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2. 2 Making the Most of Your Strengths

3. 3 Why Do Self-Assessment? Powerful personal development tool when used correctlyPowerful personal development tool when used correctly Reflection and self-knowledge are cornerstones of leadership developmentReflection and self-knowledge are cornerstones of leadership development Others are assessing you anyway!!Others are assessing you anyway!!

4. 4 Why Use This Particular Assessment? Assessment is scientifically soundAssessment is scientifically sound Good ideas to accompany the assessmentGood ideas to accompany the assessment Focuses on the positiveFocuses on the positive Is quick and inexpensiveIs quick and inexpensive

5. 5 Underlying Assumptions Building from strengths is more efficient and effective than working on weaknessesBuilding from strengths is more efficient and effective than working on weaknesses Understanding your strengths can help you find “good fits” in your lifeUnderstanding your strengths can help you find “good fits” in your life Your strengths shed light on who you areYour strengths shed light on who you are Understanding your strengths can help you become a better leaderUnderstanding your strengths can help you become a better leader

6. 6 A Crucial Difference Skills: thoughts, feelings, or behaviors that you can learn and / or doSkills: thoughts, feelings, or behaviors that you can learn and / or do –Skills are fairly easily acquired –Skills quickly degrade without frequent reinforcement Talents: any recurring pattern of thought, feeling, or behavior that can be productively appliedTalents: any recurring pattern of thought, feeling, or behavior that can be productively applied –Talents are unique and enduring –Talents are your “T1 lines”; spontaneous, top-of- mind reactions to situations

7. 7 A Quick Note CONSISTENCY = FAIRNESS in bookCONSISTENCY = FAIRNESS in book INCLUDER = INCLUSIVENESS in bookINCLUDER = INCLUSIVENESS in book

8. 8 Exercise: Making Sense of Themes 1.Write down your top five themes (or have your test output handy) 2.ID one of the themes that resonated with you 3.Put the theme into your own words by thinking of an example of when you used the theme

9. 9 Your Signature Themes : these are your five most dominant themes of talentStrengthsFinder Signature Themes: these are your five most dominant themes of talent –In these areas, you have the greatest potential for a strength. –Focusing on these themes is an efficient way and effective to build from your strengths

10. 10 About Your Signature Themes Represent top five areas for potential strengthsRepresent top five areas for potential strengths Rank ordered from 1 st to 5 th in dominanceRank ordered from 1 st to 5 th in dominance Signature themes show consistency in repeated tests and over timeSignature themes show consistency in repeated tests and over time Absence of theme does not necessairly constitute weaknessAbsence of theme does not necessairly constitute weakness

11. 11 Exploring a Relevant Theme Example of signature themesExample of signature themes 1.Strategic 2.Learner 3.Futuristic 4.Achiever 5.Maximizer Need to clearly understand the themeNeed to clearly understand the theme Look for larger patternsLook for larger patterns

12. 12 Findings from Top Achievers Top achievers build their lives around talents & develop talents into strengthsTop achievers build their lives around talents & develop talents into strengths Top achievers are highly aware of “fit” in their life (they use strengths in roles that best suit them)Top achievers are highly aware of “fit” in their life (they use strengths in roles that best suit them) Top achievers figure out creative ways to use strengths when doing “grunt work”Top achievers figure out creative ways to use strengths when doing “grunt work”

13. 13 Using Your Themes Read applicable book sections (p.83-116)Read applicable book sections (p.83-116) Highlight insightful and pertinent ideasHighlight insightful and pertinent ideas Look for talents underlying themesLook for talents underlying themes Discern broad patterns in themesDiscern broad patterns in themes Encourage others to take the StrengthsFinderEncourage others to take the StrengthsFinder Check for congruency and fitCheck for congruency and fit

14. 14 Using Themes to Assess Fit What do your themes tell you about your choice of academic major?What do your themes tell you about your choice of academic major? Choice of university?Choice of university? What about choice of profession?What about choice of profession? And your leadership style?And your leadership style?

15. 15 Leadership Implications Understand what Signature Themes say about youUnderstand what Signature Themes say about you Self-knowledge is cornerstone of effective leadershipSelf-knowledge is cornerstone of effective leadership Actively reflect on themes and talentsActively reflect on themes and talents Use talents and strengths to enhance your leadership capacityUse talents and strengths to enhance your leadership capacity

16. 16 Leadership Implications Understand what Signature Themes say about othersUnderstand what Signature Themes say about others People are uniquePeople are unique Effective leadership requires individualizationEffective leadership requires individualization Use book p. 117-210 for insights on leading others according to themesUse book p. 117-210 for insights on leading others according to themes

17. 17 Exercise: Your Greatest Hits Think about your greatest successes and triumphs. Briefly write down the answers to the following three questions:Think about your greatest successes and triumphs. Briefly write down the answers to the following three questions: 1.What has been your most successful experience in an employment, service, or volunteer work setting? 2.What has been your most successful experience in an academic, learning, or athletic setting? 3.What has been your greatest success in an interpersonal relationship, leadership role, club, team, or organization?

18. 18 Putting it all Together What are the patterns between your greatest successes and your themes?What are the patterns between your greatest successes and your themes? Do your themes shed light on fit—or lack of fit—in your life?Do your themes shed light on fit—or lack of fit—in your life? How can your themes inform your development?How can your themes inform your development?

19. 19 StrengthsFinder Lessons Know your strengths and organize your life to best leverage themKnow your strengths and organize your life to best leverage them Remember that the list is only top 5Remember that the list is only top 5 Continually assess fit in your lifeContinually assess fit in your life People bring different strengths to the tablePeople bring different strengths to the table