Minnesota Literacy Council

 Introductions  Please share: ◦ Name ◦ Site ◦ Something you’re excited about this fall

Finding Fulfillment Through Your Strengths Adapted from workshop by Kara Schommer CPCC Coach and trainer

 Learn more about & discuss your own strengths  Learn about & discuss the strengths of your VISTA/supervisor  Understand how different types of strengths contribute to a well-balanced team  Reflect on how you can utilize your strengths most effectively – individually and together

 “That’s so me!”  Skeptical  Strengths envy  Other reactions?

 Why is it helpful to focus on strengths rather than weaknesses?  Tendency to focus on negative  Helps us understand conflicts – where am I coming from? Where are you coming from?  Focusing on strengths doesn’t mean you can stop doing everything else – but you can use your strengths and/or knowledge of others’ strengths to be more effective in accomplishing what you need to do

0 interest/talent X 5 hours work = 0 (no yield) 2 interest/talent X 5 hours work = 10 (some growth) 5 interest/talent X 5 hours work = 25 (get a lot more out of it!)

"Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and then go do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive." --Howard Thurman

SIGN  Success: when you do it, you feel effective  Instinct: before you do it, you actively look forward to it  Growth: while you are doing it, you feel inquisitive and focused  Needs: After you’ve done it, you feel fulfilled and authentic

 What have I been magnetically attracted to in my life?  What do I learn quickly & easily?  What makes me feel fulfilled?  When do I lose track of time?  Where have I/others noticed “glimpses of excellence” – brilliant moments?  What stood out to you when doing this reflection?

 How did you spend your time as a child?  How did it make you feel?  Do you notice any connections to your life now? As you grow, you become more of who you already are.

 Talents – naturally occuring patterns of thought, feeling & behavior  Knowledge – facts and lessons learned  Skills – steps required for activities Combine to form strengths

ExecutingInfluencingRelationship Building Strategic Thinking AchieverActivatorAdaptabilityAnalytical ArrangerCommandDeveloperContext BeliefCommunicationConnectednessFuturistic ConsistencyCompetitionEmpathyIdeation DeliberativeMaximizerHarmonyInput DisciplineSelf-AssuranceIncluderIntellection FocusSignificanceIndividualizationLearner ResponsibilityWooPositivityStrategic RestorativeRelator

Executing Know how to make things happen Implement a solution and work tirelessly to get it done “Catch” an idea and make it reality Influencing Help their team reach a much broader audience Sells the team’s ideas inside and outside the organization Take charge, speak up, make sure the group is heard Relationship Building The essential glue that holds a team together Can create groups that are greater than the sum of their parts Keep energy high, get people motivated, mentor and guide others Strategic Thinking Focus on what could be, see opportunities for growth Absorb and analyze information to help the team make better decisions Stretch the group’s thinking toward the future Pick your primary domain. What does this look like for you?

ExecutingInfluencing Relationship Building Strategic Thinking Think about your primary domain. Why is this domain important? What do people who lead from this domain need from the other domains in order to be most effective?

ExecutingInfluencing Relationship Building Strategic Thinking Think about the people you work most closely with. Where do you see your strengths as a team? Where might there be gaps?

 Reference attachment  Choose a strength to focus on. ◦ What is the impact/result when I use this strength in the balcony? ◦ What is the impact/result when I use this strength in the basement?

 Balconies/basements  Metaphor  What is helpful for others to know about how I activate my strengths most effectively?

 Choose one strength you’d like to “amp up”  Share & hold each other accountable

 Final thoughts and comments

Have a great day!  Ellen Bergstrom, VISTA Manager   Amy Krill, VISTA Leader 