, there is a deadline and I have to let go, but it is tough!  I feel like if it has my name associated with it then it has to be perfect, good is just not enough. This also probably causes me a higher level of stress than I probably need.

How has knowing your top 5 empowered you to live a more authentic life?
I incorporate the 5 strengths into my professional and personal life. In fact, it has been instrumental in helping me help others develop their leadership traits as well. My latest book, What School’s Don’t Teach has an entire section on developing students’ talents and strengths. I was fortunate to have Sarah, Jennifer, and Amanda as expert sources for the book. Moving forward, my goal is help others identify and develop their strengths so that they can be more successful in life.

Additional info…
Dr. Brad Johnson:  Speaker, educator, and author of What Schools Don’t Teach: 20 Ways to Help Students Excel in School and Life

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You know a Futuristic person by the way they view the world. Their worlds are full of limitless possibilities covered with eternal optimism that those dreams are easily achieved. If they can imagine it, in the mind of a Futuristic, it is already reality.

How do they think?

They are constantly thinking about the future and the possibilities of that probable reality. Their vivid mental pictures allow them to see in detail of what that looks like, feels like, smells like and tastes like. Usually highly optimistic, a Futuristic’s view of the world typically points to a better reality.

How do they feel?

They are inspired and energized by the future and what the possibilities could be within it. Their visions are generally full of optimism because their minds are buzzing with the “what if’s”.

How do they behave?  

You might call them dreamers or living in the clouds. You will likely notice them painting a picture of what could be and inspiring the people around them to see that amazing future.

Tips to live at your best as a Futuristic:

• Take time to put your visions and dreams in writing each week
• Partner with someone who is good at executing in order to see your dreams come to reality
• Involve yourself in areas where you can energize and inspire people
  

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 1.  What's your top 5?
Individualization 
Positivity
Developer 
Maximizer
Woo

2.  How do you see them playing in your life?
In a multitude of ways - however namely in the ease of doing what I love best! - I am good at various tasks within my work -and therefore it takes less time and in turn less costs for my clients when they embrace creative license and enabling me to soar with there designs!

3.  What's your favorite theme?
Probably positivity - As I am one of the lucky ones who embraces changes and can normally find the upside to every painful lesson.

4.  What's the one theme that "get's in your way?" 
Definitely the individualization - I need unique - different - never seen before …. Clients sometimes not so much.  They occasionally call me and ask me to replicate a design I’ve done previously and I prefer not to . Design is as unique , as the individuals who reside there. I simply believe your own uniqueness should be a part of the design - not someone else’s ..


5.  How has knowing your top 5 empowered you to live a more authentic life?  
It has empowered me to Own my Gifts - I no longer apologize for wanting to create unique custom things , (sometimes a little bit costly things) If you want Prefab times  - thats wonderful, and its not incorrect. I simply realize I need the oxygen that creativity provides me when I am concept-ing from my heart the most amazing element that isn’t available to the masses.

Clients who feel that they cannot afford my services , sometimes scale back a project - instead of doing a whole floor - we may tackle 3 rooms - SPOILER ALERT - you will quickly see the difference and rush to afford phase 2 :)

I never connected the dots on this theme before - but its truly innate . I am also a boutique shopper vs. big box I would prefer my personal style to be individual and chic - vs . Mass  production purchase on line - I'm not a label person - I like quality above quantity , and need to share that in my work.

Check out Jennifer's beautiful designs on her website: http://www.jenniferbrouwerdesign.com

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