Strength Based Mentoring

People exceptionally talented in the Significance theme want to be very important in others’ eyes. They are independent and want to be recognized. Clifton StrengthsFinder Those high in Significance know when there is something great and purposeful happening. They see the larger impact and want to be a part of it. People with Significance are those that feel called to leave their footprint on the world. Gallup writes, “the genius of people with strong Significance begins and ends with the difference that they are determined to make. They want the world to be a better place because they are in it.” To these individuals, what others think of them matters; they want to be seen as credible, reliable, and valuable. When another views them in this way, they know that they can have a greater impact. Because of this gift to establish their own credibility, people with Significance are often independent in their work. These individuals like to have free reign to make decisions and d...

People who are exceptionally talented in the Self-Assurance theme feel confident in their ability to manage their own lives. They possess an inner compass that gives them confidence that their decisions are right. Clifton StrengthsFinder A quote that epitomizes Self-Assurance is from one of my favorite thinkers, Henry David Thoreau. He says, “If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away.” Those high in Self-Assurance have an inner sense of confidence in themselves and their abilities. This keen sense of awareness allows them to be secure in their decisions. People high in Self-Assurance may often make a decision that seems illogical or is against all advice given; however, what you may not see in their decision was their confidence in it. As a result, people high in Self-Assurance are often risk-taking leaders who pave new paths for exploration. Self...

Recently, I have been taking a class with my church entitled, Emotional Healthy Spirituality. The course syllabus, if you will, is filled with exercises and practices to help you become more emotionally mature so that you may become more spiritually mature. During one of the first few classes we were given an info graphic with a “feeling wheel” on it. It was a colored pie chart with six basic emotions listed in the center such as mad and sad. As you move out from the center of the pie, more detailed and descriptive emotions are listed, such as hostile, remorseful, or apathetic. In order to dive into the class, I wanted to start cataloging my feelings every day. After a few days I was starting to notice a pattern; I would come home and sit down to describe the day, but all I could come up with was “good” or “fine”. However, good and fine aren’t on the feeling wheel. It wasn’t long after this puzzle that I began to see that I do not usually understand how I feel, or rather that ...

People exceptionally talented in the Learner theme have a great desire to learn and want to continuously improve. The process of learning, rather than the outcome, excites them. Clifton StrengthsFinder People with high learner have a craving to know more. They are constantly looking for more: more information, more skills, more knowledge. Learners are like a sponge; they naturally soak up new information rapidly, often with the keen ability to remember it. The content and passion behind a person’s learning is catered to that individual; some may learn better inside a classroom, others outside, some may like to learn about a subject, while others, a skill or ability. Furthermore, the context of someone else’s learning is often dependent on their other strengths; for example, someone with Context, may love to learn about history, while someone with Relator might love to discover more and more about their closest friends. Those with Learner do not just love to learn new things,...