I really love what I do.
Not in a “everything is amazing all the time” rainbows and unicorns kind of way. But in a genuine, deep, satisfying way. I know my work has an impact.
Part of my ‘thing’ is helping others discover their strengths - what they’re naturally good at.
And supporting you to figure out how to:
- become more aware of your strengths,
- appreciate them (some of us take ourselves for granted a lot of the time), and most importantly,
- actually apply your strengths in your every day work and life.
Yup, there’s also a 4. manage your weaknesses or blind spots (not necessarily to try and fix them, but learn how to manage these things or figure out who is helpful to partner with).
Since 2018, I’ve helped 1,155 people take the CliftonStrengths® assessment - mostly through 1:1 coaching or team workshops they’ve experienced with me. That’s 1,155 unique humans who’ve had the opportunity to explore what makes them unique (and for those who work together in teams - for them to better understand each other). It’s been such a privilege to be a part of so many individuals and teams all over the place doing just this.
Behind the scenes: strengths and spaghetti
From the outside-in, others tend to look at my life and assume I’m incredibly organised and ordered with my whole life. Ha! If they took a peek at the back-end of my business, they might view me like a toddler eating spaghetti bolognese and throwing it around all over the walls (luckily those post-it note boards don’t show up in my Zoom background - trust me, there’s a method to this). I often have a lot of enthusiasm and energy and sooo many ideas (yup, that’s one of my unique superpowers). So I have a habit of pausing to take time (as well as external support), to figure out what I choose say ‘yes’ and ‘no’ to.
There are days I feel on fire.
And there are also days I question or doubt things.
I work harder than I’ve ever worked in my life (i.e. when I was an employee), but I can still say, hand on heart: I love what I do. And work feels like so much fun (most of the time). I just have to remember other priorities in my life too when work gets way-too-much-fun.
I get to make a real difference playing to my own strengths (it took some time to figure out how to do this) - and help others around me do the same with theirs.
I know that when a person is able to live in their strengths - actually use them like muscles every day (in a way that’s balanced, harmonious and energising) - it can make all the difference in what they do. How they show up. How they relate with others.
Because strengths show us clues about how we operate, not what we do.
You could be a CEO; a manager of a team; a primary school teacher; a nurse on a night shift, or a recent graduate figuring things out. Regardless of whatever your role is, your strengths give you clues about how you’ll best operate in whatever role you find yourself in.
What brings you the most energy? What do others really appreciate about you that you can offer (your value-add), what are you uniquely brilliant at that not many other people seem to be? Knowing the things you need to operate at your best as well as things that are likely to get in your way, is such a wonderful self-awareness and appreciation journey to go on.
Here’s how I use my strengths every day:
Here are some short snippets how I use my Top 11 CliftonStrengths every day:
Strategic
I’m constantly scanning for patterns, opportunities, and better ways forward. Whether I’m mapping out a coaching journey, designing a workshop, or just figuring out how to make the most of a packed week.
Developer
I get real joy from seeing people grow and make progress. Whether it’s a client gaining fresh clarity or a team understanding new perspectives about each other, I love spotting potential and nurturing progress.
Achiever
I like getting stuff done. I need to get stuff done (I shrivel up if I ‘can’t be useful’). I set the bar high for myself (sometimes too high!) and feel a sense of satisfaction when I know I’ve followed through and completed something that matters.
Maximizer
I’m not one for doing things just ‘ok’. I’m wired to tweak, polish and elevate, especially when I see potential that can be harnessed even more.
Arranger
I thrive in the messy middle. Give me lots of moving parts and I’ll find a way to make it work - people, projects, priorities. I love bringing order to complexity.
Belief
I’m deeply values-driven. I care about doing meaningful work that helps others, and I try to make decisions that stay true to who I am and what I stand for. So much so I’ve been known to ‘fire’ clients if they’re not wanting to participate in doing the mahi they said they wanted to do to get them to where they want to be.
Activator
I love to get things moving. I tend not to sit on a good idea for long. I’d rather test it out, learn, and improve as I go. (I have to tame this strength a lot!)
Responsibility
If I say I’ll do something, I’ll definitely do it, to the full. I take commitments seriously and I aim to be someone others can count on. I have to be very careful about what I say ‘yes’ to.
Positivity
I bring energy and optimism to my work (and yes, to meetings that might otherwise feel a bit heavy or dull). I believe in people, and I genuinely want them to thrive.
Individualization
I’m fascinated by what makes different people tick. I like to tailor things to suit the audience, and figure out how to place people to get the best out of them.
Relator
I go deep, not wide. I love building trusted relationships, and I feel most energised when I’m working with people I care about who trust me.
Can you honestly say, “I love my job” right now?
If not, it might be time to check in with your strengths.
- Are you leaning into what makes you uniquely effective?
- Are you able to use your strengths every day?
- Do you recognise the strengths of those around you and collectively work with these people?
- Are you getting to use your strengths in ways that bring value to others?
- And are your own needs being met - the things that fuel and energise you?
Curious about your own strengths? Let’s explore them together.
Whether you’re leading a team or navigating a career crossroads, understanding how you’re wired can change everything.
Assessment tools are helpful ways to figure out what your strengths are - and focus on these things. I’m accredited with the CliftonStrengths® tool, which I love. If you’ve already completed a CliftonStrengths® profile in the past, go dig it out again. If you’ve mislaid your profile, go to my.gallup.com and log in to retrieve yours.
Your strengths profile provides so many clues to help you answer those questions above.
Go remind yourself of the brilliance ready to be unleashed inside of you. Yes, there are all those juicy ‘blind spots’ to manage too!
Here’s some ways you can partner with me to help you unravel your strengths:
- Joining a free Strengths Overlander Experience session (find out more here)
- A team workshop (and CliftonStrengths® isn’t the only thing I do. I’ve got a powerhouse kete - check out my book, Team Spirit for some inspiration)
- One-on-one coaching for leaders (monthly or fortnightly, 6-month packages)
- Booking a one-off coaching session with me to help you unlock some new thinking, or maybe help you get through a current hurdle you’re facing (booking calendar here)
- Partner with me for a year. Combining 1:1 coaching for your leaders, group coaching for your leadership team, and monthly team workshops (face-to-face or virtual) to build momentum, trust, and growth across your whole group.
Get in touch
I’d love to hear from you.
*If you’re wondering what on earth the CliftonStrengths® tool is…
it’s one of many strengths-based assessment tools that is out there. IMHO it’s rather a good one, as it’s used globally, based on robust methodology and statistical rigour. Check out my other blog: Does a tool really matter? Tools are fun, but transformation goes deeper.
