Transcript VISTA/Supervisor webinar - Minnesota Literacy Council

Minnesota Literacy Council
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Introductions
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Please share:
◦ Name
◦ Site
◦ Something you’re excited about this fall
Finding Fulfillment Through Your Strengths
Adapted from workshop by Kara Schommer
CPCC
Coach and trainer
[email protected]
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Learn more about & discuss your own
strengths
Learn about & discuss the strengths of your
VISTA/supervisor
Understand how different types of strengths
contribute to a well-balanced team
Reflect on how you can utilize your strengths
most effectively – individually and together
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“That’s so me!”
Skeptical
Strengths envy
Other reactions?
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Why is it helpful to focus on strengths rather
than weaknesses?
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Tendency to focus on negative
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Helps us understand conflicts – where am I
coming from? Where are you coming from?
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Focusing on strengths doesn’t mean you can
stop doing everything else – but you can use your
strengths and/or knowledge of others’ strengths
to be more effective in accomplishing what you
need to do
0 interest/talent
X 5 hours work
= 0 (no yield)
2 interest/talent
X 5 hours work
= 10 (some growth)
5 interest/talent
X 5 hours work
= 25 (get a lot more out of it!)
"Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask
yourself what makes you come alive, and then
go do that. Because what the world needs is
people who have come alive." --Howard
Thurman
SIGN
 Success: when you do it, you feel effective
 Instinct: before you do it, you actively look
forward to it
 Growth: while you are doing it, you feel
inquisitive and focused
 Needs: After you’ve done it, you feel fulfilled
and authentic
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What have I been magnetically attracted to in
my life?
What do I learn quickly & easily?
What makes me feel fulfilled?
When do I lose track of time?
Where have I/others noticed “glimpses of
excellence” – brilliant moments?
What stood out to you when doing this
reflection?
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How did you spend your time as a child?
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How did it make you feel?
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Do you notice any connections to your life
now?
As you grow, you become more of who you
already are.
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Talents – naturally occuring patterns of
thought, feeling & behavior
Knowledge – facts and lessons learned
Skills – steps required for activities
Combine to form strengths
Executing
Influencing
Relationship
Building
Strategic
Thinking
Achiever
Activator
Adaptability
Analytical
Arranger
Command
Developer
Context
Belief
Communication
Connectedness
Futuristic
Consistency
Competition
Empathy
Ideation
Deliberative
Maximizer
Harmony
Input
Discipline
Self-Assurance
Includer
Intellection
Focus
Significance
Individualization Learner
Responsibility
Woo
Positivity
Restorative
Relator
Strategic
Pick your primary domain. What does this look like for you?
Executing
• Know how to
make things
happen
• Implement a
solution and
work tirelessly
to get it done
• “Catch” an idea
and make it
reality
Influencing
Relationship
Building
Strategic
Thinking
• Help their
team reach a
much broader
audience
• The essential
glue that holds
a team
together
• Focus on what
could be, see
opportunities
for growth
• Sells the
team’s ideas
inside and
outside the
organization
• Can create
groups that are
greater than
the sum of
their parts
• Take charge,
speak up,
make sure the
group is heard
• Keep energy
high, get
people
motivated,
mentor and
guide others
• Absorb and
analyze
information to
help the team
make better
decisions
• Stretch the
group’s
thinking
toward the
future
Executing
Influencing
Relationship
Building
Strategic
Thinking
Think about your primary domain.
Why is this domain important?
What do people who lead from this domain need from the other domains
in order to be most effective?
Executing
Influencing
Relationship
Building
Think about the people you work most closely with.
Where do you see your strengths as a team?
Where might there be gaps?
Strategic
Thinking
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Reference email attachment
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Choose a strength to focus on.
◦ What is the impact/result when I use this strength
in the balcony?
◦ What is the impact/result when I use this strength
in the basement?
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Balconies/basements
Metaphor
What is helpful for others to know about how
I activate my strengths most effectively?
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Choose one strength you’d like to “amp up”
Share & hold each other accountable
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Final thoughts and comments
Have a great day!
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Ellen Bergstrom, VISTA Manager
[email protected]
Amy Krill, VISTA Leader
[email protected]