Strengths FinderStrengths FinderSusan LeavySusan Leavy

DirectorDirectorDirectorDirectorWoMen’s CenterWoMen’s Center

What is the StrengthsWhat is the Strengths--Based Based A h?A h?Approach?Approach?

From the field of social work this conceptFrom the field of social work this conceptFrom the field of social work this concept From the field of social work this concept emerged as a set of ideas, assumptions emerged as a set of ideas, assumptions and techniques:and techniques:qq People have the ability to affect their People have the ability to affect their

surroundingssurroundings——empowerment.empowerment.gg pp People have strengthsPeople have strengths——often often

unrecognized and underutilized.unrecognized and underutilized.gg Strengths foster motivation and are both Strengths foster motivation and are both

internal and environmental.internal and environmental.

What Research ShowsWhat Research ShowsWhat Research ShowsWhat Research Shows

People who DO have the opportunity to People who DO have the opportunity to focus on their strengths every day are sixfocus on their strengths every day are sixfocus on their strengths every day are six focus on their strengths every day are six times as likely to be engaged in their jobs times as likely to be engaged in their jobs

and more than three times as likely toand more than three times as likely toand more than three times as likely to and more than three times as likely to report having an excellent quality of life in report having an excellent quality of life in

generalgeneralgeneralgeneral

What Are Your Talents?What Are Your Talents?What Are Your Talents?What Are Your Talents?

HandoutHandoutHandoutHandout What are your natural, inWhat are your natural, in--born talents?born talents? Do you have an opportunity to express themDo you have an opportunity to express them Do you have an opportunity to express them Do you have an opportunity to express them

in your current position. How are they in your current position. How are they expressed?expressed?expressed?expressed? If your position does not accommodate your If your position does not accommodate your

talents do you express them in another talents do you express them in another y py pvenue?venue?

What is a Strength?What is a Strength?What is a Strength?What is a Strength? A strength is the ability to A strength is the ability to

consistently produce a positiveconsistently produce a positiveconsistently produce a positive consistently produce a positive outcome through nearoutcome through near--perfect perfect performance in a specific task.performance in a specific task.

Strength is composed of:Strength is composed of:

Most successful people start Most successful people start with dominate talent and then with dominate talent and then add skills, knowledge and add skills, knowledge and

Skills, basic abilities to Skills, basic abilities to perform fundamental steps of perform fundamental steps of a task. Must be acquired a task. Must be acquired through formal or informal through formal or informal training or practicetraining or practice

, g, gpractice.practice.

Th t l tTh t l ttraining or practice.training or practice. Knowledge, what you know, Knowledge, what you know,

does not exist naturally must does not exist naturally must be acquired through formal or be acquired through formal or informal educationinformal education

The raw talent serves as a The raw talent serves as a multiplier.multiplier.

informal education.informal education. Talents, the ways you Talents, the ways you

naturally think, feel and naturally think, feel and behave. Come into existence behave. Come into existence naturallynaturally

TalentTalent X X InvestmentInvestment = = StrengthStrength

naturallynaturally

When You Are Not Able to Use When You Are Not Able to Use Y S h W kY S h W kYour Strengths at WorkYour Strengths at Work

Chances are:Chances are:Chances are:Chances are: You dread going to workYou dread going to work You have more negative than positiveYou have more negative than positive You have more negative than positive You have more negative than positive

interactions with colleaguesinteractions with colleagues You talk about the “miserable” college youYou talk about the “miserable” college you You talk about the miserable college you You talk about the miserable college you

work forwork for You achieve less on a daily basisYou achieve less on a daily basisYou achieve less on a daily basisYou achieve less on a daily basis You have fewer positive and creative You have fewer positive and creative

momentsmomentsmomentsmoments

How Can you Tell?How Can you Tell?How Can you Tell?How Can you Tell?

Describe days when you came homeDescribe days when you came homeDescribe days when you came home Describe days when you came home energized and enthusiastic.energized and enthusiastic.

Describe days when you came home Describe days when you came home h t d d d i dh t d d d i dexhausted and drained.exhausted and drained.

Blind SpotsBlind SpotsBlind SpotsBlind Spots

Blind spots can be helpful or hurtfulBlind spots can be helpful or hurtfulBlind spots can be helpful or hurtfulBlind spots can be helpful or hurtful They may be a talent you have but keep They may be a talent you have but keep

hidden from yourselfhidden from yourselfhidden from yourself.hidden from yourself.

They might be a talent you have that servesThey might be a talent you have that serves They might be a talent you have that serves They might be a talent you have that serves to make your life more difficult in your job or to make your life more difficult in your job or with other people.with other people.p pp p

What are they?What are they?What are they?What are they?

Strengths HandoutStrengths HandoutStrengths HandoutStrengths Handout

What are your strengths ascertained fromWhat are your strengths ascertained fromWhat are your strengths ascertained from What are your strengths ascertained from Strengths Finder 2.0?Strengths Finder 2.0?

How do you use them in your current How do you use them in your current iti ?iti ?position?position?

How might you use them in the future?How might you use them in the future?

BenefitsBenefitsBenefitsBenefits

Be in the “right” seat or help others to findBe in the “right” seat or help others to findBe in the right seat, or help others to find Be in the right seat, or help others to find theirstheirs Foster a sense of purposeFoster a sense of purpose Foster a sense of purposeFoster a sense of purpose Release of enthusiasmRelease of enthusiasm Find natural synergiesFind natural synergies Anticipate frictionAnticipate frictionpp Means to deal with conflictMeans to deal with conflict

The EndThe EndQuestions?Questions?