Strength Based Mentoring

People  exceptionally  talented in the Maximizer theme focus on strengths as a way stimulate personal and group excellence. They seek to transform something strong into something superb. Clifton StrengthsFinder If I was to pick one theme that defines TeamMates as an organization in recent years, it would be Maximizer. The last few years, TeamMates has been utilizing the resources of Jim Collins’s addendum  Good to Great and the Social Sectors . In this resource, Collins, walks social sector organizations through steps to enhance and develop their organization from a good program to a great program. Collins states, “Greatness is not a function of circumstance. Greatness, it turns out, is largely a matter of conscious choice, and discipline” (p. 31). We have focused, studied, and selected certain points from this text to implement at certain times in an effort to bring TeamMates from good to great. This philosophy Just 9.7% of our mentors and 8.5% of our men...

People  exceptionally  talented in the Strategic theme create alternative ways to proceed. Faced with any given scenario, they can quickly spot the relevant patterns and issues. Clifton StrengthsFinder TeamMates Executive Director Suzanne Hince calls her Strategic theme her “playbook to find solutions”. Hince, who leads with Strategic (#1), Self-Assurance (#2), Achiever (#3), Futuristic (#4), and Ideation (#5), states that she uses her Strategic theme each and every day, often in harmony with her other themes. One current use of her Strategic theme is through the chapter strategic planning process. Appropriately named, Hince travels to chapters to vision with them about their future, then decide what the best steps are to get to that desired future.  In terms of her leadership within TeamMates, Hince says Strategic helps her to find the right people the right seat on the bus, as well as understand her role within that dynamic. She explains, “I think the Strategic...

Another great example of strengths conversation opportunities!  From a fantastic band teacher and TeamMates program coordinator: Each day one band student tells a story about a time that they've been successful recently. Our new student told us today about when she auditioned for one of two jazz bands at her previous school. She thought she was going to totally blow the audition, but ended up 3rd trombone in the top jazz band. She said she worked on preparing the audition a little bit, but not a ton. Took a couple of days off, and spent the night before the audition practicing a lot. The kids' first guess at her strength (she doesn't know hers) was Achiever. I asked her if she has a list of things to do, how does she approach the list? Her response: "I try to knock out 2-3 of the things, then come back later...maybe." I love conversations with my kids! All students names are on the board, and each day we just move down the list. It used to be "tel...

At a recent training session, I was sporting my new bracelet - a gift from my mentor Gigi honoring my intended  word of the year .  Traci happened to notice, and asked me about the significance of my bracelet.  As I explained I establish an annual word each January in lieu of resolutions, Traci shared this year, she and her coworkers have been focusing on a word each week.  The word is chosen, and they find quotes and images around the word, creating thought and energy discussing what it may mean to each person.  This staff isn't just limiting their conversations to their office, one of them - an awesome TeamMates mentor - is also sharing with her mentee: I always share our department word of the week with my mentee, we talk about what it means and give some examples.  Then when we meet the next week we try to share ways we used the word and things we observed or maybe I should say how we "lived" the word.   The first week the word was ...

Next week, together with your mentee, consider these questions and how you can create artwork to represent your responses.  Share with me and we will gladly add to the blog!

Thanks to Jessica Stutzman - OPS mentor for this great post featured on the Strengths Coaches Playbook. Tuesday, January 12, 2016 Strengths as Superpowers by Jessica Stutzman Rush, rush, rush. That’s my daily routine as a working adult with somewhat dubious time management skills living in a metro area. Whether I’m on my way to work, to the gym or to some social obligation, it feels like I just barely have enough time to get everything done. But an experience at a recent training event stopped me in my tracks. It gave me a new perspective on something I’ve been aware of, but taking for granted, for years – my strengths. On a Friday in early December, I was rushing from my job to a training event for a mentoring program I participate in called  TeamMates . Although this will be my fifth year as a mentor, I had surpassed the three-year mark and required a refresher before I could meet with my mentee again in January. I walked into a classroom filled with ...

As many of you know, an input mind can often operate like the social media website Pinterest .  I often describe the Input talent I lead with best by sharing:  I asked for a filing cabinet for Christmas at 8 years old.  Even then, I was collecting my favorite hairstyles, articles, dream home photos, clothing combinations and recipes, ripping them out of magazines and storing them in file folders.  I love to collect information! Pinterest has been a great way to honor that and I have put together a board dedicated to strengths.  Quotes and images I find, I pin and add a strength I think I see or hear in the image. Consider your own board on Pinterest, a bulletin board at work or home, or a crafting activity with your mentee finding images and the strengths they relate to. Take a look and please comment on strengths you see as well: Allyson's Pinterest Strengths Board