|
The Insights Discovery process (inspired by psychologist Carl Jung), in which you identify your work style color energy, has become a popular coaching tool worldwide. The Insights Color game assesses you as being either a Blue, Green, Yellow or Red (or a combination), each color corresponding to certain personality characteristics and attributes. No one color is "better" than another; the Discovery process is simply an awareness tool to identify how you innately work. The process helps in understanding your and your teammates signature strengths and styles so you communicate and work more effectively both individually and together. Having an awareness and understanding of our intrinsic talents and strengths are critical to move us forward in any part of our lives.
The father of Strengths-Based Psychology, Dr. Donald O. Clifton, worked with author Tom Rath, and a team of Gallup scientists with a goal of starting a global conversation about what's right with people. They were tired of living in a world that focused around fixing our weaknesses. They created the online StrengthsFinder assessment that has helped millions of people worldwide discover and develop their natural talents. www.strengthsfinder.com
In the process they discovered that "people have several times more potential for growth when they invest energy in developing their strengths instead of correcting their deficiencies."
Success is the art of being who you already are. You make the greatest contribution when your energies are focused on expanding, exhibiting and living your unique talents and abilities. By acknowledging and working from your strengths, you can become the best you can possibly be, and by achieving your peak potential you can contribute even more to the world. Playing small and downplaying your attributes serves absolutely no one. Playing to your strengths means you can give more. Living into your strengths brings you alignment, happiness and joy.
It takes but a simple mindset shift to switch from scarcity thinking (what is wrong with me) to abundant thinking 9what is right with me). Follow the 4 steps below and see how your life changes. (without you changing!)
Step 1 Acknowledge your Strengths
Most of us struggle when asked to describe our natural talents. I routinely get my clients to fill out a Celebrate Yourself - Twenty in Three work sheet (click here for free download). In 3 minutes, you have to write down 20 qualities you love about yourself. The reason for the short time frame is so that you don't second guess yourself, qualify yourself, or talk yourself out of something. Set the timer and just let your thoughts spew ....for 3 minutes.
When the alarm goes off, look at your list. Most people do not get close to 20 things -if you did FABULOUS! Go on to step # 2. If you have trouble filling up your list, think of talents or abilities you have that others think are fantastic but that you downplay because they seem "easy" to you. Think of what others appreciate about you. Think of a time when you did something that seemed effortless - what qualities of yours were at work then?
Your homework: Fill up your list
Step 2 Be MORE of that
Wow, how simple is that ...simply be more of what you already are. Focus your energies on increasing your capacity in those areas in which you have natural ability. Be more YOU.
Step 3 Line it Up
Consciously think about ways to align your life and your goals with your natural talents.
Our natural talents last for a lifetime. Keep your "twenty list" handy and focus on it daily. Gallup studies indicate that "people who ...have the opportunity to focus on their strengths every day are six times as likely to be engaged in their jobs and more than three times as likely to report having an excellent quality of life in general."
Step 4 Help Others
Help the people around you acknowledge, celebrate and deepen their strengths. Imagine a world in which everyone was encouraged to live from and explore their greatest capacity. Spend some time today appreciating , and encouraging your colleagues, your partner and your children's strengths and talents. Watch how they grow!
Resource: Strengths Finder 2.0 by Tom Rath, Gallup Press, New York, 2007
| 
build on your personal strengths and brilliance to supercharge and transform your life. 
