April 1, 2018
I recently interviewed Hallie Thompson, who is about to receive her PhD in Plant Sciences and currently running for U.S. House of Representatives in Missouri, about her #1 strength, Woo. Gallup defines this strength as “loving the challenge of meeting new people and winning them over, deriving satisfaction from breaking the ice and making a connection.” See my previous blog for more details on using and working with Woo.
Remember, Woo doesn’t define you. It is a powerful strength that can be used to connect with others and make your passion, skills and true self shine!
It may be an unfair stereotype, but we often don’t associate Woo with being a scientist. What is that like? How does it help you?
My top strength is Woo. As a scientist with this strength, projects and collaborations are really easy to get started and difficult to wrap up. Having Woo as a strength can make popping in to a professor’s office easier when inquiring about a study as well as make tracking down a long lost protocol easier. It is also helpful to use my Woo perspective to give a unique piece of insight on an outreach project. With a number of different approaches to scientific study, we are all better off. Read the Full Article
March 1, 2018
I heard a persistent knock on our home door one Sunday. When I answered, I had to adjust my gaze down about 3 feet to find the visitor. Little Caleb greeted me with a “Hi! What’s going on?” and continued to banter with me for about 10 minutes, sharing tales of adventure — including breaking a nightlight on his brother’s head (I unsuccessfully tried not to laugh). He then shared with me how he had visited all the neighbors on his green scooter hoping to chat and meet people. I smiled and thought, “Now, there is woo in the making!”
It’s funny how no other Gallup strength inspires more of a curiosity by those who don’t have it, and more of a flourish by those who do, when it is called out at a conference. We typically all yell in unison “Woohoo!” Let’s dive into a deeper understanding of this strength and its special ability to influence. Read the Full Article
January 15, 2018
Thanks to Alex Sommer, Employment Branding Specialist at Nestle Purina North America, for contributing this article.
In 2016, I started graduate school at Washington University in St. Louis – Loriana was my very first professor for a Building High Performance Work Teams class. She knows well that you can’t possibly build high-performing teams until you have an intimate sense of your own potential as a high-performer. So, she asked us to come prepared with our strengths results in hand, followed by days of deep discussion around the super powers we can leverage within us just by understanding how the strengths piece together.
As an already very self-aware individual, the results of my strengths test did not come as much of a surprise, but the meaning behind it did.
I came to many revelations after more deeply understanding the power of my number one strength (empathy) and the subsequent ones that weave the fabric of my life story.
What I didn’t know is what I can do with what I now know.
Read the Full Article
January 1, 2018
I was reading Kevin Palau’s book Unlikely at the airport last week and thought a comment that the former mayor of Portland, Sam Adams, made in the foreword was insightful. Before meeting with Kevin Palau (minister and president of the Luis Palau Association), the mayor said he felt weary, had negative assumptions about the other party, but was hopeful and
“Circumstances pushed me to listen with very open ears … [and] their attitude was not at all what I expected.”
Subsequently, the two forged an unlikely partnership and friendship that has powerfully impacted Portland’s public schools in a positive way. Read the Full Article
December 15, 2017
In the last year, I have noticed an increased polarization in thinking. Employees are often judging others as either all good or all bad vs. an ability to see shades of grey. This is concerning because it suggests that people are viewed as either extremely flawed or flawless, neither of which is usually anywhere near accurate. This type of decision-making erodes:
- Teamwork
- The inclusion of a diversity of perspectives
- A healthy and enjoyable work atmosphere.
All of these outcomes undermine the effectiveness of an organization. Coaching suggestions to shift this thinking are at the end of this blog. Read the Full Article
November 22, 2017
As Thanksgiving approaches, a flood of people come to mind whose actions or words have positively affected me.
While Thanksgiving is often focused on the important 3F’s of the holiday, food, family and football (to quote a family member), it is also a wonderful opportunity to reflect on what we are thankful for. While I am certainly grateful for having a warm home and food and good health, my mind quickly shifts to people who have positively impacted my life and those I care about. The question, I realized is, “Do they know how I feel?”
A grateful heart changes us. Grateful words can change others.
Your challenge: Tell three people who may not realize their impact on you of your gratitude for them (and be specific).
Take this action immediately or you might forget (at least identify the individuals)! While I typically issue a challenge in my blogs, this is one I also am doing today. I plan to either call or write a personal note sharing my appreciation. Your action will certainly bless them, and it might be just the encouraging words they need to hear.
I am personally grateful to the many who have encouraged, supported, guided and assisted me in my journey. Above all, my husband Patrick has truly been a treasure and our marriage a gift from heaven that I never imagined was possible. I am most grateful for God giving His Son for us so that we might have eternal life with Him. I look with anticipation to the coming Christmas season as we celebrate this most precious and sacrificial gift.
I wish you and your family a most wonderful Thanksgiving!
November 1, 2017
How quickly do you confess when you mess up? During lunch today with a leader I highly respect, I realized that speed is an important component to admitting mistakes.
The conversation centered around, “How do you share a mistake in a way that will save face?” My suggestion was to reframe that question into, “How do you share the mistake in a way that is a teachable moment and builds credibility?”
Whether we realize it or not, people usually see our mistakes. It is how we react to our mistakes that builds credibility and character. Most people are more than willing to extend grace, especially if we own up to the mistake quickly. If the correction is made sooner rather than later, speed also reduces the likelihood of additional ramifications because the error wasn’t corrected in time. Read the Full Article
October 15, 2017
Energy, or lack thereof, is something we all bring to any situation. I am not sure, however, we are always in tune with its powerful impact. It’s like a ceiling fan. The speed can be so low that the fan isn’t noticed. Or, it may be cranked up, scattering anything that isn’t nailed down.
Where in this spectrum is your energy level? Do people notice your presence? Does it overwhelm them? Or, do you bring a level of energy that lifts people’s spirits, gets them excited about what’s ahead, and enables you to be of influence?
This is the second in my blog series on speed. My inner geek decided to find my old physics formula, and yes, energy is dependent on speed. Just like we can change our decision-making speed, we can also intentionally moderate our energy level. Read the Full Article
October 1, 2017
How intentional are you with the speed at which you think, work, or talk? Our pace can directly impact our effectiveness and how others perceive us (and vice versa). Managing our speed is a way to increase our emotional intelligence. I will take the next few blogs to examine this issue.
People make judgments based on our speed relative to theirs.
This topic has been surfacing in coaching conversations with different clients. The common element was a lack of awareness and management of speed, and the results were less than optimal. Fair or not, people make judgments about us based on our speed of:
- Decision-making
- Speaking
- Responding
Read the Full Article
September 1, 2017
Wait, did I really write that title? My #2 strength is futuristic (looking ahead) and context (viewing history as helpful for learning) is at the bottom of my list at #33. I also have activator as #1, which means I am all about forward movement. So, this topic must be uber-important for me to write about it.
Looking back builds confidence, reduces stress, increases our faith and improves decision-making.
A valiant leader walks forward into tough battles after ascertaining the danger. Read the Full Article
Britta burrus design.