We are strong

Tomorrow I’ll have the privilege to facilitate a team through a strengths discussion.  I’m playing to my strengths when I’m talking a group through realizing that they have powerful strengths which they so desperately need to leverage for their own sakes and for the sake of their organizations.

As I drove home today, my mind wandered back to December 2009, when a group of strengths zealots and I started down this strengths journey.  Back then, on my other blog, I wrote:

I’m on what can only be called a strengths kick.  I’m simply, positively obsessed at the moment with helping others discover their strengths.  In 2005 I took an online test, Gallup’s StrengthsFinder, which told me my top five strengths (really talents that if I practiced at them would become strengths).  Boy, did I practice.  I designed my work (as much as I could) around my strengths and practiced and practiced and practiced.  In November 2009 I took the Strengths Finder 2.0 test and]now I’d say I know how to–and work hard to–use my top nine strengths every day:

• Maximizer (working to get the best out of everyone)
• Strategic (seeing patterns in random events)
• Arranger (putting the pieces in the right places)
• Learner (searching for new ideas)
• Activator (easy for me to start something)
• Woo (winning others over)
• Achiever (claiming successes energizes me)
• Relator (creating relationships with people)
• Self-Assurance (belief that I can accomplish what I want to accomplish)

Recently I’ve had the opportunity at work to help others take the test and discover their strengths.  Just today, with a team, I got to plan how we’re going to provide more strengths training opportunities to people across our organization.  I’m so energized it’s hard for me to stay in my seat.

Since December 2009 the zealots and I have helped nearly 1,000 people discover their strengths and discuss how to leverage those strengths for their benefit and for the benefit of their organizations.

If you haven’t taken Gallup’s Strengths Finder 2.0 test or watched Marcus Buckingham’s Trombone Player Wanted DVD, buy them today. Then take the online StrengthsFinder test. Then watch the DVD.

You’ll be glad you didn’t wait even one more day. Playing to your strengths puts fuel in your tank, energizing you to drive change.

[Note: If you work with me, contact me at work and I’ll let you know how to get into the sessions we’re offering there.  You don’t have to buy your own book or DVD.  We’ve got them both for you.]

Bonus option: Post your five strengths and what you’ve done with them in the comments.