Lead Through Strengths

This Episode’s Focus on Strengths In this episode, Lisa speaks with Jim Collison. He manages a technology team at Gallup in Omaha, Nebraska. He also champions the community for Gallup Certified Strengths Coaches, so he’s the poster child of the movement for many strengths professionals. You’ll find this podcast particularly interesting if you’re ready to implement strengths-based coaching with your team. Jim gives specific examples that will get your wheels turning. He offers ideas for building a stronger team. He shares stories from his strengths based parenting experiences. And he shares examples of how he applies natural talents on the fly. He does this every year as he manages large teams of interns and only has a few months with each person. All the while he’s partnering with other people to maximize the productivity on the team. Jim’s Top 5 Talent Themes from the Clifton StrengthsFinder are Arranger, Woo, Maximizer, Communication, and Activator. He’s a great example of someone who doesn’t waste time wis

This Episode’s Focus on Strengths Ben Fanning shows you how to take the job you’re already in and shape it into something you’ll love. He says to think twice before quitting your job. He cautions you to look carefully before you fire a team member. Why? Well, it’s because both actions can cost as much as buying a new car. That’s a lot of money! And often, the role can be tweaked in a way that brings your talents (or theirs) to the forefront. You’ll find this episode especially useful if you’re not in your “dream” job. Even if you are - things change - and you need to know how to steer those changes toward work you can truly enjoy and thrive in. If you have team members who aren’t performing…well, look closer. Their low productivity might be caused by their job responsibilities not lining with their natural talents. In this episode, you’ll get three cool angles for lining them up: Tool: the StrengthsFinder survey. Books: both the StrengthsFinder 2.0 book and The Quit Alternative. Tips: Ben’s ideas and example

This Episode’s Focus on Strengths Jessica Rhodes joins us to show you how to apply your top strengths. She also shares some magical ideas for uncovering the natural talents of people on your team. You’ll find this episode especially useful if you’ve had your team take the StrengthsFinder survey, yet wondered how to actually apply strengths to real-world situations to improve and grow your business. Jessica is an inspiring guest, who encourages you to experiment. She helps you change things up, use your strengths to maximize potential, and to increase profitability. As we’re expanding our StrengthsFinder team in Austin, Texas and around the world, this interview was helpful for us too. It was a great mix of strengths-based development, hiring tips, and awesome chats about growing as a leader. What You’ll Learn Jessica shares these tips: Start with you. Understand both your strengths and weaknesses. Use your strengths to move you to where you want to go. And hire people who are strong in the areas where you’re

This Episode's Focus On Strengths Andy Sokolovich joins us to help you lead through your strengths at work. You'll find this episode especially useful if you need to influence others at work. He does it with his talent called WOO (Winning Others Over). He also shows the world how your natural talents are cooler than purple rain.   Listen Links Give the full episode a listen on iTunes or Stream The Audio Right Here.   SubscribeTo subscribe and review, here are your links for listening in iTunes and Stitcher radio. Subscribing is a great way to never miss an episode - let the app notify you each week when the latest question gets published. You can also stream any episode live on the website. Just click through the title you like and there will be a player waiting for you on each page. See you there!   Here's The Full Interview   Lisa Cummings: You mentioned Woo as one of your top talents, and it is one that interestingly, when I'm doing training events or speaking events, people probably more than any other,

From Grace, you’ll learn:   Knowing You’re In Your Strengths Zone. What it’s like when you feel the “high” of using your natural talents and getting a literal paycheck to show you that you’re moving in the right direction. When Your Strengths Are Opposite Of Someone Else’s. What to do when you have a talent of sparking ideas and projects, yet your constant ideas and activation of new projects drives your team crazy. In her case, she realized that her employees needed things she wouldn’t naturally bring. She gives great examples of how she listened deeply to understand what her employees needed. Noticing Other People’s Strengths At Work. How to notice other people’s needs, even when you don’t consider yourself a great relator. Full Openness Between Employee And Manager. Whether it’s a good thing or a bad thing to talk about other job opportunities with your current employees. When People Are Grumbling About Work. How to consider what you could do differently on the team to impact this phenomenon. Engagement D

