Strength Based Mentoring

I'm really fortunate to work with and learn from Tess, and let's just put it out there that she's 23 and I am not. What our work relationship and friendship reinforces is that I have much to learn from those around me, particularly those who are different.  Whether those differences are in age, season of life, background; we all have a lot to learn from one another when we open up our minds and hearts. This past year, Tess and I found unplanned strengths conversations often led to some of the most meaningful strengths learning.  Earlier this spring, we decided to share some of that learning from our unique generational perspectives through a video series called “Genn and Millie”.  Every other week, we get together and utilize a strengths exercise while sharing about real life moments.  What often happens is some great strengths spotting and occasionally quite a bit of fun.  Strengths awareness truly comes from everyday moments like this.  I am a firm believer that

People exceptionally talented in the Belief theme have certain core values that are unchanging. Out of these values emerges a defined purpose for their lives. CliftonStrengths This week, our guest blogger is Annette Woodhead. Annette is the Regional Coordinator for the Western Region (or as she likes to say, “the Wild West”) of TeamMates Mentoring Program. Her top 5 Strengths are Responsibility, Belief, Developer, Positivity, and Achiever. Here is what Belief looks like for Annette: If you possess a strong Belief theme, then you have certain core values that are enduring.  Typically, this belief theme causes a person to be family oriented, relationship oriented, and even spiritual and provides direction to your life.  It also demands that you find work that is meaningful and matters to you….. a purpose. I don’t think until I discovered my “strengths” through TeamMates, several years ago, did I understand how I was wired, how God made me uniquely.  I also didn’t see “me”

People exceptionally talented in the Arranger theme can organize, but they also have a flexibility that complements this ability. They like to determine how all of the pieces and resources can be arranged for maximum productivity. CliftonStrengths This week, our guest blogger is Sue Kennedy. Sue is the Regional Coordinator for the northern region of our organization. Sue’s top 5 Strengths are Positivity, Includer, Woo, Arranger, and Futuristic. Here is what Arranger looks like for Sue:                 The executing theme of ARRANGER is number four of my top five.  Before learning more about ARRANGER I really thought this theme was COMPETITION.   At my best when dealing with multiple things , and living in the moment, is when I’m most productive! As a child growing up on a ranch I worked along side my Dad who had an incredibly GREAT work ethic.  There was a driving force when we worked together, call it a relationship,  call it ARRANGER…that I couldn’t explain. Being

People exceptionally talented in the Analytical theme search for reasons and causes. They have the ability to think about all the factors that might affect a situation. CliftonStrengths This week, our guest blogger is Brian Klintworth. Brian is a mentor in Lincoln Public Schools. He also gives his time and expertise as a trainer for financial literacy mentor academies. Brian’s top 5 Strengths are Achiever, Discipline, Learner, Analytical, and Relator. Here is what Analytical looks like for Brian: I want you to think back to when you were in middle or high school and you gave thought to what you wanted to be when you “grew up”.  And then, I want you to compare what you wanted to be back then to what you are now.  My guess is that the career path that you ended up choosing is somewhat different.  As you got older, you found a better way to hone your strengths and determine what you were best suited to.  When I got asked in middle school what I wanted to be when I gre

People who are especially talented in the Adaptability theme prefer to “go with the flow.” They tend to be “now” people who take things as they come and discover the future one day at a time. CliftonStrengths This week, our guest blogger is Jen Benson. Jen is the Development Director for TeamMates Mentoring Program. Her top 5 Strengths are Empathy, Adaptability, Ideation, Developer, and Input. Here is what Adaptability looks like for Jen. At TeamMates, we talk a lot about our strengths in terms of their rank.  Adaptability is my “number 2.”  I think of adaptability as a lifestyle, not just a strength.  In high school and young adulthood, I was pretty “type A” in most things.  I was a perfectionist in school, got great grades, took on leadership positions, pursued challenging internships, had my life all planned.  As a busy mom with a demanding job and volunteer work that I love, I still don’t think of myself as a free spirit!  With that in mind, when I read the d