StartingOverNow.com
Articles
Strengths - How to Use Them to Solve Any
Challenge
When faced with any challenge there is a rhythm that will help you
tackle that challenge and achieve fulfillment at the end of the journey.
The challenge may be that you aren’t sure what field to pursue in your
career. It may be that you can’t decide how to approach a project. It
may be that you aren’t sure whether or not to start a business.
You have the ability to solve all of these dilemmas by operating from
your authentic rhythm of discovery:
1.) Define your strengths and how they help you,
2.) Use your strengths to make difficult decisions, and
3.) Discover how these strengths continue to serve you.
I continue to be a fan of playing to your strengths and not developing
your weaknesses because if you develop your weak areas you will go
from being “terrible” at something to, if you’re lucky, elevating to just
“very bad.” But if you are “great” at something and you develop that
strength you will go from being great to “incredible!” Marcus
Buckingham in his book “Go Put Your Strengths to Work” suggests a
very helpful exercise that will keep you focused on developing your
strengths. He suggests that you:
Create Three “Strengths” Statements:
1.) I feel strong when…
2.) I feel strong when…
3.) I feel strong when…
and
Create Three “Weakness” Statements:
1.) I feel weak when…
2.) I feel weak when…
3.) I feel weak when…
The goal here is to purposefully plan time in your day to work in your
strengths areas. Talk with your manager about how you can do this
more. And surround yourself with people who have your weaknesses
as their strengths.
How to Use Your Strengths
1.) Define Your Strengths. To define your strengths simply think back
to the best things you ever accomplished and what skills were at play
there. When did you feel strong? What were you doing? What are
you best at in your current role? Also, there are free tools on my web
site that will help you to do this at http://www.startingovernow.
com/Articles/Strengths-
Free_Tools_to_Help_You_Define_Your_Strengths.html.
2.) What new situations can you put yourself in where you can
develop these strengths? Is there a way to measure how much you
are using these strengths? Can you elicit feedback from managers
or peers?
3.) What classes, books, research can you do to learn and grow
these skills? Can you share what you are learning with others to
build fellowship around developing your strengths.
4.) How can you add to the success of a team by contributing your
strengths to the mission? Have you analyzed a project and
suggested areas where you alone have a niche skill that will heighten
the effectiveness of the team?
Be sure to have two activities every week that play to your strengths.
This will build your confidence in these areas as well as grow your
skills. You and the people around you will notice your growth and
what you bring to the team. Start now!
Get her free tip sheets on “Surround Yourself With People Who Have
Your Weaknesses as Their Strengths” and “Change – Here’s How!”
at http://www.startingovernow.com/Articles-and-Tip-Sheets.html.
Articles and Tips Page.
Email this information to a friend. Follow Mary Lee’s tips on Twitter at
StartingOverNow.
Mary Lee Gannon is the president of Gannon Group - a full service
executive coaching, training and consulting firm that provides
turnaround strategies for people and organizations by improving
team performance, executive leadership skills, board performance,
planning and project execution. Mary Lee’s personal turnaround came
as a stay-at-home mother, with four children under seven-years-old,
who endured a divorce that took she and the children from the country
club life to public assistance from where within a short time she
worked out of that to the level of CEO. Her book "Starting Over - 25
Rules for When You've Bottomed Out" is available in bookstores, on
Amazon or on her web site. Email Mary Lee at
marylee@startingovernow.com.
Challenge
When faced with any challenge there is a rhythm that will help you
tackle that challenge and achieve fulfillment at the end of the journey.
The challenge may be that you aren’t sure what field to pursue in your
career. It may be that you can’t decide how to approach a project. It
may be that you aren’t sure whether or not to start a business.
You have the ability to solve all of these dilemmas by operating from
your authentic rhythm of discovery:
1.) Define your strengths and how they help you,
2.) Use your strengths to make difficult decisions, and
3.) Discover how these strengths continue to serve you.
