I was asked this question recently, “How would someone know that you purposefully and intentionally develop and live your strengths?” It took a lot of strategic thinking on my part to figure out a way to not only respond, but to demonstrate in writing what “purposefully and intentionally” living your strengths meant. I took out my StrengthsFinder Insight Report and, once again, completed the activity of underlining the phrases and words that most resonated with me in each of my top 5 Talent Themes. This was about the third or fourth time I completed this exact task. But, this time, I viewed my report through a different lens.
I began to see patterns that I did not see before by simply referring to the question at hand. I dissected my report into categories:
What I do, How I do it, and Why. As I began to type out the phrases and words under each category, I realized something was missing. There were highlighted phrases that did not fit within those 3 categories, but were important to me. After studying each theme again, the realization of my fourth category became clear,
What makes me unique?I remembered a phrase my Alignment Coach, Kyle, used to refer to a lot. He called it the 3 C’s:
Clarity, Confidence, and Calm. In that moment, I felt an overwhelming sense of emotion. The answers I have been looking for within were right there in front of my face:
my WHY, my PURPOSE, how I use my strengths to be my BEST SELF, and most importantly what makes me UNIQUE. All of a sudden, the sense of clarity, confidence, and calm rushed through my soul. I had reached yet another level of transformation.
I replied to the question asked of me, “How would someone know that you purposefully and intentionally develop and live your strengths?” by sharing in a document what is written below.
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Living Intentionally: How to Succeed with Strengths
July 28, 2015
My Top 5 Talents: Strategic ~ Maximizer ~ Responsibility ~ Futuristic ~ Positivity
What I Do: Working Within My Strengths
- I discover each person’s unique qualities, interests, and strengths. (Maximizer)
- I identify and recognize the differences that make each person unique. (Maximizer)
- I motivate people to transform something good into something utterly superb.(Maximizer)
- I move people to take action. (Responsibility)
- I inspire and lift the spirits of people around me. (Positivity)
- I offer a unique perspective on events, people, challenges, and proposals. (Strategic)
- I position a person for success once I know what drives him/her to take action and produce outstanding results. (Maximizer)
How I Do It: Intentionally Using My Strengths
- I talk to, observe, and study successful people who have produced excellent results to identify what inspires them. (Maximizer)
- I associate with those who share my passion for taking something good and making it better.
- I listen to people and do not discount or belittle their emotions, ideas, or reactions to events. (Positivity)
- I speak with precise phrases and terminology and am forthright and plainspoken. (Strategic)
- I propose alternative courses of action, different ways of doing things, and generate innovative ideas. (Strategic)
- I inspire, encourage, and hold people account to take action to start projects, launch initiatives, and/or set goals and measurable outcomes. (Strategic)
- I work persistently until I can deliver on my promises. (Responsibility)
Why I Do What I Do: Aligning My Strengths to My Purpose
- I have a natural fondness for human beings. (Positivity)
- I think about what my life could be like in the future. (Futuristic)
- I work hard to breathe life into my big dreams. (Futuristic)
- I am compelled to make a meaningful and lasting impact on the planet. (Positivity)
- I desire to live a legacy of great value and worth. (Positivity)
What Makes Me Unique? The Interplay of My Talents, Now Turned Into Strengths
Strategic
- I express myself with ease and grace.
- I love to collaborate with others and enjoy group brainstorming.
- I have acquired special skills and knowledge to coach, consult and help others.
- I notice new as well as unusual configurations in facts, evidence, or data.
- I am fascinated by problems that puzzle, confuse, or frustrate most people.
- My subconscious mind continuously absorbs information and creates possible options.
- I see opportunities, trends, and solutions before others see them.
Maximizer
- I am aware of what I do well and what I do not do well.
- I trust my instincts.
- I refuse to risk losing confidence in myself by tackling assignments for which I lack the talent, even if I possess some relevant knowledge, skill, or experience.
- I spend my energy on what I know I do well and manage around my weaknesses.
- I learn, grow, and build on what I naturally do best.
Responsibility
- I am open and honest about who I am, what I have done, and what I cannot do.
- I authentically communicate to others my strengths and limitations.
- I am hardwired to do what I say I will do.
- I do more than just “live up” to my commitments. I go the extra mile.
- My work ethic is very important to me and is as much a matter of conscience as it is in just simply doing tasks.
- I have a strong need and desire to do what is right, honest, true, correct, proper, and accurate.
Futuristic
- I possess a high level of skill/knowledge about specialized issues, subjects, processes, or programs, such as talent development, leadership skills, business challenges, and human resources processes.
- I channel my mental and physical energies toward what I can accomplish in the days, months, and years ahead.
- I concentrate better when I set short-term objectives.
Positivity
- In the end, I want my life to have mattered.
All Rights Reserved, © 2015 Beckie Jorgensen________________________________________________________________________
The lesson here is if you have taken the StrengthsFinder Assessment, do not put your StrengthsFinder Report in a drawer and forget about it. It is a significant tool that when studied, read over and over, and action steps carried out in your daily activities, can transform your life. Even those of us who are Certified Strengths Coaches, who eat, breath, live and teach strengths-based development to clients need to continuously learn, grow, and develop our own strengths every day. Self-development is a continuous process. One of the best tools to help you is probably sitting in a drawer somewhere near you. If you have not taken StrengthsFinder and want to learn more, I encourage you to connect with me.
I have made a commitment to myself that every Sunday, I will pull my report out and, week after week, read it again and again and again…I know this one intentional task will stop my own limiting beliefs, keep me focused and on track to achieve my goals, and allow me to show up every day as my BEST SELF!
“God gives each of us special talents and gifts. It is both our privilege and our duty to make the most of them.” – Robert E. Allen
ARE YOU READY TO TAKE ACTION? Do you want to find your purpose within? Do you want to show up every day as your BEST SELF? Haven't taken StrengthsFinder 2.0 and want to learn more? Then I would love to connect with you!
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