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In episode 6 of “The JoyPowered™ Workspace Podcast,” JoDee and Susan discuss the popular Clifton StrengthsFinder® assessment. They talk about why they are fans of StrengthsFinder®, how it can help teams, and the problem with “weakness fixing.” Strengths coach Denise calls in to share her experiences bringing StrengthsFinder® into organizations where she’s worked.

JoDee’s Strengths: Maximizer, Arranger, Postivity, Futuristic, Strategic

Susan’s Strengths: WOO, Positivity, Maximizer, Significance, Individualization

Denise’s Strengths: Achiever, Arranger, Learner, Connectedness, Responsibility

JoDee and Susan are fans of the StrengthsFinder® assessment, because it focuses on what you’re good at, what energizes you and drives you to get things done and enjoy your life. This can often be counterintuitive for people, however; many of us were taught to focus on what we didn’t do well so we could improve it. It’s also seen as being a little less judgmental or threatening than many assessments, since instead of being dropped into a quadrant, the results are more personalized.

Contrary to what you might think, the last five strengths on your list of 34 aren’t necessarily your biggest weaknesses; your top five can create trouble as well if you’re not using them maturely, intentionally, or productively. When you are using your strengths in a positive way, statistics show that you’ll have a higher quality of life. It’s not just about you, either; knowing others’ strengths can make you work better as a team.

If you want to bring StrengthsFinder® into your organization, you can start at any level – it doesn’t have to begin with everyone or go to the leadership team first. Introduce people to the philosophy and help them understand their strengths and others’, then focus on the concept of team and partnering with others by utilizing strengths. And make sure to keep the conversation alive; don’t let it get lost because everyone forgot about it. The more you talk about it, the more it sinks into a group.

StrengthsFinder® can help teams understand one another better, be less judgmental and more inquisitive about where others’ behavior is coming from. Your coworker may not be trying to get under your skin; they might just have a strength you don’t, making it hard for you to understand them.

In this episode’s listener mail, Steven in Kansas City wants to know how to incorporate StrengthsFinder® to improve his communication skills when Communication is not one of his strengths. JoDee and Susan discuss the clear trend toward state legislatures (not federal) passing employment laws and raising minimum wages.

Mentioned in This Episode:

• Purple Ink, the HR consulting firm JoDee owns
• Susan Tinder White Consulting, the HR consulting firm Susan owns
• JoyPowered, JoDee’s book
• Now, Discover Your Strengths, the book that was JoDee’s first introduction to StrengthsFinder®
• Gallup, the organization that runs the online StrengthsFinder® assessment and certifies strengths coaches
• DiSC® profile, another popular assessment
• The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator®, another popular assessment