I continue to be a fan of playing to your strengths and not developing
your weaknesses because if you develop your weak areas you will go
from being “terrible” at something to, if you’re lucky, elevating to just
“very bad.” But if you are “great” at something and you develop that
strength you will go from being great to “incredible!” Marcus
Buckingham in his book “Go Put Your Strengths to Work” suggests a
very helpful exercise that will keep you focused on developing your
strengths. He suggests that you:
Create Three “Strengths” Statements:
1.) I feel strong when…
2.) I feel strong when…
3.) I feel strong when…
and
Create Three “Weakness” Statements:
1.) I feel weak when…
2.) I feel weak when…
3.) I feel weak when…
The goal here is to purposefully plan time in your day to work in your
strengths areas. Talk with your manager about how you can do this
more. And surround yourself with people who have your weaknesses
as their strengths.
How to Use Your Strengths
1.) Define Your Strengths. To define your strengths simply think back
to the best things you ever accomplished and what skills were at play
there. When did you feel strong? What were you doing? What are
you best at in your current role? Also, there are free tools on my web
site that will help you to do this at http://www.startingovernow.
com/Articles/Strengths-
Free_Tools_to_Help_You_Define_Your_Strengths.html.
2.) What new situations can you put yourself in where you can
develop these strengths? Is there a way to measure how much you
are using these strengths? Can you elicit feedback from managers
or peers?
3.) What classes, books, research can you do to learn and grow
these skills? Can you share what you are learning with others to
build fellowship around developing your strengths.
4.) How can you add to the success of a team by contributing your
strengths to the mission? Have you analyzed a project and
suggested areas where you alone have a niche skill that will heighten
the effectiveness of the team?
Be sure to have two activities every week that play to your strengths.
This will build your confidence in these areas as well as grow your
skills. You and the people around you will notice your growth and
what you bring to the team. Start now!
Get her free tip sheets on “Surround Yourself With People Who Have
Your Weaknesses as Their Strengths” and “Change – Here’s How!”
at http://www.startingovernow.com/Articles-and-Tip-Sheets.html.
Articles and Tips Page.
Email this information to a friend. Follow Mary Lee’s tips on Twitter at
StartingOverNow.
Mary Lee Gannon is the president of Gannon Group - a full service
executive coaching, training and consulting firm that provides
turnaround strategies for people and organizations by improving
team performance, executive leadership skills, board performance,
planning and project execution. Mary Lee’s personal turnaround came
as a stay-at-home mother, with four children under seven-years-old,
who endured a divorce that took she and the children from the country
club life to public assistance from where within a short time she
worked out of that to the level of CEO. Her book "Starting Over - 25
Rules for When You've Bottomed Out" is available in bookstores, on
Amazon or on her web site. Email Mary Lee at
marylee@startingovernow.com.
StartingOverNow.com
Articles
People who use the
FREE resources on
this site are:
* Starting over in
their career or
personal life
* Empty nesters
* Entrepreneurs
* Networking
* Job Seekers
* Starting all over
again
* Going through a
divorce
* Looking for career
opportunities
* Seeking FREE
career advice and
education
* Finding mentors
* Setting new life
goals
To chart your road
map to success
click here for FREE
"Worksheets and
Articles."
FREE resources on
this site are:
* Starting over in
their career or
personal life
* Empty nesters
* Entrepreneurs
* Networking
* Job Seekers
* Starting all over
again
* Going through a
divorce
* Looking for career
opportunities
* Seeking FREE
career advice and
education
* Finding mentors
* Setting new life
goals
To chart your road
map to success
click here for FREE
"Worksheets and
Articles."
Turnaround Solutions for People & Organizations
Gannon Group is a full service executive coaching, consulting and
training firm that provides turnaround strategies for people and
organizations. We improve team performance, executive leadership
skills, board performance, planning and project execution through
Executive Coaching, Management Team Development, Board
Development, and Training in the areas of...