This Episode's Focus On StrengthsMike Ganino joins us to help you lead through your strengths at work. You'll find this episode especially useful if you manage a team and you're trying to create a better culture at work--one that your customers can feel too. You'll also love this episode if you're fun and you like people who are intelligent and charismatic at the same time. That's Mike! What You'll LearnMike shares wisdom on: How to create a culture change, even when you’re sitting around on milk crates with no budget or corporate support. Influencing what happens in moments of truth between employees and customers. You can do this by creating an environment that helps each person bring their best performance to work. It’s using their individual strengths to get the experience you want for your customers and employees. How to improve customer service without writing employee manuals and memos that say things like “you need to smile” - because making employees force a smile is just weird. Viktor Frankl “M

This Episode's Focus On Strengths Michael Port joins us to help you lead through your strengths in all of the performances in your corporate life. You'll find this especially useful if you give presentations, if you're interviewing for a job, or if you're delivering a speech in front of others.   What You'll LearnYou'll see how working with a performer's mindset will boost your career. Michael shares wisdom on: How doing everything yourself will keep you from progressing in your career. Why you should never say "I'm happy to be here" or "let's get started" before you begin a talk. Connecting with the audience before the presentation to change the dynamic in a way that makes them want to have your back. Why natural talents without your investment and training...well, they're not doing you any good. How to be self-expressed, yet also able to flow from situation to situation with fluency. And why being a chameleon is actually being authentic. Learn why winging it in your next corporate presentation is a terr

This Episode's Focus On StrengthsIan Altman joined me to bust the myth that you're always selling ideas at work. In this episode, you'll see instead how you should stop trying to persuade and convince. Stop trying to push your solution. Stop focusing on your value. And start focusing on their problems. Start serving them from their perspective. What You'll LearnIt's only after standing in their shoes that you can understand if you're a good fit anyway. You'll see how flipping your perspective can avert disaster and ensure results. Ian shares wisdom that will help you: Present to senior executive in a way that feels relevant to them. Understand the ancient, mythical creature called empathy. Stop selling your ideas. Stop persuading. Stop trying to convince. He offers you a better way. Get your customer to convince you that their issues are painful enough that they're worth solving. Hear the song "Dancin' In The Streets" in your head for the rest of your day today. Focus on fit--and whether you have solutions

This Episode’s Focus On Strengths Jason Treu joined me to chat about using your natural talents to build better relationships at work. He gives lots of ideas for building real connections.   What You’ll Learn Jason reminds us that business is not the only thing about your life. And he translates it into asking simple questions like, “what do you have planned for this weekend?” Those questions can build rapport very quickly. It’s about being human. And getting beyond conversations about spreadsheets. And he shares ideas on: Tapping into emotions (don’t worry, you don’t have to be a walking Hallmark card). Rapport, likability, and trust – getting beyond the surface in small talk so you can get to know a person. Being magnetic and irresistible, even when you feel awkward or quiet. Listening. I mean listening actively. And not thinking about your next topic while your conversation partner is still talking. Spreading the contagion of high fives. Allowing vulnerable moments. Stop trying to be perfectly perfect. Bu

This Episode’s Focus On Strengths Ryan Rhoten joined me to chat about using your natural talents to understand and design your Personal Brand. If you want to have a rockin’ career, you need to know what your brand is (you have one whether you tried to or not). And then you can do branding efforts to leverage your personal strengths.   What You’ll LearnYou’ll hear a personal story–how Ryan discovered the importance of knowing how others perceive you at work (and on Google). You’ll see how taking the StrengthsFinder assessment was his starting point for understanding the talents he needed to lean into at work. And: How you can take strengths like “Whiteboard Weirdo” and turn them into you biggest brand asset. Using your natural talents so that you can consciously select your next job–you can use it as a way to vet job descriptions and work cultures. If you’re feeling dread and misery at work…this episode might just reveal why. What to do when you’re working with leaders who have an opposite style to yours.

