Comments on: 3 Steps to Working in Your Strengths

By: Adam Rico

Adam Rico — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 22:32:00 +0000

I haven’t read that book yet Nick, but I just added it to my reading list. Thanks for the recommendation.

I had the same experience with wanting to have other strengths than the ones I have. Strengths envy I suppose. But I have to remind myself that these are strengths and they are all good!

God made me in a particular way so I need to use what I was given and not try to be someone else.

By: Adam Rico

Adam Rico — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 22:29:00 +0000

In reply to Alana Mokma.

Creating an acronym is a great way to remember your strengths, Alana. I may have to borrow that idea. (Except my acronym is LCBRC…hmmm, doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue).

Yes, the WOO strengths is a fabulous strength to have. I think the ability to adjust your behavior and language based on who you are speaking with shows great self-awareness. Those who are able to do that effectively and in a genuine way are often the most socially adept people we encounter.

I’m so glad you were able to reframe your natural strength in a positive way.

By: Nick Christian

Nick Christian — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 21:09:00 +0000

Just did a workshop on the StrengthsFinder a few weeks ago in a leadership program I facilitate, great stuff! My strengths are Responsibility, Connectedness, Learner, Discipline, and Relator. A great follow up book is “Go Put Your Strengths to Work” by Marcus Buckingham. It will really help you mold your current work around your strengths and help guide you through removing weaknesses.

When I first took the assessment, I was a little disappointed. There were other strengths I wanted to have. I put the results away like you and didn’t look at them for a while. When I brought them back out and began brainstorming the workshop content, I was able to appreciate them more and see how they fit and many of my frustrations did not fit with them.

By: Alana Mokma

Alana Mokma — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 15:55:00 +0000

I’ve taken the Strengthsfinder!
I love this tool and actually referenced it as recently as last night while
talking with a client. My strengths are 1). Restorative 2). Individualization
3). Futuristic 4). Woo 5). Activator. I remember them by the acronym “RIFWA.” J I like your idea of posting these in an area that you see every day, and checking them against career opportunities you may have. Ironically, I have my clients do this, but have never done it myself!

A cool experience for me was learning that something I once viewed as a weakness, was actually a strength. This is my “woo” strength. Someone close to me once said, “Alana, you change your behavior all the time. You are like a chameleon. You act differently depending on who you are around.” I took it as a negative. For years, I believed it was a bad thing for me to be different depending on the people I was surrounded by. Then I took the Strengthsfinder and viewed this in an entirely new light. My “woo” allows me to relate to individuals from a variety of backgrounds. This strength, combined with “Individualization” allows me to see the needs/personalities of those around me and adjust my behavior/language in a way where I can make them feel comfortable. If I did not have this ability to read people and then adjust, I would not have been able to relate to these groups of people.