Sometimes trying to manage a team of strong personalities can feel like herding cats. The great strengths that make each team member fantastic on their own may cause them to butt heads when it comes to a group setting. If you’re at the helm of a team of independent spirits, it can be challenging toRead… Read more »
A drive for self-improvement is crucial for career success, but too often we tend to focus on our weaknesses at the expense of building up our strengths. While it’s great to shore up skills that are lacking, it’s equally important to celebrate and improve on your natural talents. Why? Because it’s your strengths that willRead… Read more »
More and more, managers are being encouraged to use positive reinforcement in their employee reviews, rather than focusing on weaknesses. The argument is that by doing this, employees are more productive and engaged in their work. Opponents of such a management technique say that discussing negatives, or ranking employees against each other, can actually encourageRead… Read more »
I know StrengthsFinder 2.0 has been mentioned in the GovLoop community, but I want to vouch for it. If you haven’t already taken this online survey, check it out at http://strengths.gallup.com/default.aspx. The survey tests your preferences among 34 themes and spits out a nice report on your top five strengths. These are the areas whereRead… Read more »
When most folks think of diversity and inclusion, they think race, age, ability and gender. They forget that these components make up only 10% of our total diversity. The remaining 90% is essentially everything else that makes us different. Important pieces of that 90% are the unique skills, talents and strengths we bring to theRead… Read more »
Two things I really enjoy: critical thinking and unique experiences. Generally when I find opportunities that include both, the conversation goes something like this: Me: Do you want to do something really unique? My fiancée: Oh gosh… what is it? Me: I need you to agree first. It is a critical thinking exercise, but it’sRead… Read more »
Ever had a boss ask you to perform a task that was totally out of your area of expertise? Trying to work outside one’s comfort zone can bring up anxiety for even the most seasoned professional. But if leaders prioritize building up their employees’ strengths, they can improve morale and efficiency. According to a GallupRead… Read more »
Do you do what you do best every day? Often, individuals do not fully realize what their true talents are, especially how to maximize them to the fullest. So in 1998, psychologist Donald Clifton, Tom Rath and some scientists at Gallup created the StrengthsFinder assessment to help folks understand and learn how to build uponRead… Read more »
Rachael Happe, groundbreaking co-founder of The Community Roundtable, has just written an incredibly important post entitled, Communities – The New Strategic Imperative. I urge you to read and consider it. Some managers and executives I know have expressed what I’ll characterize as desperation at the speed at which things are running, and the fact thatRead… Read more »