Leadership Playbook- Part 2, Strengths

Welcome to Stories of Change and Creativity… the podcast where we explore the intersection of personal development and professional growth.  This is part 2 of my audio series - Create your Leadership playbook.  I'm excited to join you on this journey. I'm a university professor and administrator at Texas State University.   I'm a certified coach using a Gallup Strengths, Tiny habits and Thrive framework.    

My leadership playbook consists of 4 steps.  1. Discover your strengths 2.  Understand the science of change, 3. Practice compassion and 4. Take action.  

In this episode, we're diving into a topic that's near and dear to my heart – discovering and applying your strengths and natural talents to propel you forward in your career and personal life.  I love helping others explore their strengths, so they recognize their own potential.  It’s not only interesting - it’s liberating. 

Have you ever wondered what makes you unique? Your strengths and talents are like hidden gems waiting to be uncovered, and today, we're going on a journey of self-discovery.

There are several assessments out there that can help shine a light on your strengths. One popular tool and my favorite - is the Gallup Clifton Strengths assessment. It identifies your top strengths out of 34 possible themes, providing valuable insights into what makes you exceptional.

Don Clifton is known as the father of Strengths-based psychology.  According to Clifton, strengths science answers questions about what’s right with people rather than what’s wrong with them.  Talents are naturally recurring patterns of thought, feeling or behavior.  Don Clifton studied human behavior and documented hundreds of positive characteristics. He analyzed and crafted these characteristics into 34 talent themes. 

So, let's talk about the power of knowing your strengths. When you identify your strengths, you're better equipped to leverage them in both your personal and professional life. These strengths aren't just skills; they're inherent aspects of who you are.  Gallup uses a formula - Talent times investment equal strength. The more you use your talents the more you’ll be living in your strength zone - or what I call - your zone of genius.    

If you’ve taken the full 34 Gallup Clifton Strengths assessment, you have access to extensive reports about all 34 talent themes.  1 through 34 - With the top ten being your most dominant. But keep in mind - that you have access and can use all 34 talents.  Think of dialing up the audio on your radio, speaker in your car  - or on your phone.  When you dial up the volume, the sound is more intense.  Talents at the top of your report might come through loud and clear.. you still have and can use talents 30-34, but you might need to purposely dial them up.  I can tell you, it comes in handy when you know when and how to dial up your strengths - 

In your career, understanding your strengths can guide you in selecting roles and projects that align with your natural abilities. It can also inform how you collaborate with others, creating dynamic and effective teams

Now, let's bring it back to the personal front. Knowing your strengths isn't just about excelling at work; it's about living a more fulfilling life. It can enhance your relationships, boost your confidence, and even guide your hobbies and interests. Let me give you a personal example. I have futuristic in my top 5… which means I like to talk about and plan for the future. When I shared my Gallup report with my husband, he understood why I think future when he lives more in the present.  

The Gallup Clifton Strengths assessment is a fantastic tool designed to identify your top strengths out of 34 possible themes. These themes are categorized into four domains: Executing, Influencing, Relationship Building, and Strategic Thinking. I’ll briefly explore how to interpret and leverage these strengths within these domains.

Let's dive into the first domain: "Executing." Strengths in this domain focus on the ability to turn ideas into action. If you find strengths like "Achiever," “Arranger” or "Responsibility" in your top themes, you likely excel at completing tasks, meeting deadlines, and driving results. 

Moving on to "Influencing," this domain emphasizes strengths related to engaging and persuading others. If you identify with themes like "Communication," “Significance” or "Woo" (Winning Others Over), you may possess the ability to inspire and bring people together.

Next, let's explore the "Relationship Building" domain. Strengths in this category are centered around connecting with others. If themes like "Empathy," “Connectedness” or "Relator" appear in your top strengths, you likely thrive in building deep, meaningful relationships.

Finally, we have the "Strategic Thinking" domain. Strengths in this category involve the ability to analyze information, think critically, and formulate effective plans. If themes like "Strategic," “Futuristic” or "Analytical" resonate with you, you likely excel at seeing the big picture and navigating complex challenges.

Now, if you’re thinking, "what about my weaknesses?" Well, I think it’s more important to lean into your strengths - and find ways to dial up your strengths - and create workarounds for your ‘weaknesses’.  And it’s not that we can’t live and work with our lesser themes - it’s just not as effective and takes more work.  For me, consistency is at the bottom of my talent theme list. Yes, I can work in a consistent, routine structure, but I excel and much prefer a day with variety and change.  

So, how can you apply this knowledge in your day-to-day life? First, embrace your strengths and find ways to incorporate them into your work and personal projects. Whether it's leading with empathy or using your analytical mind, your strengths are your unique. I call them superpowers.

Second, consider how you can communicate your strengths to others. This can be especially valuable in job interviews, team collaborations, or networking events. Articulating your strengths helps others understand your unique contributions.  If you take the CliftonStrengths assessment - you will have clear, descriptive language to use on your linked in profile, in resumes, job evaluations, etc.. I tell students to list their top 5 gallup strengths in their resume and linked in profile.  

Before we wrap up, I want to leave you with a challenge. Take some time this week to explore one of these assessments—Gallup Clifton Strengths, Myers-Briggs, or any other that resonates with you. Reflect on the results and think about how you can apply this newfound self-awareness to enhance your life.

Remember, your strengths are the unique colors that allow you to paint the canvas of your life. Embrace them, celebrate them, and watch as they move you toward new heights in your career and personal journey.

If you enjoyed today's episode, don't forget to subscribe to Stories of Change and Creativity and leave a review. Your feedback is invaluable. Until next time, embrace your strengths.  In our next segment, we’ll explore the science of change.  Thanks for listening.