Today’s Purpose

• Learn about “Strengths-based Development”

• Identify personal strengths using Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences

• Consider other avenues to identify strengths, including the StrengthsFinder®

• Explore how these concepts can be used in the workplace and in our life

NASSAU BOCES PACE PROGRAM

Why Strengths?

Each person’s talents are enduring and unique

Why Strengths?

• Our greatest room for growth comes from our greatest strengths

“We’d all be perfect if we could just get rid of our weaknesses…”

“Let’s let our strengths rule…and move our weaknesses to the background…”

What should we do differently?

• Increase our understanding of our strengths…individually and collectively

• Find ways to improve on and use these strengths on a regular basis

Identifying Our Strengths…A History

’88 ‘89 ‘90 ‘91 ‘92 ’93 ’94 ’95 ’96 ’97 ’98 ’99 ’00 ‘01

Howard Gardner

Multiple Intelligences

Daniel Goleman

Emotional Intelligence

Marcus Buckingham

StrengthsFinder

A Closer Look at “Multiple

Intelligences”

Multiple Intelligences

• Linguistic: word smart• Logical-mathematical: numbers smart• Spatial: picture smart• Bodily-Kinesthetic: body smart• Musical: music smart• Interpersonal: people smart• Intrapersonal: self smart• Naturalist: nature smart

Activity #1 – Let’s Explore

Find a partner…• Begin by sharing your three

“intelligences”• Then answer this question:

Activity #1 Let’s Explore

Think of how you’ve used one of these strengths to achieve success in life…

describe a story or situation that offers a specific illustration. This should be an example which you’re proud to share,

and which shows off the best of who you are. Tell your partner this story. Do not

be humble!You each have 5 minutes

Activity #2Up a Notch

Working with the same Partner…Brainstorm on this question:

Review your list…identify a strength that is “under used” by comparison. How

might you increase the use of this strength in your daily work or personal

life?

You have 10 minutes

StrengthsFinder®

StrengthsFinder®

• Based on research by the Gallup Organization

• Yet another way to examine our strengths

• StrengthsFinder® identifies five particular strengths from among the potential 34 that research has identified

StrengthsFinder®

• Achiever• Activator• Adaptability• Analytical• Arrange• Belief• Command• Communication• Competition• Connectedness• Consistency• Context

• Deliberative• Developer• Discipline• Empathy• Focus• Futuristic• Harmony• Ideation• Includer• Individuation• Input• Intellection

• Learner• Maximizer• Positivity• Relator• Responsibility• Restorative• Self-Assurance• Significance• Strategic• Woo

Your Challenge

• Continue the Strengths reflection and action…– Increase your knowledge of your

personal strengths– Identify ways you can use these

strengths even more!

There’s more…

• Positive Organizational Development• Positive Psychology

“…focuses on the dynamics that lead to developing human strength, producing resilience and restoration, fostering vitality, and cultivating extraordinary individuals, units and organizations”.

Kim Cameron

University of Michigan School of Business

Thank you!