DISCOVERING & DISCOVERING & PUTTING PUTTING OUR OUR STRENGTHS STRENGTHS TO WORKTO WORK
2008 Cabinet RetreatDivision of Student AffairsNorthern Illinois University
What is Strengthfinder?What is Strengthfinder?
Strengthfinder is a tool to seek out your dominant strengths and a program to focus on capitalizing on these strengths.
Two books: Now, Discover Your StrengthsGo Put Your Strengths to Work
Wh
at is a
stren
gth
?Consistent, near perfect performance in an activity
What is his strength?
What is his strength?
Conventional wisdom…Conventional wisdom…tells us that we learn from our mistakes.
The strength movement says that all we learn from mistakes are the characteristics of mistakes. If we want to learn about our successes, we must study success.
Putting the Themes to Putting the Themes to WorkWork
We need to learn how to take our existing job and reshape it around our themes; make our jobs play to our strengths.
Make the best of our jobs the most of our jobs.
Establish a new framework for work:1.) Pinpoint what invigorates & what depletes you2.) Stay in control of your hours3.) Explain what you are doing 4.) Address change with a clear head
6 Step Process6 Step Process
Bust the MythsGet ClearFree Your StrengthsStop Your WeaknessesSpeak UpBuild Strong Habits
The MYTHSThe MYTHS
As you grow, personality changes.
You will grow the most in your areas of greatest weakness.
POOF… The myths are gone!
Time to Get Clear…Time to Get Clear…
Strengthfinder gives you themes… not strengths; help you discern strengths
Strengths are the things you do consistently & near perfectly
Strengths have three ingredients:
Talents, skills & knowledge
Sig
ns o
f a S
tren
gth
SuccessInstinctGrowthNeeds
Sig
ns o
f a W
eakn
ess
Lack of…
SuccessInstinctGrowthNeeds
Questions…Questions…Are there any obstacles to
building my strengths?Why focus on these themes?Is there significance to the order?What if I don’t feel they apply?Are there theme “opposites”?Will I become too narrow if I
focus on just my signature themes?
GETTING CLEAR GETTING CLEAR EXERCISEEXERCISE
STRENGHTSFINDERSTRENGHTSFINDER THEMESTHEMESAchieverActivatorAdaptabilityAnalyticalArrangerBeliefCommandCommunicatio
nCompetitionConnectednes
sContext
DeliberativeDeveloperDisciplineEmpathyFairnessFocusFuturisticHarmonyIdeationInclusivenessIndividualizati
onInput
IntellectionLearnerMaximizerPositivityRelatorResponsibil
ityRestorativeSelf-
AssuranceSignificanc
eStrategicWoo
Exploring our Strengths Exploring our Strengths ExercisesExercises
Gather in groups of 3-4 individuals;
Avoid gathering with too many fellow
COPers… we will work later as COPs
Complete the two-part exercise:• Sharing your Reaction & Reflections
• Feedback from Others
STRENGHTSFINDERSTRENGHTSFINDER THEMESTHEMESAchieverActivatorAdaptabilityAnalyticalArrangerBeliefCommandCommunicatio
nCompetitionConnectednes
sContext
DeliberativeDeveloperDisciplineEmpathyFairnessFocusFuturisticHarmonyIdeationInclusivenessIndividualizati
onInput
IntellectionLearnerMaximizerPositivityRelatorResponsibil
ityRestorativeSelf-
AssuranceSignificanc
eStrategicWoo
Now, Discover Your Now, Discover Your StrengthsStrengthsReactions & Reflection Reactions & Reflection ExerciseExercise First Reactions? Agree/Disagree?
Surprises? Which themes fit you best? Which themes hold the strengths
you use most? How does each theme help you in
your work role?Which themes do you most want to
develop?
Now, Discover Your Now, Discover Your StrengthsStrengthsFeedback ExerciseFeedback Exercise
Do you see this theme in me?Provide an example…
What surprises you? Which of the five themes do you notice most in me?
Are there any additional themes of talent that you see in me?
Free Your Strengths Free Your Strengths FOCUS
Identify how this strength/theme helps you in your current role
RELEASEFind missed opportunities in your role
EDUCATELearn new skills related to this strength
EXPANDBuild your job around this strength
Stop Your WeaknessesStop Your WeaknessesSTOP
Simply eliminate the activityTEAM UP
Partner with others who are strengthened by the activity
OFFER UPVolunteer your strength and steer your job toward it
PERCEIVELook at your weaknesses from a different perspective
Speak UpSpeak UpThis discipline presents the concept of
frequent dialogue in the workplace about strengths and weaknesses
Continually voicing the concept of strength-based leadership will lead to greater utilization of the principles
Discuss strengths when assigning roles & responsibilities
REMEMBER: The goal is to approach your work the majority of the time from a strength perspective; attempting this all of the time is likely unattainable
SPEAK UPSPEAK UPEXERCISEEXERCISE
Giving Voice to our Giving Voice to our StrengthsStrengths
Gather with the members of your COP.
Complete the worksheet provided and discuss the questions at the end.
Please be prepared to summarize your discussion of the questions with the larger group.
Building Strong HabitsBuilding Strong Habits
• Go Put Your Strengths to Work, provides daily, weekly, and annual exercises you can use to build the habit
• Apply these themes throughout the year as we interact with one another
• Explore your themes & further define your strengths before taking this further
A Visual for the 6 Step Process
Moving beyond YOUR Moving beyond YOUR Strengths…Strengths…
• Now, Discover Your Strengths offers great ideas about managing strengths in your department (this section may even give you better insight into yourself!)
• Models for Strength-based Organizations
Managing StrengthsManaging StrengthsWhat is the difference between
checkers & chess?
“Mediocre managers play checkers with their people. They assume (or hope) that their employees will be motivated by the same things, driven by the same goals, desire the same kinds of relationships, and learn in roughly the same ways.”
What percentage of the USworkforce is actively engaged atwork and believe they are doing
what they do best?
16%What about your staff?
Remember… our people’s strengths are our greatest
asset!
Teaching StrengthsTeaching StrengthsModels for student-centered
programs – common reading, advising/retention purposes, mentoring programs, employment programs, etc.
Students possess groups of talents before they enter our hallways
These talents form the basis of how they learn, achieve, and persist
Potential to enhance person-environment interaction, as well as cognitive & affective development
QUESTIONS? QUESTIONS? COMMENTS?COMMENTS?
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