Healthcare
Business
Operational Excellence
Strategic Direction & Meeting Facilitation
Fundraising
Association Management
Non-Profit Management
Personal Turnaround
Sales
Communications & Public Relations
Contact Gannon Group at info@startingovernow.com.
Gannon Group is a full service executive coaching, consulting and
training firm that provides turnaround strategies for people and
organizations. We improve team performance, executive leadership
skills, board performance, planning and project execution through
Executive Coaching, Management Team Development, Board
Development, and Training in the areas of...
Healthcare
Business
Operational Excellence
Strategic Direction & Meeting Facilitation
Fundraising
Association Management
Non-Profit Management
Personal Turnaround
Sales
Communications & Public Relations
Contact Gannon Group at info@startingovernow.com.
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
FREE Resources
to help you:
1. United States of America's
primary source on career
information:
www.onetcenter.org
2. Wage Estimates
www.salary.com and Bureau of
Labor and Statistics
3. Organize Your Job Search -
Post a Question etc.:
www.cvtips.com
4. Starting Over After Divorce:
www.womansdivorce.com
5. Starting Over for Women:
www.makingbreadmagazine.co
m
6. Self Improvement:
www.selfgrowth.com.
7. Job Postings, Resume
Advice and Resources:
www.careerbuiler.com
8. Templates for: business
plans, competitive analysis,
start up costs and more:
www.score.org/business_toolbox
.html
9. Federal/Sate/Local
Government jobs:
www.USAJOBS.com
10. U.S. Government's Free
online courses, webinars and
podcasts for workforce
development:
www.onetacademy.com.
11. Occupational Outlook
Handbok 2008-09 by Bureau of
Labor and Statistics:
http://www.bls.gov/oco/home.ht
m
to help you:
1. United States of America's
primary source on career
information:
www.onetcenter.org
2. Wage Estimates
www.salary.com and Bureau of
Labor and Statistics
3. Organize Your Job Search -
Post a Question etc.:
www.cvtips.com
4. Starting Over After Divorce:
www.womansdivorce.com
5. Starting Over for Women:
www.makingbreadmagazine.co
m
6. Self Improvement:
www.selfgrowth.com.
7. Job Postings, Resume
Advice and Resources:
www.careerbuiler.com
8. Templates for: business
plans, competitive analysis,
start up costs and more:
www.score.org/business_toolbox
.html
9. Federal/Sate/Local
Government jobs:
www.USAJOBS.com
10. U.S. Government's Free
online courses, webinars and
podcasts for workforce
development:
www.onetacademy.com.
11. Occupational Outlook
Handbok 2008-09 by Bureau of
Labor and Statistics:
http://www.bls.gov/oco/home.ht
m
| Mary Lee Gannon is interviewed on Mind Your BIZness |
Listen to Mary
Lee's interview
"From Welfare
to CEO" on the
Renee Bobb
Show on
BlogTalk
Radio.com.
Lee's interview
"From Welfare
to CEO" on the
Renee Bobb
Show on
BlogTalk
Radio.com.
Gannon Group/StartingOverNow.com
Executive Leadership Coaching - Productivity Solutions for People and Organizations
Executive Leadership Coaching - Productivity Solutions for People and Organizations
Get the FREE e-Book "Lead Your
Team with Values and Watch
Productivity Grow - A
Manager's Toolbox"
and the Executive Coaching
Newsletter.
Team with Values and Watch
Productivity Grow - A
Manager's Toolbox"
and the Executive Coaching
Newsletter.
Mary Lee Gannon's
Book "Starting Over" is
available in bookstores
everywhere or at
Amazon.com - 5 Stars!
Book "Starting Over" is
available in bookstores
everywhere or at
Amazon.com - 5 Stars!
Follow Mary Lee's tips
and information on these
Social Networking sites:
and information on these
Social Networking sites:
