Leveraging Strengths: Maximizing Your Team’s Potential

Patty Witkowsky, Ph.D.Kelsey Murray

Student Engagement & LeadershipColorado State University-Pueblo

Learning OutcomesAs a result of attending our presentation,

you will be able to:• articulate what positive psychology is• apply the strengths-based approach to

your individual work• apply the strengths-based approach to

your teams• facilitate group development activities

that promote individual strengths

“Success is achieved by developing our strengths, not

by eliminating our weaknesses.”

What is Positive Psychology?• History of positive psychology and

the strengths-based movement• Developing students, professionals,

and teams

Use of Strengths-Based Approach in Higher Education

• Advising• Career development• Groups & teams (student

organizations)

Higher Ed Institutions Using Strengths Development

The following institutions have been recognized for exemplary strengths development:• Asbury College• Azusa Pacific University• Baylor University• Berry College• Bethel University• Bluffton University• Chattanooga State

Community College• Creighton University• Evangel University• Harper College

• Kalamazoo Valley Community College• Lee University• Lipscomb University• MidAmerica Nazarene University• The Ohio State University• Southern Methodist University• Tabor College• Texas Christian University• Texas Tech University• Tompkins Cortland Community College• University of Minnesota• University of Missouri• Washington University -- St. Louis

Philosophy of Strengths• Talent, strengths• Importance of understanding your

team members’ strengths for both their personal productivity, but also the effectiveness of your overall team or organization

• Dominant hand exercise

Activities for Individual Awareness• Determine strengths:– Take the test– Review and choose 5

• Understand their strengths– Assumption pairs: what you’re probably good at– The person who was assumed, gives an

example of how that plays out in their daily life

• Using your strengths– Issue in current position: how can you use your

strengths to alleviate that issue (talk in pairs)

Activities for Group Development• Creating diverse strength groups– Interviewing for positions– Committees– Project groups

• Fake group activity– Pairs and then choose 2 ghost members’

strengths to compliment their group

• Four domains of leadership strengths– Executing, influencing, relationship building,

& strategic thinking

Strengths Finder

• http://freestrengthsfinder.workuno.com/1-free-strengthsfinder-test.html

• www.strengthsquest.com (cost)

Questions???