How to Build a Strengths Based Employee Experience
Welcome to the next installment of the Leadership Vision Podcast, where we share our expertise in the discovery, practice, and implementation of StrengthsFinder.
In this episode, Linda Schubring and I are talking about what it takes to build a Strengths Based employee experience. Back in episode five, Linda and I talked about what it means to become a Strengths Based organization at a very high level. Today on the podcast, she and I get way down into the weeds. The good, the bad, and the ugly of transforming an organization into one that is planted deep in the soil of Strengths, and subscribes to a philosophy that everyone should operate from a position of Strength. We will talk about how this role evolved for her, how they onboard new employees at Aeritae into this culture, examples of what it sounds like when it’s working, as well as some examples of what hasn’t worked so well. She’ll also share some very specific, tactical suggestions if you want to take the first step in transforming your organization into one based in Strengths.
How Linda’s Role Evolved
After 2 years of Strengths Based consulting engagements with Leadership Vision, Aeritae hired Linda as the Director of Strengths Based Organizational Culture in 2012. She was charged with seeding Strengths into Aeritae and helping them move from an individual contributor consulting model to a more project, team-based model across the company.
Aeritae started with a focused approach on the leadership team and spent time getting everyone conversing in the Strengths-based language internally. Common language is essential in building a Strengths Based culture because it gives us a short-hand, a depersonalized explanation of behavior, and an opportunity to invest in our leadership capacity. As Linda pushed Aeritae’s leaders to be more aware of their impact on others, they helped each other see how everyone could have the same company vision, but with different perspectives.
What Embedded Strengths Language Sounds Like
Linda shares several examples in the podcast about how employees at Aeritae speak to one another differently as a result of this new language of Strengths. Here are some examples:
- “My Achiever/Individualization are so happy right now. As people are honored and work is being accomplished.”
- “Negative words, make my Positivity/Maximizer go dark.”
- “I’m trying to remember to honor her Intellection/Learner and give her some lead time.”
About The Leadership Vision Podcast
The Leadership Vision Podcast is a weekly show sharing our expertise in the discovery, practice, and implementation of StrengthsFinder. Leadership Vision uses StrengthsFinder to work with People, Teams, and Culture. We believe that knowing your Top 5 Strengths is only the beginning. In fact, our highest potential exists in the ongoing exploration of our talents. Subscribe to the Leadership Vision Podcast on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen.
Please contact us if you have ANY questions about anything you heard in this episode, or if you’d like to talk to us about helping your team understand the power of Strengths.