This Episode's Focus On Strengths Dorie Clark joined me to chat about using your uniqueness to Stand Out at work. If you want to improve your personal brand or reinvent yourself at work, this is a must-listen episode of Lead Through Strengths. We talked about applying your greatest strengths at work to help you stand out and boost your leadership cache.     What You'll LearnHow to use a personal 360 to understand the starting point of your personal brand. She gives a rich version for those who really want to invest in their development. We also recount my experiment with her "Three Words Exercise" (great experience, by the way). That's the super-fast version of the experience. And if you want an in-between commitment level when you apply it, here's a resource she published in Forbes. It's about asking for input via email. Why I got called "Lady With Chainsaw" in my personal brand exercise. How to stop sanding down your uniqueness and instead make it part of your brand. Given that we're moving more and

This Episode's QuestionI have a question about finding a mentor. I hear consistently that it's an exceptional tool for professional development. I'm not sure where to find one...and if I do find one, how can I make sure they're a good fit? What You'll Learn - How to ask a mentor for their time without offending them. - A way of thinking about mentor "fit" that feels the same way you decide whether a friend fits your style. - 4 non-mentor relationships that can have mentor-like outcomes for you. - The secret sauce of a BBF. - Why offering to buy coffee could cost your mentor $3,000. - How asking to "pick your brain" could annoy a potential mentor. - Simple exchanges, requests, and relationship building "asks" that let you build a mentorship without asking them to move into your house during your first conversation. Tweetable of the Episode Remember to be a giver with your mentors, not just a taker. You have value they need. Resource of the Episode Book: 52 Strategies for Life, Love & Work: Trans

This episode's questionHow do I  make the leap from an operational role to a sales role?  What you'll learn- That you're not alone if this seems like a tough career conundrum.  - How you can make a major career change (even into an entirely new field) without having to start over in an entry level position.  - Ways that very small or very large companies can present great opportunities to switch departments or roles.  - How to go get real life practice in the newly-desired role rather than simply studying it from an academic viewpoint and crossing your fingers that someone would take a chance on you.  - Steps for building relationships with people who are already in the role: both your future colleagues and the leadership team. Resource of the episode Book -  Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert Cialdini. Tweetable of the episodeIf you don't ask, the answer is no. via @careerpodcast  

This Episode's QuestionMy question is about a letter of introduction. My wife is applying for a licensed social work position for a school district. The application has a spot for a letter of introduction. This is the first time either of us have come across a requirement like that. So...what is it? Then, should it be written by you or by a third party? And should you submit only one like you do for a cover letter or multiple letters like you do for letters of recommendations? Thanks for your input. What You'll Learn In The Audio - Whether to comply with their funky, old school job application requests. - The origins of these traditions from the 1700's and 1800's. Yup! They're that old school. - Your safest bet for action when you get any outlier requirement while applying for a new job. - How you can use this type of requirement as a sign post for the company culture you're about to join. - Whether recruiters  and hiring managers want you to do cover letters as a separate attachment. Hint: highly-debat

This Episode's QuestionHi. This is Ivy Portwood. My question is: how do I keep learning on the job? And where do I find the most relevant sources of information to contribute to both my current work and my longer-term career aspirations? Thanks.  What You'll Learn In The Audio - The two types of skills you should be thinking about. Hint: it's not 100% about technical and functional skills. - 4 ideas for getting learning opportunities on the job...all without having to change roles or companies. And without having to attend hundreds of training courses. - How to narrow down your career development steps into a zone you can succeed with. - There's a theory in the Learning & Development world called 70-20-10. It says that you learn 70% of what you know from on the job experiences. You get about 20% by learning from others. And you get about 10% from formal learning like training courses. So this question is exactly on track with real world learning. - What's missing from nearly every career developmen

