Division of Student Affairs

Strengths Based Leadership

What happens when we focus on what is RIGHT with people?

Why Are We Using StrengthsFinder?

We believe that everyone has something to contribute!

Rath & Conchie (2008) point out in Strengths Based Leadership: “whether you are taking charge in a boardroom, on a construction site, or even in your home, it is likely that you will find yourself leading at some point in your life.” (p.1)

Drucker (1999) challenged people to consider: “what should my contribution be? Given my strengths, my ways of performing, and my values, how can I make the greatest contribution to what needs to be done?” (p.25).

StrengthsFinder has proven success.It is used in academic, business, and nonprofit settings; over 2 million people have taken it; it is available in over 24 languages

Three Key Findings in Strengths Research

1. The most effective leaders are always investing in strengths.

2. The most effective leaders surround themselves with the right people and then maximize their team.

3. The most effective leaders understand their followers’ needs.

StrengthsFinder 2.0 …identifies areas where an individual’s greatest potential for building strengths exists. It is a philosophy of using talents as the basis for consistent achievement of excellence (strengths). Individuals are able to gain far more when they expend effort to build on their greatest talents.

PART I: INVESTING IN YOUR STRENGTHS

If you spend your life trying to be good at everything, you will never be great at anything.

34 Themes

“I’ve never met an effective leader who wasn’t aware of his talents and working to sharpen them” –Former NATO Supreme Allied Commander Wesley Clark

Let’s Assess …

Person AStrategicActivatorAdaptabilityMaximizerWoo

Person BAchieverLearner

InputActivator

Focus

Select A Strength

We all lead in very different ways based on our talents and our limitations. Serious problems occur when we think we need to be exactly like [any other] leaders.

Using my Strengths, where and how can I contribute to my area and the Division in 2014-

2015?

[Personal Goal Setting]

PART II: MAXIMIZING YOUR TEAM

The most cohesive and successful teams possessed broader groupings of strengths.

The Four Domains of Leadership Strength

• Know how to make things happen; ability to “catch” an idea and make it a reality

Executing

• Reach a broader audience; sell the team’s ideas inside and outside the organization

Influencing

• Glue that holds the team together; create groups and organizations that are much greater than the sum of their parts

Relationship Building

• Focused on what could be; absorb and analyze information to make better decisions

Strategic Thinking

The Four Domains of Leadership Strength

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 Strategic

Restorative Relator

Teams for Large Departments/OfficesCampus Life #1

Nicole Fedders

Sandra Jackson

Jon Kapell

Zach Hollenbaugh

Stefanie Mancuso

Larry Wray

Campus Life #2

Amelie Brogden

Bill DiNome

Cynthia Hartmann

Alan Hinton

Nancy Maready

Amanda Turner

Chris Riendeau

HRL #1

Sean Ahlum

Al Bright

Danny Hall

Justin Inscoe

Veronica Sills

Nic Troutman

Meredith Vaughn

Clifton Williams

HRL #2

Uchenna Baker

Carrie Hammer

Matt Herrington

Tiffani Idol

Cassandra Jenkins

Brad Reid

Kristen Tucker

Jamar Whitfield

Campus Rec #2

Jake Eubank

Drew Loso

Tim McNeilly

Amanda Wiggins

Campus Rec #1

Thomas Bartolotta

Sarah Gilbert

Zach Gilbert

David Parker

Andy Rampe

Brian Stelzer

Nathan Williams

Student Health #1

Wendy Bledsoe

Emily Bridgman

Mary Canel

Kathy Hodge

Leigh Lane

Walt Laughlin

Nancy Patz

Country Simmons

Student Health #2

Rachel Baldwin

Charlie Bay

Becky Buckley

Heidi Gierie

Linda Howard

Terry Ismert

Ranae Roots

Trisha Tinney

Katrin Wesner

How Do Your Team’s Strengths Work Together?

• Based on your self reflection, how do your individual ways of contributing align with your team’s strengths?

• Does your team utilize individuals’ strengths well? If so, how? If not, how could you?

•Where are you strong as a team? Where might you run into concerns?

• How do your team’s strengths serve students?

• How do your team’s strengths contribute the Division?

The Divisional Snapshot

Achiev

er

Arrange

rBeli

ef

Consisten

cy

Delibera

tive

Disciplin

eFo

cus

Responsib

ility

Restorati

ve

Activa

tor

Command

Communication

Competition

Maxim

izer

Self-A

ssuran

ce

Significan

ceW

oo

Adaptab

ility

Connected

ness

Develo

per

Empath

y

Harmony

Includer

Individuali

zation

Positivit

y

Relator

Analytical

Context

Futuris

tic

Ideation

Input

Intellec

tion

Learn

er

Strate

gic

40

25

7

21

1310

6

46

1613

1

19

2

14

24

22

30

19

29

38

31

20

2528

36

18

1411

16

33

19

43

33

Division of Student Affairs Compiled Strengths 2014Series1

PART III: UNDERSTANDING WHY PEOPLE FOLLOW

If you want to lead, it is critical to know what the people around you need and expect from you. You are only a leader if others follow.

Consider someone you view as a leader and someone you would “follow.”

Why would you follow that person?

Follower’s Four Basic Needs

1. Trust (honesty, integrity, & respect)

2. Compassion (caring, friendship, happiness, & love)

3. Stability (security, strength, support, & peace)

4. Hope (direction, faith, & guidance)

WHAT NOW??Reflect. Share. Practice. Build.

Combining Strengths: Future Uses

• Staff Retreats• Search Committees• Division Committees• Connecting with students (classes,

organizations, Executive Boards, etc.)

Thank You!!

Questions? Comments?

Sonja Ardoin, Christina Logan, Mike Phillips, Jaime Russell