1. Leveraging Your Strengths
Leadership Detroit 36
October 9th, 2014

2. Steve Gravenkemper, Ph.D.
Leadership Consultant Contact Information
Steve Gravenkemper, Ph.D.
Plante & Moran
27400 Northwestern Highway
Southfield, MI 48034
(248)

3. Buckingham & Clifton’s Premise
….to capitalize on your strengths whatever they may be, and manage around your weaknesses, whatever they may be.
Now, Discover Your Strengths: Marcus Buckingham & Donald Clifton

4. Three Components of Strength
Talents
Knowledge
Skills

5. Talent
Talent is any (naturally) recurring pattern of thoughts, feeling or behavior that can be productively applied.

6. Examples of Talent Instinctively Curious Competitive Charming
Responsible

7. Knowledge
Knowledge consists of facts and lessons learned.

8. Strengths Finder Profile
… is designed to reveal your five strongest themes or talents. These themes may not be strengths yet. They are areas of greatest potential, areas in which you have the best possible chance to cultivate a world-class strength.

9. Strengths Finder’s Purpose
… is not to anoint your strengths, but to find where you have the greatest potential for a strength.

10. Discussion Exercise 1
Top Five Themes

11. Strengths Finder 2.0 Applications
Discussion Exercise 2
Strengths Finder 2.0 Applications

12. Leveraging Generational Strengths
Five Generations in the Workplace

13. Increasing Diversity in the Workplace
Note to Chad: There is a slide from the initial MBA presentation that we sent to Donna that highlights the desire for promotion by generation. Please insert this slide here.
* The take-away is that for Millenials, career advancement is more important than Gen X or the Boomers. I like this because it is counterintuitive.

14. Generational Differences
Traditionalist
Boomer
Gen X
Millennial Y
For the first time in history, four generations are working side by side. Different values, experiences, styles, and activities create misunderstandings and frustrations.
Today, 70 million Baby Boomers will be eligible for retirement in large numbers.
Generation X, a generation with different sensibilities and priorities than Boomers, will assume positions of leadership in schools and districts.
When Generations Collide: Who They Are. Why They Clash. How to Solve the Generational Puzzle at Work”
Lynne Lancaster and David Stillman

15. Generational Differences
The Baby Boomers thought nothing of getting up at 5 a.m. to work. The younger generation doesn’t think much of it either.
Jack Welch

16. Traditionalists KEY WORDS: LOYALTY & LEGACY Traditionalist
Societal Influences
Great Depression
Roaring 20s
WWI & WWII
Korean War
GI Bill
Characteristics
Patriotic – Waste Not Want Not
Faith in Institutions
Military Influence
Authoritarian Leadership Style
Don’t complain – Just deal with it
KEY WORDS: LOYALTY & LEGACY
Value Logic and Discipline 
Don’t Like Change
Want to Build a Legacy
When Generations Collide: Who They Are. Why They Clash. How to Solve the Generational Puzzle at Work”
Lynne Lancaster and David Stillman

17. Boomers KEY WORD: OPTIMIST Boomer Societal Influences Characteristics
Societal Influences
Suburbia TV
Vietnam
Human Rights
Music and Libations
Characteristics
Idealistic
Competitive
Not easily led – Question authority
KEY WORD: OPTIMIST
Value Logic and Discipline 
Don’t Like Change
Want to Build a Legacy
When Generations Collide: Who They Are. Why They Clash. How to Solve the Generational Puzzle at Work”
Lynne Lancaster and David Stillman

18. Gen X KEY WORDS: SKEPTICISM Gen X Societal Influences Characteristics
Societal Influences
Sesame Street
MTV
Game Boy PC
Divorce Rate Tripled
Latch Key Children
Characteristics
Eclectic
Resourceful
Self-reliant
Distrustful of Institutions
Highly Adaptive to Change and Technology
KEY WORDS: SKEPTICISM
When Generations Collide: Who They Are. Why They Clash. How to Solve the Generational Puzzle at Work”
Lynne Lancaster and David Stillman

19. Millennial – Gen Y KEY WORD: ACCESS Millennial Societal Influences
Societal Influences
Expanded Technology
Natural Disasters
Identity Theft
Terrorism
Characteristics
Globally Connected
Cyber Literate
Personal safety is primary concern
Mobile device functions as 5th limb
KEY WORD: ACCESS
Value Logic and Discipline 
Don’t Like Change
Want to Build a Legacy
When Generations Collide: Who They Are. Why They Clash. How to Solve the Generational Puzzle at Work”
Lynne Lancaster and David Stillman

20. Generational Differences: Activity
Traditionalist
Boomer
Gen X
Millennial
Work in small groups and perform a SWOT analyses on one of the generations.
What are the strengths?
What are potential weaknesses?
What are the opportunities?
What are the threats to this generation?
What can you learn from them?

21. Thank You