Strength Based Mentoring

CliftonStrengths talent themes are innately neutral. It is up to us to apply them in productive ways for success. While we all aim to apply our strengths productively for the world around us, I am sure we can think of times where our strengths were actually the things that got in the way of our success. Today's activity takes a look at some of the most common challenges to affirming strengths: I was blind to my talents.  My talents threatened others.  I was in a position or role that did not fit my talents.  I was fearful of being proud or arrogant.  I didn't see how my talents would help me reach my goals.  This activity comes from Gallup's Strengths Quest resources, designed for high schoolers. Gallup recommends thinking of the following questions to facilitate discussion around these challenges: Can you think of challenges or roadblocks we face when attempting to affirm our talents? Do our strengths take care of them?  Do you talents need...

Gallup's meta analysis of CliftonStrengths has proven that our strengths really do not change over time. Our innate talent themes have been a part of how we have been wired from a young age. The featured strengths activity today allows us to first look back to our younger selves to recognize our strengths in the past, and secondly, to look forward to the ways we will use our strengths in the future.  This activity, Past and Future, is from the Clifton StrengthExplorer resource booklet, but can be used with all ages of students and adults alike! The worksheet asks you and your mentee to reflect on the following questions:  Thinking back to your younger self, were there times in your life when you used your talents?  Picturing your future self, do you think there will be times or places in which you might use these talents?  Reflect on these questions with your mentee, and use the worksheet provided to jot down these examples. The power of strengths happens w...