Discovering Your Strengths Team MELDS – Facilitator: Lacey Piekarski MELDS LLC Organizational Consultation Services “You cannot be anything you want to be – but you can be a whole lot more of who you already are.”  ― Tom Rath

Discovering Your Strengths Objectives for Today: Identify a minimum of 5 individual talents to develop into strengths Explain resources and tools to continue strength-based learning and development Explain strength-based analysis and individual SWOT analysis findings Relate strength findings to current job duties and begin discussion for application in the workplace

Identifying Your Strengths Refer to page 1 of your handout List a minimum of 5 skills you do best

Definition of Strength “A natural capacity for behaving, thinking, or feeling in a way that allows for optimal functioning and performance in the pursuit of valued outcomes” (as cited in Slemann and Slatery, n.d., p. 1). “Strengths are those specific activities at which I do well and for which I still retain a powerful appetite” (Buckingham, 2007, 21). “Only 17% of us have our strengths in play most of the time”– Let’s increase that number! (Buckingham, 2007, p. 11)

Defining versus Labeling Strengths Talents Knowledge (Learned) Skills (Learned) Buckingham, M., 2007, p. 107

Characteristics of a Strength Use – The frequency of use Performance – How well we use the strength Energy – Is the strength energizing or de-energizing? Reference: file:///C:/Users/Lacey/Downloads/finding-your-inner-strength-using- strengths-in-the-workplace.pdf

Looking for SIGNS of a Strength Success Instinct Growth Needs

SWOT Analysis Turn to page 3 in your handout and answer the following for your identified strength: Strengths What do you do well? What unique resources are available to you? What do others identify as your strengths? Weaknesses What could you improve? Where do you have fewer resources than others? What are others likely to identify as weaknesses?

SWOT Analysis Continued (Page 3) Opportunities What are opportunities are available to you? What changes or trends could you take advantage of? How can you turn your strength(s) into opportunities? Threats What are your threats/barriers to success? Any competition? What are they doing? What threats/barriers do your weaknesses expose you to? Reference: Personal SWOT Analysis: Making the Most of Your Talents and Opportunities. (n.d.). Retrieved November 12, 2014, from http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTMC_05_1.htm

Next Steps Identify how your strength can help in your current role. Where are the missed opportunities to utilize this strength? Learn new skills and techniques to improve strengths. Build your job toward your strength. Reference: Buckingham, M. (2007). Go put your strengths to work: 6 powerful steps to achieve outstanding performance. New York: Free Press.

Strengths in the Workplace Talent (a natural way of thinking, feeling, or behaving) x Investment (time spent practicing, developing your skills and building your knowledge base) = Strength (the ability to consistently provide near perfect performance) Reference: Rath, T. (2007). Strengths finder 2.0. New York: Gallup Press.

Strengths in the Workplace Discover your strengths Determine your core and workplace values Build your strength in the workplace Design ways to grow your strengths Talk to others about your skills, abilities, and goals Envision next steps

Small Group Discussion What strength have you chosen to identify and analyze? Why? Consider the characteristics of a strength (i.e. – use, performance, energy). In what ways do you currently use your strength in your current role? Or what ideas do you have to begin strengthening your skill in your current role? Review your SWOT Analysis. Chose a strength or opportunity and discuss ways to continue improving this strength and ideas for growth. Review your SWOT Analysis. Chose a weakness or barrier and discuss ways to overcome obstacles to improving our strength. State your current role within the UW-Milwaukee Advertising Department. Then also list your strength and discuss suggestions for other activity involvement or job duties that may assist in strengthening your skills. In what ways can you support one another to develop your strengths?

Additional Resources https://www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.ed u/ http://www.cappeu.com/Realise2.aspx http://www.mindtools.com Buckingham, M. (2007). Go put your strengths to work: 6 powerful steps to achieve outstanding performance. New York: Free Press. Rath, T. (2007). Strengths finder 2.0. New York: Gallup Press.

Discovering Your Strengths Objectives for Today: Identify a minimum of 5 individual talents to develop into strengths Explain resources and tools to continue strength-based learning and development Explain strength-based analysis and individual SWOT analysis findings Relate strength findings to current job duties and begin discussion for application in the workplace

Lacey Piekarski – Team MELDS LLC lpiekarski@meldsllc.net Questions? Lacey Piekarski – Team MELDS LLC lpiekarski@meldsllc.net