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A Look at Connectedness

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People exceptionally talented in the Connectedness theme have faith in the links among things. They believe there are few coincidences and that almost every event has meaning.

CliftonStrengths

 This week we have the opportunity to learn about the strength of Connectedness through the eyes of Maurie Deines. Maurie is the Co-Coordinator of TeamMates of Scotts Bluff County and is a mentor. Maurie leads with Connectedness, Belief, Responsibility, Learner, and Arranger. Here’s what Connectedness looks like for Maurie:



I lead with “Connectedness”.  My second strength is “Belief”.  I think that both of those strengths work well together.  Gallup states that “people with Connectedness believe that there are few coincidences and that almost every event has a reason”.  Although “Connectedness” is my lead strength, it is undergirded by my “Belief” which is my foundation.

Connectedness to me means that I often use relationships between people to benefit the common good of mankind.   I have always enjoyed getting to better know people.  In fact, in a group of people I am usually the one asking where they are from, what they do for a living, or where they now live.  In fact, sometimes my inquiry becomes deep enough that I can make a connection with them or someone I already know.  I’m sure I probably go too far with my inquisition as when our time is “up”, I know quite a bit about them but I have not given them a chance to find out about me.  So, when my top strength was identified and defined as “Connectedness”, I knew that was definitely defining me.  It certainly quickly validated the Strengths Finder program for me.

As the Co-Coordinator of our TeamMates chapter my day is filled with “Connectedness”.  I start each day with quiet meditation and Bible study.  So, I connect with my Maker at the dawn of each day.  The expectation of finding mentors, working with school counselors and administrators for finding mentees, to best match the new mentors and mentees embodies the use of connecting people as resources.  Even the closure of a match means still connecting the two in a respectful and humane way and often includes re-matching.  In addition, a big part of my job requires that I connect with consistent and new funding sources.  My other strengths are “Arranger”, “Learner”, and “Responsibility”.  To develop and maintain a strong TeamMates chapter requires the embodiment of stakeholders including school administrators, counselors, parents, mentors, mentees, and donors.

As a youth growing up in a small Nebraska town of 700 people required that it took a significant percentage of people to keep the community viable.  This included teaching the young people their responsibility also.  So, as a youth I was expected to participate in many activities:  sports, music, church, and Scouting.  Boy Scouting played an important part in my life as I attained the rank of Eagle Scout.  And, as an adult and as our own family grew, there was tug at my heart to make sure that I passed on the Scouting program to my family and my adult community.  So, I have been a Scoutmaster and continue to give back to youth through the Scouting movement.

Our chapter has been a Strengths Based chapter for over 5 years.  As such, my wife and I had the pleasure of believing and growing in “Strengths” with Allyson Horne from its inception in TeamMates.  Unfortunately, Peg, passed away in 2014 at the age of 67.  Ally has mentioned that Peg and I had a “Strengths based” marriage.  I would agree wholeheartedly. In fact, from East to West, I feel that Nebraska is truly a “small community” when one looks at it through a “Strengths based” lens.  TeamMates and Strengths are keeping it just that way………….and, I am grateful for just that.
-Maurie

If you are interested in guest blogging about one of your Top 5 StrengthsFinder themes this school year, please email Tess at tstarman@teammates.org


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