Division of Student Affairs
Strengths Based Leadership
What happens when we focus on what is RIGHT with people?
Why Are We Using StrengthsFinder?
We believe that everyone has something to contribute!
Rath & Conchie (2008) point out in Strengths Based Leadership: “whether you are taking charge in a boardroom, on a construction site, or even in your home, it is likely that you will find yourself leading at some point in your life.” (p.1)
Drucker (1999) challenged people to consider: “what should my contribution be? Given my strengths, my ways of performing, and my values, how can I make the greatest contribution to what needs to be done?” (p.25).
StrengthsFinder has proven success.It is used in academic, business, and nonprofit settings; over 2 million people have taken it; it is available in over 24 languages
Three Key Findings in Strengths Research
1. The most effective leaders are always investing in strengths.
2. The most effective leaders surround themselves with the right people and then maximize their team.
3. The most effective leaders understand their followers’ needs.
StrengthsFinder 2.0 …identifies areas where an individual’s greatest potential for building strengths exists. It is a philosophy of using talents as the basis for consistent achievement of excellence (strengths). Individuals are able to gain far more when they expend effort to build on their greatest talents.
PART I: INVESTING IN YOUR STRENGTHS
If you spend your life trying to be good at everything, you will never be great at anything.
34 Themes
“I’ve never met an effective leader who wasn’t aware of his talents and working to sharpen them” –Former NATO Supreme Allied Commander Wesley Clark
Let’s Assess …
Person AStrategicActivatorAdaptabilityMaximizerWoo
Person BAchieverLearner
InputActivator
Focus
We all lead in very different ways based on our talents and our limitations. Serious problems occur when we think we need to be exactly like [any other] leaders.
Using my Strengths, where and how can I contribute to my area and the Division in 2014-
2015?
[Personal Goal Setting]
PART II: MAXIMIZING YOUR TEAM
The most cohesive and successful teams possessed broader groupings of strengths.
The Four Domains of Leadership Strength
• Know how to make things happen; ability to “catch” an idea and make it a reality
Executing
• Reach a broader audience; sell the team’s ideas inside and outside the organization
Influencing
• Glue that holds the team together; create groups and organizations that are much greater than the sum of their parts
Relationship Building
• Focused on what could be; absorb and analyze information to make better decisions
Strategic Thinking
The Four Domains of Leadership Strength
Executing Influencing Relationship-Building
Strategic-Thinking
Achiever Activator Adaptability Analytical
Arranger Command Developer Context
Belief Communication Connectedness Futuristic
Consistency Competition Empathy Ideation
Deliberative Maximizer Harmony Input
Discipline Self-Assurance Includer Intellection
Focus Significance Individualization Learner
Responsibility Woo Positivity Strategic
Restorative Relator
Teams for Large Departments/OfficesCampus Life #1
Nicole Fedders
Sandra Jackson
Jon Kapell
Zach Hollenbaugh
Stefanie Mancuso
Larry Wray
Campus Life #2
Amelie Brogden
Bill DiNome
Cynthia Hartmann
Alan Hinton
Nancy Maready
Amanda Turner
Chris Riendeau
HRL #1
Sean Ahlum
Al Bright
Danny Hall
Justin Inscoe
Veronica Sills
Nic Troutman
Meredith Vaughn
Clifton Williams
HRL #2
Uchenna Baker
Carrie Hammer
Matt Herrington
Tiffani Idol
Cassandra Jenkins
Brad Reid
Kristen Tucker
Jamar Whitfield
Campus Rec #2
Jake Eubank
Drew Loso
Tim McNeilly
Amanda Wiggins
Campus Rec #1
Thomas Bartolotta
Sarah Gilbert
Zach Gilbert
David Parker
Andy Rampe
Brian Stelzer
Nathan Williams
Student Health #1
Wendy Bledsoe
Emily Bridgman
Mary Canel
Kathy Hodge
Leigh Lane
Walt Laughlin
Nancy Patz
Country Simmons
Student Health #2
Rachel Baldwin
Charlie Bay
Becky Buckley
Heidi Gierie
Linda Howard
Terry Ismert
Ranae Roots
Trisha Tinney
Katrin Wesner
How Do Your Team’s Strengths Work Together?
• Based on your self reflection, how do your individual ways of contributing align with your team’s strengths?
• Does your team utilize individuals’ strengths well? If so, how? If not, how could you?
•Where are you strong as a team? Where might you run into concerns?
• How do your team’s strengths serve students?
• How do your team’s strengths contribute the Division?
The Divisional Snapshot
Achiev
er
Arrange
rBeli
ef
Consisten
cy
Delibera
tive
Disciplin
eFo
cus
Responsib
ility
Restorati
ve
Activa
tor
Command
Communication
Competition
Maxim
izer
Self-A
ssuran
ce
Significan
ceW
oo
Adaptab
ility
Connected
ness
Develo
per
Empath
y
Harmony
Includer
Individuali
zation
Positivit
y
Relator
Analytical
Context
Futuris
tic
Ideation
Input
Intellec
tion
Learn
er
Strate
gic
40
25
7
21
1310
6
46
1613
1
19
2
14
24
22
30
19
29
38
31
20
2528
36
18
1411
16
33
19
43
33
Division of Student Affairs Compiled Strengths 2014Series1
PART III: UNDERSTANDING WHY PEOPLE FOLLOW
If you want to lead, it is critical to know what the people around you need and expect from you. You are only a leader if others follow.
Consider someone you view as a leader and someone you would “follow.”
Why would you follow that person?
Follower’s Four Basic Needs
1. Trust (honesty, integrity, & respect)
2. Compassion (caring, friendship, happiness, & love)
3. Stability (security, strength, support, & peace)
4. Hope (direction, faith, & guidance)
Combining Strengths: Future Uses
• Staff Retreats• Search Committees• Division Committees• Connecting with students (classes,
organizations, Executive Boards, etc.)