Strength Based Mentoring

People exceptionally talented in the Futuristic theme are inspired by the future and what could be. They energize others with their visions of the future. CliftonStrengths This week our guest blogger is Suzanne Hince. Suzanne has been with TeamMates since 2005, serving as the Executive Director for 11 years, and last year, transitioning to become the TeamMates Foundation Director. In addition to being a staff member, Suzanne has also been a mentor with TeamMates for 12 years . Her top five strengths are Strategic, Self-Assurance, Achiever, Futuristic, Ideation. Here’s what Futuristic looks like for Suzanne: The best way I can describe the Futuristic theme is…daydreamer.  I can get so lost in my own thoughts about the possibilities of how things could be that I lose track of time and place.  I used to be a runner and one of the reasons I loved to run was it gave me the dedicated space and time to think about problems, situations and plans for the future.  It was also my

People exceptionally talented in the Focus theme can take a direction, follow through, and make the connections necessary to stay on track. They prioritize, then act. CliftonStrengths This week our guest blogger is DeMoine Adams. In 2012, DeMoine came on staff with TeamMates, launching our Post-Secondary program, TeamMates+. Last year, he became TeamMates’ Program Director. In addition to being a staff member, DeMoine has also been a mentor in both Lincoln Public Schools and Gretna Public Schools. His top five strengths are Achiever, Focus, Discipline, Leaner, Strategic. Here’s what Focus looks like for DeMoine: My Focus puts me in a zone where I can channel all of my energy into something and tune everything else out.  It allows me to boost my number one Strength which is Achiever, while complementing my number three Strength which is Discipline. I have a lot of hats to wear in my position with the TeamMates Mentoring Program – from projects and never-ending e-mai

People exceptionally talented in the Empathy theme can sense other people’s feelings by imagining themselves in other’s lives or situations. CliftonStrengths This week our guest blogger is Tricia Dix. Tricia has been a mentor with Millard Public Schools since 2011. In addition to mentoring, last year, Tricia began working for our central office as an Administrative Assistant. Her top five strengths are Harmony, Empathy, Connectedness, Consistency, and Discipline. Here’s what Empathy looks like for Tricia: Growing up I was told that I was “too sensitive”, could easily cry “crocodile tears”, and that I should have been an actress because I could cry on cue!  I always wished that I wasn’t so sensitive.  I viewed it as a weakness.  It wasn’t until the day I took the Gallup Strengths Finder and discovered that my #2 strength is Empathy, that it all made sense.  It was then that I realized being empathetic is not a weakness, but rather one of my strengths.  I have always sai

People exceptionally talented in the Discipline theme enjoy routine and structure. Their world is best described by the order they create. CliftonStrengths This week, our guest blogger is Audrey Watson. Audrey  works for TeamMates of Lincoln Public Schools, where she serves as a Project Specialist. Her top 5 Strengths are Discipline, Positivity, Achiever, Learner, and Responsibility. Here is what Discipline looks like for Audrey: Many of the people I know would be shocked that I am not choosing to write about positivity in this blog.  My top Strength is actually Discipline and I strongly believe that this strength describes me very well and I feel that I confidently name and claim it, but as with my other four strengths, I’m still working on aiming it. “People exceptionally talented in the Discipline theme enjoy routine and structure.  Their world is best described by the order they create.”  This is a strength of mine that I absolutely love because with Disciplin

People exceptionally talented in the Developer theme recognize and cultivate the potential in others. They spot the signs of each small improvement and derive satisfaction from evidence of progress.   CliftonStrengths This week our guest blogger is Stephanie Horner. Stephanie joined our TeamMates Team as a Screening Specialist in the Central Office in September of this year. In November, she began her mentoring journey with a 4 th grader in the Omaha Catholic chapter. Her top five strengths are Empathy, Ideation, Developer, Learner, and Positivity. Here’s what Developer looks like for Stephanie: I would define the Developer strength as the ability to highlight, encourage, and rejoice in the gifts of others. Essentially, this strength focuses on seeing the potential in others, honing their specific gifts and talents, and cheering for every progression in development toward their full potential. In my day-to-day life, my Developer strength is most evident in my inte