Transcript Document

Using StrengthsFinder
In Your Job Search
Crossroads Career Network
Monthly Networking Meeting
March 5, 2015
Presented by
Natalie Ackerman
Cornerstone Career Consulting
Your Strengths are the “Secret” Ingredient!
© 2015 Cornerstone Career Consulting
In your Job Search…
You’re a Salesperson (whether you like it or not
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YOU are the product!
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To sell your value to a potential employer you
have to…
Know Your Product & Believe in it!
How well do you “know” your product?
How will you “sell” yourself?
© 2015 Cornerstone Career Consulting
What Makes You Stand Out?
All things being equal…
Candidate A
STRENGTHS
Candidate B
The difference between A and B is STRENGTHS !!
© 2015 Cornerstone Career Consulting
What is a strength?
Strengths are the things you do that make you feel
energized and alive when you do them
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You were born w/them
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They’re how you’re hard-wired
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They’re easy & effortless
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They’re so natural you think ”doesn’t everyone do that?
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It’s the HOW & the WHY of what
you do
© 2015 Cornerstone Career Consulting
Stand up if you always…
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Talk to people in elevators, airplanes, grocery stores,
and wherever you go
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Have a color-coded/organized closet
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Keep a list of things to do and stick to it
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Believe things can always be done better
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Pick someone to race while driving
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Ask too many questions
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Focus more on people than work
REPEATEDLY push the elevator button
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© 2015 Cornerstone Career Consulting
How Do My Strengths Make a Difference?
 Behavior patterns that make you effective.
 Thought patterns that make you efficient.
 Beliefs that empower you to succeed.
 Attitudes that sustain your efforts toward
achievement and excellence.
 Motivations that propel you to take action and
maintain the energy needed to achieve.
© Gallup Organization
© 2015 Cornerstone Career Consulting
Examples of Strength…
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Effortlessly and instinctively starting conversations
(Woo)
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Thinking in an orderly or timely manner (Discipline)
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Easily and naturally influencing others (Command)
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Seeing patterns in data (Analytical)
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Consistently having a positive outlook on life (Positivity)
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Sorting through clutter to get to the heart of matters
(Strategic)
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Naturally organizing people & events for optimal
outcomes (Arranger)
© Gallup Organization
© 2015 Cornerstone Career Consulting
StrengthsFinder – FAQ’s
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40+ years of research
10+Million interviews across the globe
20% - people that are working from their strengths
80% - not engaged, bringing their best to work every day
98.9% accuracy – 1st time
Rank vs. Function
1:33.5 mill. – possibility of anyone having top 5 in the same
order
Approx. 179 people of 7+ billion on the earth w/your same 5
in the same order!
Similar to your fingerprint, your strengths are
unique to YOU!
© 2015 Cornerstone Career Consulting
Most/Least Common Strengths
The themes most commonly appearing in the top 5 are:
Achiever, Responsibility, Learner, Relator, and Strategic.
The themes least likely to show up in the top 5 are:
Command, Self-Assurance, Significance, Discipline and Context.
32% Achiever 14% Belief 10% Competition 32% Relator 14% Developer 10% Deliberative 32% Responsibility 14% Positivity 9% Consistency 28% Learner 13% Ideation 9% Includer 26% Strategic 13% WOO 8% Context
22% Maximizer 12% Activator 8% Futuristic 20% Input 12% Analytical 6% Command 18% Arranger 12% Communication 6% Discipline 18% Harmony 12% Focus 6% Self-Assurance
16% Connectedness 12% Individualization 6% Significance
15% Empathy 11% Intellection 14% Adaptability 11% Restorative © Gallup Organization
© 2015 Cornerstone Career Consulting
Clues About Your Strengths…
 What kinds of activities are you naturally drawn to?
 What activities energize you?
 What kind of activities do you seem to pick up quickly?
 What activities do you seem to automatically know the
steps to be taken?
 What activities give you a kick, and you think, “When
can I do that again?”
 What activities are frustrating or drain you?
© 2015 Cornerstone Career Consulting
Clues About Your Strengths…
What did you enjoy doing before you were
18 years old?
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Teach a classroom
Sing to a large audience
Organize parties/events for classmates
Organize & staff a lemonade stand
Top Salesperson for fundraisers - Boy/Girl Scouts
Team captain for sports team
Settling conflicts between classmates
Studying science/history
Fixing broken things
© 2015 Cornerstone Career Consulting
Then and Now…
Natalie’s career history:
Sales & Sales Management
Recruiter /Trainer
Project manager
Program manager
Professional Development Coach
Entrepreneur
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Woo – one who is able to easily persuade.