This Episode's QuestionHi. I have a question for you on resume composition. Now that I've been in the workforce for awhile and have various roles under my belt, I'm struggling with what to include and exclude on my resume. How do you balance including roles and experiences you know are relevant (and you know show the right expertise)...and balance that with keeping it short enough that someone will want to read it?   What You'll Learn - The truth about what a resume really is - and where to put the extra details that won't glue the recruiter's eyes to the page. - How your email address can sabotage your application. - Why you should know what a Google search of your name looks like (and social media search) - even if you lead a squeaky clean life. - How you can use LinkedIn to add depth to your resume and to give you keyword goodness for recruitment searches. - Why Objectives sections are a waste of paper. - How to make a Summary section useful for a recruiter rather than a blah, blah, blah sleep indu

This Episode's QuestionI really feel like I'm ready for a job promotion, to take on more responsibilities, and to build more skills. But I'm not sure how to have that conversation with my manager. What You'll Learn- How to make YOU the obvious answer when your leadership team considers people for new roles, open positions, or new projects. - A simple concept about asking for things, and how it gives you super powers for keeping you top-of-mind when your manager considers who will get the next job. - Thoughts on "as-if" current performance: acting as if you're already in that role so you become the obvious next choice. - Why it's important to show or communicate your untapped talents so that you are viewed as having high potential (rather than making them worry that the Peter Principle is in effect and you might be topped out at the next role). - Questions to ask yourself about your current performance so that you know you're not distracting yourself from excelling in your current job. - Assessing your

This Episode's Question I'm in the petroleum industry. I have a two part question. One is - how would you go about finding six figure job openings?  And then from there, how would you approach a very cookie cutter job description? They seem so rigid - as if no one would fit the qualities, skills, and experiences they're asking for in that description.  What You'll Learn - How job descriptions get written behind the scenes - Where to find six figure job openings - Whether you should take all of the requirements seriously (education, skills, years of experience, competencies) - When all of those things in a job description go out the window, and how applying "blindly" to job descriptions will not be your best bet - How to get creative and get an interview, even if you don't meet the criterion on the job description Tweetable of the Episode Find a job description you love, then find a person to get you in the door. Resource of the EpisodeTheLadders - used to be 100k & above (only), now they've opene

This episode's questionI'm looking for a new job. And I'm considering a couple of different kinds of jobs. So do I need a separate resume for each type of job that I'm applying for?   What you'll learn - How to stop wasting your time submitting resumes to recruiters and hiring managers who throw it in the trash or overlook your awesomeness. - How to get noticed by talent management "bots" - the automated tools that are screening you as a candidate before a human ever sees your resume. - The big secret to getting hiring managers and recruiters to give your resume more than the 10 second skim. Hint: make it all about them.   Resource of the episode Pinterest inspiration boards for Killer Visual Resumes to differentiate yourself and catch the eye of a recruiter. There's also a board on resume writing tips and interviewing tips.   Tweetable of the episodeIn the world of resumes, if you make recruiters do work to see how your skills are relevant, they will move along to someone who doesn't. via @careerpod

This episode’s question I’m an artist, and I’ve been in art just about all of my life. My question has to do with getting happier doing what I do. I’m in a company that offers a good 401(k) and a decent salary and standard hours, yet I don’t have any cool projects to work on.   I have friends in markets like L.A. and New York who are working on cool projects in TV, movies, and video games. I have a friend who is an art teacher and she absolutely loves it. I just don’t find myself having the level of happiness that my friends do. I don’t want to move, so I feel kind of stuck.   How do I find happiness at my current work or somewhere else?   What you’ll learn - Whether money and happiness are mutually exclusive.   - How doing what you love doesn’t promise you money–there’s a little more to it.   - That most people are passionate about more than one thing, and how thinking like Forrest Gump can help your career approach.   - Getting your EKG report in the right direction (and what the heck a Career