SHOWCASE FRIDAY: MISS DARAH!

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.

Want to be featured?  We would love to showcase you!

Haven't taken Strengths yet? Click here 

Follow reCreate on Instagram and Twitter under reCreateSD

Like this post? Comment below! 

 

 

---