2. Strengths Experience
• What have your
experiences been
with Strengths so
far, positive &
negative?
• Share with a partner
3. StrengthsFinder Facts
• 34 themes
• Online
assessment, you
get your top 5
with descriptions
and action guide
• 33.39 Million
4. Predisposition DevelopedRequires Effort
Talent x Investment = Strength
Investment is a MULTIPLIER of talent!
Investment includes time spent practicing, developing skills, &
building knowledge
Louis, 2008
5. Knowledge
Of student development theory
Of psychology
Of management and mentoring
Strength: Supervising and Mentoring students
Skills
Facilitating meetings
Support and challenge
Talent themes
Empathy Learner Maximizer Arranger Positivity
I
n
v
e
s
t
m
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n
t
6. Barrier Labels
• When your strengths act as a
weakness or someone
misunderstands your behavior
and labels you
– weakness - when something gets in the
way of your success or other people’s
success.
• “Work is more important than
people” - Achiever
• “Cliquish” - Relator
9. Understanding Your
Strengths
• Strengths are more than simply 5
words……you need to describe
strengths in your own words &
give examples of how you use
your strengths
• Read through your report and
note words and phrases that
describe you
10. Activity
• Pick one of your Top 5
Strengths that resonates with
you
• Draw an image and/or write
down a word or phrase that
represents what this strength
means to you
• Get up and find a partner and
‘share & tell’
12. Strengths on the Job
A good job is
when 75% of
the time you
get to do what
you love
13. Strengths & Your
Major/Career
• Your Strengths do not match one career field or one
major, instead they help you understand how you
can be successful in your career or major of choice
• The best people in a role deliver the same outcomes,
but with different behaviors (strengths)
• When you find a career or major that fits you work
doesn’t really seem like work
14. Job Analysis
Event and Communications Intern,
American Heart Association
• Overall implementation of fundraising
event including, but not limited to:
logistics, event planning, social media
communications and volunteer
recruitment.
• Ability to organize time and work
independently
• Ability to multi-task
• Computer skills, including word
processing and experience with
Microsoft office Written and verbal
skills.
• Ability to work well with people, face-
to-face, on the phone and over online
communications
Juan
-Achiever
-Learner
-Communication
-Context
-Belief
Ann
-Restorative
-Empathy
-Futuristic
-Intellection
-Maximizer
15. Leadership Domains
Executing: Make things happen, take and idea and bring it to
fruition
Influencing: Help team reach more people/larger audience,
“sells” teams’ ideas and achievements outside of department or
organization, helps team to have a voice that is heard
Relationship Building: “Glue that holds the team together,”
“Creates groups and organizations that are much greater than
the sum of their parts”
Strategic Thinking: Keep people focused on potential and
the future, absorb and analyze information to help make
effective decisions
16. Major/Career Exploration
Strategies
Executing:
• Create a to-do list for yourself. For instance, maybe
you commit to reading ten different job descriptions
or researching 10 different majors:
http://www.catalogs.umn.edu/
• Majors: it will be important for you to understand
what the expectations are of each major so you know
how you can best set yourself up to be successful
• Careers: find jobs where you will have deadlines and a
tangible project/outcome
17. Major/Career Exploration
Strategies
Influencing:
• Attend employer events, such as information sessions
and job fairs
• Talk to faculty members
• Majors: find a major in which you can share your
knowledge, present, write, or compete in some way
• Careers: find a career where you can lead and
contribute in meaningful ways
18. Major/Career Exploration
Strategies
Relationship Building:
Ask your academic advisor about the mentor program in
your college
Talk to people (faculty, advisors, professionals)
Major: find a major in which you can get to know your
classmates and can build a community--You will also most
likely enjoy discussion based or team project based courses
Career: find a career in which you can work with others to
get things done
19. Major/Career Exploration
StrategiesStrategic Thinking:
• Reflect on which classes have you enjoyed the most? The
least?
• Read Major Profiles and Career Profiles:
http://www.cape.umn.edu/majors/umn/ and
http://www.onetonline.org/
• Majors: find one in which you are challenged to analyze and
reflect, and one in which you can collect and absorb
information and ideas
• Careers: find one in which you are constantly learning and
where your critical thinking abilities are valued
20. Now What?
• Seek to learn more about your Top 5
– Talk to people about your Top 5
• Friends, family, academic advisor, career counselor, CAPE
coach
– Reflect, reflect, reflect!
– Visit STRENGTHS.UMN.EDU, read other people’s strength
stories! Find out about events!
– Follow us on Twitter! @UMN_Strengths
– Meet with a Peer Strengths & Engagement Coach! Drop-in
hours M-F 11am-2pm in STSS 511
• Act on your Strengths! Student Action Items found at:
www.strengthsquest.com (log in and click on ‘apply”) or use the U
of M Strengths Tip Sheets
– Academics
– Extra Curricular
– Career
