A Strengths Conversation about Change
Welcome to the next installment of the Leadership Vision Podcast, where we share our expertise in the discovery, practice, and implementation of StrengthsFinder.
On this episode of the podcast, I’m having a Strengths conversation with my colleague Steph. More specifically, we’re having a “push” conversation. A “push” conversation is any conversation where you intentionally push strengths to the center. You can talk about everyday things but reference your Strengths and the Strengths of the other person intentionally. The idea is to practice the language of Strengths and to see them from another perspective and to help articulate your viewpoint around Strengths.
In this episode, you’ll hear Steph and I discuss how our Strengths enable us to deal with change. (The topic of change is not entirely random, as both Steph and I are going through a lot of it right now.) The theme of change is just one of eight controlling questions we use with our clients to form the basis of these conversations. There are of course many ways to go about this but to get your push conversation started, find a friend and ask them how they do one of the following things:
- Get work done?
- Make decisions?
- Form relationships?
- Communicate best?
- Collaborate with others?
- Learn new things?
So while you’ll hear Steph and I talk a lot about change, make sure to listen for how our very different Strengths help us deal with that change. Some might say specific Strengths lend themselves better to dealing with change than others, but as you’ll hear, all Strengths help you not only deal with change but thrive in the midst of it.
A Conversation for Everyone
These “push” conversations aren’t just for Strengths professionals. They can help anyone who wants to understand themselves or those around them better. If you’re having a conversation with someone who is familiar with strengths and you aren’t, answer that question using ordinary language not referencing your Strength specifically. Instead of me saying “I think through “Competition,” I could say “When I think about solving a problem, I’m always comparing things.”
These conversations are a way to talk about your Strengths without having to talk about your Strengths regularly. It can be easier to identify the behaviors present in your Themes without referencing their names all the time. (That said, you’ll hear Steph and I do that plenty in this conversation.)
Enjoy!
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.
