2.0 Workshop…
STRENGTHS FINDER
Understanding My Top 5
Talking about My Top 5 with Others
Using My Top 5 (in the Job Search, Interview and New Position)
STRENGTHS FINDER
What is this and how can it help me?
Many images were drawn from a
slideshare presentation by James
Chang, Owner at Focal Point Display
ACTIVITY:I will focus on my strengths
“WHAT will HAPPEN when we think about what is
RIGHT with people rather
than FIXATING on what is
WRONG with them?”
Donald O. Clifton, Ph.D. (1924-2003)The Father of Strengths-Based Psychology and Creator of the Clifton StrengthsFinder®
77%
PATH OF MOST RESISTENCE?
23 year old groundskeeper at ND’s stadium with “heart”… who earned a spot on the football practice squad… and 2 years later “suited up” for the final game of his senior year… and tackled opposing quarterback in the final seconds of the game… instant HERO!
Do you have the opportunity to focus on what you do best every
day?
WHAT IS IT? HOW CAN IT HELP ME?
WHAT IS IT? HOW CAN IT HELP ME?
You are one in ~34 million…
33,390,720 to be exact
People Who Focus on Using Their Strengths…
Why Strengths Matter
Companies in the Top Quartile on Engagement Experience
Gallup Q12 Survey 2012 Reports brentobannon.com
PERSPECTIVE
Take a deep breath and think about your strengths… just you… thinking about you.
Knowledge
Skill
Talent
How does a Talent… become a Strength?
Investment…time spent practicing, developing skills, building knowledge
Investment is a MULTIPLIER of talent!
Talent x Investment = Strength2 5 10
Talent x Investment = Strength5 5 25
WHAT IS IT? HOW CAN IT HELP ME?
What would you do even if you weren’t paid to do it?
WHAT IS IT? HOW CAN IT HELP ME?
BALCONIES…
and…
BASEMENTS
From Insights to Awareness…
Knowing the tendency exists
Doing something to catch yourself
in the moment and change your
behavior
Applying your Awareness
Increase effectiveness & optimize your efforts
YOUR journey this morning…
Chatting
Get feedback through conversations with the
people you trust
Understanding My Top 5 Talking about My
Top 5 with Others Using My Top 5 (in the Job Search, Interview
and New Position)
Self-Reflection
Take some time to really KNOW what it
means for you
A few helpful tips to keep in mind
Fight the urge to rush…
There’s no “right” formula…
It’s about how… not if…
Value your uniqueness
Why is self-reflection important?
Invest in yourself and work smarter, not harder» With the intensity of being at a career crossroads, it
may seem counter-intuitive to take time to do this strengths stuff…but it has never been more important to operate at your best, and that starts with you!
Get beyond the ‘label’ of your Top 5» What is it really saying about you and about what you
do best? Don’t judge a book by it’s cover…many of the strengths have a deeper meaning than how you may interpret the ‘label’. Make it your own, customize how you think about your strengths!
KNOWING starts with you» Only when you understand yourself…your preferences
and typical behaviors…can you start to really grow and develop to do what you do best!
First Impressions…Understanding YOUR Top 5
• What was your first reaction to your Top 5?
• What part of your Top 5 surprised you?
• What strength did you expect to see among your Top 5 but didn’t?
• Which strength among your Top 5 stands out to you and why?
• What have you discovered about yourself?
ACTIVITY:Making My Top 5 Real
My Top 5Here’s My Definition of This Strength in a Few
Words
Here’s What I Like Most About This Strength
ACTIVITY:Dynamic Duos
Learner_________ + Individualization___ = I love to learn what makes people tick
(strength) (strength) (Describe the dynamic)
_____________ + _____________ = __________________________ (strength) (strength) (Describe the dynamic)
_____________ + _____________ = __________________________ (strength) (strength) (Describe the dynamic)
_____________ + _____________ = __________________________ (strength) (strength) (Describe the dynamic)
ACTIVITY:When My Top 5 Become Barriers
When I use _____________ effectively, it looks like this:
____________________________________________________
When I misuse ______________ , it looks like this:
____________________________________________________
When I misuse_____________, people say:
____________________________________________________
When I use _____________ effectively, people say this:
____________________________________________________
ACTIVITY:When My Top 5 Show Up
How My Top 5 Work For Me My Top 5 How My Top 5 Work Against Me
Why is chatting important?We all bring something a little different to the
table» There is a 1 in 33 million chance you will meet
someone with your Top 5 in the same order you have them! Get out there and share your unique story!
Awareness is key and feedback is a gift» You may need a little help to be aware of the
impressions you make and the effect (positive or negative) you have on others. Talking to another person to prompt your thinking, give room for real feedback, and ask the hard questions will do just that!
Invest in your own development» Think about what you heard from talking to others
about your strengths…points of consistency and places where you may see inconsistent behaviors. Then, think about how to take the path of least resistance!
ACTIVITY:Speed Dating
FUTURISTIC
BELIEF
INDIVIDUALIZATION
Why is it important to apply your new
awareness?
Leaders have a lot of responsibility
» Figure out how to use your strengths to be the most
effective employee you can be! Your recruiter and new
manager will be a “star”…
Connect the dots between engagement, strengths and
development
» Did you know that employees who have the opportunity to
do what they do best every day are 6 times more likely to
be engaged in their work? It’s true. Being part of a team
environment that taps into the unique strengths of each
individual increases the productivity and growth of the
whole team!
At the end of the day…it boils down to improving how
we search for an opportunity, interview and work
» The collective strengths create something greater than the
simple sum of the parts. Discover ways to search,
interview and work more effectively and achieve more!
JOB SEARCH
Summarize your insights
JOB SEARCH
Review your ideas for action
Example…
FOCUSSeek roles in which you can function independently. With your dominant Focus talents, you will be able to stay on track with little supervision
INTERVIEW PREP
Evaluate your potential job
INTERVIEW PREP
ACTIVITY:
STAR (or CAR) + Strengths
JOB SEARCH | INTERVIEW | NEW POSITION
University of Minnesota Resources
http://strengths.umn.edu/videos
JOB SEARCH | INTERVIEW | NEW POSITION
University of Minnesota Resources
http://sph.umn.edu/site/docs/careers/tipsheets/Strengths%20Quest.pdf
JOB SEARCH | Career exploration process
University of Minnesota Resources
http://strengths.umn.edu/videos
Strengths Domains
The Mash Up
Executing Influencing Relationship Building Strategic Thinking
Jackie
You?
Skills, education, personalities,
interests, company culture,
supervisor
“FIT”
What comes to mind?
I learned…
I re-learned…
I want to learn more…
QUESTIONS?