Strength Based Mentoring

People exceptionally talented in the Ideation theme are fascinated by ideas. They are able to find connections between seemingly disparate phenomena. Clifton StrengthsFinder People with high Ideation are what the world might naturally describe as “creative.” These individuals have a knack for coming up with fresh, new, and original ideas. These ideas often come from being able to see situations from a new perspective and connect the dots. They thrive in brain storming sessions and are often a valuable part of a team that is “stuck in a rut.” They receive a lot of energy and excitement when they are in a space which allows the free flow of ideas from their brain. They are often described as people who “think outside the box,” being forerunners and innovators that come up with brand new routes that haven’t been taken before. Although Ideation manifests in situational settings, it may also manifest in an individual’s life through their love of art, music, or writing.   ...

People exceptionally talented in the Belief theme have certain core values that are unchanging. Out of thee values emerges a defined purpose for their lives. Clifton StrengthsFinder People high in Belief have unchanging values. The specific values are dependent on the individual themselves, but in each case, they frame how that individual acts, thinks, and decides. People with Belief may not necessarily be religious or spiritual people, but their values shape their lives. Because their values are unchanging, people see those with Belief as reliable and enduring. Their values help bring purpose and focus to even the most menial of work. These values give passion and drive to individuals, allowing them boundless energy around the non-negotiables. In my coaching course, I met a preacher from Tennessee named Rodney. He has high Belief and detailed to me a story of a young kid in his church. This boy’s dad had an unhealthy control over him and was preventing him from goi...

People exceptionally talented in the Responsibility theme take psychological ownership of what they say they will do. They are committed to stable values such as honesty and loyalty. Clifton StrengthsFinder People with high Responsibility have a strong sense of ownership over the tasks that are given to them. If some duty is assigned to them, the will 100% follow-through with it. As a result, these individuals are seen as very dependable and trustworthy. They will do everything in their power to bring a task or project to completion. If they are not the ones to see it through the end, they check in with the person who is going to finish it to ensure it comes to completion. Therefore, people will naturally look to these individuals when they have things to delegate, because they know those with Responsibility will finish what they start. The internal motivation for this follow through is not to complete projects, like it is for someone with Achiever, but rather, it is b...

People exceptionally talented in the Discipline theme enjoy routine and structure. Their world is best described by the order they create. Clifton StrengthsFinder People high in Discipline like structure and order; they thrive in an environment where they know what is to come and what is expected of them. Their meticulousness with details and order makes them highly productive individuals. They follow through on things because each step is planned. Because of this, those with Discipline are seen as stable and reliable individuals. Every once in a while, we like to share a story of a real person who knows and owns their strengths. This week, I would like to share a bit about my mom, Erika. This fall, after years of my own personal discovery, I worked with my family to discover their strengths. My mom, not at all to my surprise, led with #1 of Discipline, followed by Relator, Analytical, Responsibility, and Achiever. Monthly Meal Plan My mom is meticulous in planni...

People exceptionally talented in the Harmony theme look for consensus. The don’t enjoy conflict; rather, they see areas of agreement. Clifton StrengthsFinder Harmony is one of the most misunderstood strengths. Because of its name, people may think of Harmony as a state of being full of peace, love, and flowers. In reality, Harmony is all about your relation to others, not your state of being. People with Harmony have the unique talent of seeing both sides of any story. They are able to put themselves easily into someone else’s shoes in order look at all situations. Unlike someone with Empathy who may do this same thing to feel what others feel, or someone with Individualization who may do this to understand how someone ticks, those with Harmony do this to seek consensus. By seeing all sides of a situation, those with Harmony can easily see what is in agreement among people with the goal of working towards that. One of the common ways to describe people with Harmony is they d...

People exceptionally talented in the Intellection theme are characterized by their intellectual activity. They are introspective and appreciate intellectual discussion. Clifton StrengthsFinder People with high Intellection like to think- think deeply and thoroughly. While some people may come to a quick conclusion, people with Intellection muse through all the processes and elements before coming to a conclusion. If we were to describe this in terms of kitchen appliances, people with high Intellection would be the crock pot; their thoughts need time to stew, soak, and combined before anything is verbalized or catalyzed. As a result, those with Intellection may often be seen as introverted or less open about their thoughts and opinions; this is not because those with Intellection aren’t “people” people, but rather, they naturally are introspective, and process life internally. For those with high Intellection, their brain never has down time. They are constantly thinkin...

People exceptionally talented in the Achiever theme work hard and possess a great deal of stamina. They take immense satisfaction in being busy and productive. Clifton StrengthsFinder We are excited to hear from Stephanie Pravecek about Achiever this week. Steph is the Events Coordinator for TeamMates and leads with Achiever, Responsibility, Discipline, Consistency, and Relator. People with high Achiever are hard workers, list makers, and doers. It is very difficult for Achievers to take a break when there is a task at hand that needs to be completed.  Once one task is complete it is on to the next and then the next. Achievers set out each day to accomplish at least one task but, there is much more fulfillment when multiple things are crossed off the “to-do” list for the day. This does include weekends and vacations, as REST or RELAX are not words you often hear in the vocabulary of an Achiever. As a guest blogger this week, I am going to put more of a personal...