Maximizer – one who seeks to take people & projects from great to
excellent.
Activator – one who acts to start things in motion.
Arranger – one who enjoys orchestrating many tasks & variables to a
successful outcome.
Positivity– one who has a knack for bringing the bright side to any
situation.
Does what you did “then” look similar
to what you do “now”?
© 2015 Cornerstone Career Consulting
4 Theme Domains
© 2008 Strength Based Leadership
© 2015 Cornerstone Career Consulting
“Strategist” / Thinking Domain
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“Out of the box” solutions
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Recognize emerging needs & imagine solutions
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Masters of “possibility” thinking
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Like to synthesize ideas, develop theories, research
information, and design innovative solutions
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Challenges the status quo and asks: “What about
this idea? Have you thought about trying that?”
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Envisions a brighter future
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Encourages everyone to see possibilities and think
differently
© 2015 Cornerstone Career Consulting
“Mobilizer” / Executing Domain
Organize and take charge
 Drive projects across the finish line – outcome driven
 Manage, run, and improve core processes &
systems
 Remove barriers to performance
 Manage the details and ensure results
 Want to know the goals, deadlines, and what’s
expected of them
 “no-nonsense” – hate inefficiency
 Ask the tough questions no one else does
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© 2015 Cornerstone Career Consulting
“Amiable” / Relating Domain
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Motivate others and gain commitment
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Help people work collaboratively and build trust &
teamwork
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The “glue” that makes projects and relationships work
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Highly intuitive to others needs & concerns
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Like to connect, communicate & inspire others to do
their best
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Experts at listening, coaching, communicating &
facilitating
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Listen & advise, resolve conflict
© 2015 Cornerstone Career Consulting
“Catalyst” / Influencing Domain
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Change agents
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Champion & launch new ideas and ensure their success
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Sells the team’s ideas & excels at forging alliances inside
and outside the organization
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Set up projects and change initiatives up for success
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Know what it takes to create lasting change – big change
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Put systems and resources in place to achieve the vision
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Will sell the idea, assemble the resources & design the
infrastructure to support the project
© 2015 Cornerstone Career Consulting
Applying Your Strengths…
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Any surprises? Disappointments?
Which strength do you appreciate the most?
Why?
Which 1 or 2 strengths help you succeed
the most in your job?
How do those 1 or 2 strengths add value to
the team you work with every day?
© 2015 Cornerstone Career Consulting
Can this help me get a job faster?
ABSOLUTELY!
 Self-Confidence – know who you ARE & are NOT
 Clarity about who you are and the specific value you
offer an employer
 What cos. need most + what you do best =
success!
 Sell yourself more effectively because you come
across with authenticity & conviction
 Saves wasted time spent on companies or jobs that
aren’t a fit with your values/strengths
© 2015 Cornerstone Career Consulting
Additional Resources
 StandOut – Marcus Buckingham
 Strengths Based Leadership – Tom Rath & Barrie Conchie
 Strengths Based Selling – Tony Rutigliano and Brian Brim
 Discover Your Sales Strengths – Benson Smith & Tony Rutigliano
 Go Put Your Strengths to Work – Marcus Buckingham
 Living Your Strengths – Donald Clifton & Albert Winseman
 StrengthsQuest – (college students)
 Strengths Explorer – (children ages 10-13)
 Your Child’s Strengths – Jenifer Fox
© 2015 Cornerstone Career Consulting
Questions?
THANK YOU!
© 2015 Cornerstone Career Consulting
Strengths Statement Examples
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I help others peer over the horizon to see the potential for
the future by asking “did you ever think about…or wouldn’t it
be great if…”. When others say “this can’t be done”, I look
for options and figure out how it can be done.
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If a team needs to be created, I should be involved. I
recognize talents, skills, and knowledge in people. I
intuitively sense how very different people can work
together.
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I have a relentless need for achievement - an internal fire
that pushes me to set goals and do more. I set the pace for
the team and facilitate highly productive work groups.
© 2015 Cornerstone Career Consulting
Strengths Statement Examples
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People tell me that I’m genuine and authentic in my approach and
I can develop enduring, trusted relationships with virtually anyone.
Because of this, I build productive, long-term relationships with
internal and external clients at all levels.
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I have the ability to quicken the pulse of my surroundings and
engage the exchange of ideas. I can take performance up a
notch, or several just by engaging others in conversations and
bringing talented people together.
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Is enthusiasm contagious – I hope so! There are always
challenges but I’m the cheerleader and we’ll keep moving forward
no matter the obstacles.
© 2015 Cornerstone Career Consulting