A Look at Responsibility

People exceptionally talented in the Responsibility theme take psychological ownership over what they say they will do. They are committed to stable values such as honesty and loyalty. 

CliftonStrengths

This week, our guest blogger is Christy Scott. Christy Scott is a mentor and the Co-Coordinator of the TeamMates chapter of Waverly-District 145 in Nebraska. Her primary role in the district is as a High School Match teacher. Her top 5 strengths are Responsibility, Harmony, Communication, Relator, and Focus. Here’s what Responsibility looks like for Christy:

When I wear my teacher, coach, or coordinator hat, my Responsibility drives me to create a plan, stay organized, and prioritize in order to get “it” done.   When I wear my mom, wife, or friend hat, being responsible makes me reliable and dependable to family and friends.  While I lead with Responsibility, it is usually never alone.  Communication and Focus help me to keep my Responsibility in high gear. 

My Responsibility rarely hides on a day to day basis.  At school, I am responsible for educating and encouraging students every day.  I teach 3 different courses and have to keep up on my lesson plans and be ready to adapt in order to meet students’ needs.  I feel like my responsibility to 3 young children at home is even greater than the 100+ students I teach.  Getting them fed, off to activities, making sure homework is done, and getting in some family time definitely requires a plan and some prioritizing.

I just started my mentoring journey a couple of months ago, but have been a part of the TeamMates chapter in our district from the beginning as a co-coordinator.  Responsibility and Communication go hand in hand as we train, interview, and schedule all the matches.  Understanding my strengths allows me to recognize when I can go full speed and when I need to hold back and gain other perspectives or seek help and other ideas. 

My top 5 are Responsibility, Harmony, Communication, Relator, and Focus.  While it is beneficial to understand how these all work together to help me shine, I think it has been more powerful for me to take a step back and realize the lead strengths of those who I work with.  It helps me to understand others and allows for a stronger, more successful team when we recognize how all the strengths work together. 

I think teachers and coaches recognized Responsibility in me at a young age.  I was one of the students the teachers would ask to run an errand or to help out.   I was called a “teacher’s pet” and, of course, that upset me.  I wasn’t asking for the extra attention, but looking back, I can say that it was my Responsibility standing out. 

As a reflected on this strength and collected thoughts to write this blog, I thought, “How boring!”  But I can own Responsibility since it is what propels me to be a successful mother, wife, teacher, coach, and friend.  And stories and memories that come from those paths of life are anything but boring!

-Christy