5 Ways to Get Started with Your Strengths
Congratulations! You’re one of the 30 million people worldwide who have taken the Gallup CliftonStrengths Assessment! You know your top 5! You’re excited to apply what you’ve learned!
But where do you start? There’s a lot of information out there and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. The truth is, there are opportunities to use your strengths every day. Because you are on the wrong side of your eyeballs, as it were, you don’t always see things as objectively or clearly, so I have a few steps for you to help you start to use your Strengths every day.
Take time to process
When something happens that causes a reaction, take a beat and process what just happened. Think about what happened and how you responded. Can you connect your response to one of your Themes? Did you use that Theme to facilitate your success or was it used in a way that was a barrier to a positive outcome?
Do some journaling
Once you’ve acknowledged how your Strengths showed up, write down your insights. You might use a journal, a voice note, a sticky note, or anything that will help you hang on to those insights. Writing down your thoughts will help you retain what you learned and act on your insights.
Daily Check-ins
Take 5-10 minutes a few times a day to check in with how you are doing. Set a timer and think about what is happening right now, what happened earlier in the day, what was the outcome, and what you learned. Then in the evening, do an evaluation of your day. How did your Strengths show up that day? What did you accomplish? What did it feel like when you were able to use your natural ways of being?
Be aware of obstacles
I like to say that your Strengths are a bit like The Force. They have a “dark side” and a “light side" of sorts. By that, I mean that they can be used both to facilitate your success and be a barrier to your success. Your reports have some insights for you on potential barriers or blind spots. Take a look at those and be aware of them as you reflect at the end of the day.
Ask for feedback
The people who know you best will be able to give you feedback on how they’ve seen your strengths show up. Start with a partner or friend and ask their perspective. It’s always helpful to find out how other people see you and perhaps even hear about some of the misconceptions people have of you. Use these conversations to facilitate conversations about the Strengths of others or your team.
Remember that every time you read your CliftonStrengths report, a new person is reading it because you have grown and learned since the last time you read it. Revisit your reports often and use them to help you develop your Strengths every day.