StrengthsQuest #1 - Empathy

and here it is folks... if you thought that the other top 4 were perfect definitions of my strengths, wait until you get a load of this...

this defines me.

completely.

Empathy

Theme Description

You can sense the emotions of those around you. You can feel what they are feeling as though their feelings are your own. Intuitively, you are able to see the world through their eyes and share their perspective. You do not necessarily agree with each person’s perspective. You do not necessarily feel pity for each person’s predicament—this would be sympathy, not Empathy. You do not necessarily condone the choices each person makes, but you do understand. This instinctive ability to understand is powerful. You hear the unvoiced questions. You anticipate the need. Where others grapple for words, you seem to find the right words and the right tone. You help people find the right phrases to express their feelings—to themselves as well as to others. You help them give voice to their emotional life. For all these reasons other people are drawn to you.

Action Items

You can sense what it feels like to be someone else.

You can pick up on the pain and joy of others -- sometimes before they express it. Other people feel heard by you and experience your compassion.

Because you can quickly understand others, people are drawn to you when they have a need or a problem, especially in relationships.

Your Empathy can be challenging because you may become overwhelmed with all of the emotions you can pick up in a day.

You have a natural ability for getting in touch with the feelings of others. Hone this talent by refining the words you use to name the feelings you experience and those you observe in others. Help others name their feelings, as well. People who can name their feelings seem to work better with other people.

At times your Empathy talents can drain you, if you are not careful to develop rituals at the end of each day that allow you to "decompress."

Absorbing others' emotions sometimes leads to experiencing those emotions yourself. Establish clear boundaries between yourself and those to whom you connect.

If you pick up negative emotions more easily than the positive, you may need to intentionally become more aware of positive emotions. This proactivity can keep you more balanced and emotionally rewarded.

You are an emotional person, and you need to express your own emotions to someone you trust.

Sometimes it is important to be silent. You likely have the talent to let people understand you know how they are feeling, without even talking. Refine your nonverbal communication skills.

Let others know you can feel their pain and that tears are okay. Communicating that you understand their feelings builds trust.

Keep a journal in which you reflect on what you learned from other people and their passions, fears, joys, and other emotions.

As soon as you have an idea, write it down, including your feelings about it.

When you read, identify how you can relate the emotions of the characters to your own or those of people you know. This will make the material come alive for you and help you remember the it better.

Discuss issues that are on your mind with your friends. You are usually there for them. Allow them, likewise, to be there for you. Share you feelings with them, because they may not be able to identify feelings as easily as you do.

Use your Empathy talents when conflicts arise at work and other group settings.

Be careful not to let those you support overwhelm you. Just as it is important you be there for your friends and family whenever they need you, it is crucial that you keep your goals a priority.

Become involved in activities, clubs, or organizations that will help you feel like you're making a difference with individuals through your empathy.

Consider working with students to help them to better understand their own feelings and sort through their emotions.

Position yourself as a confidante for your students. Many students feel overwhelmed at school; you'll understand and help them get through the difficulties they're facing.

Because you're nonjudgmental and understand the feelings of individuals, you'll be a welcome addition to most groups.

The "emotional tone" of your work environment is important. You might find that surrounding yourself with others who are positive and upbeat is highly rewarding.

Seek work environments in which emotions are valued and not repressed. The rich emotional economy will be the perfect environment for your Empathy talents.


how freaky is that???

(* note the italics... things i need to think about. seriously.)

Read more...

StrengthsQuest #2 - Learner

my #2. i am such a nerd. ;o)

Learner

Theme Description

You love to learn. The subject matter that interests you most will be determined by your other themes and experiences, but whatever the subject, you will always be drawn to the process of learning. The process, more than the content or the result, is especially exciting for you. You are energized by the steady and deliberate journey from ignorance to competence. The thrill of the first few facts, the early efforts to recite or practice what you have learned, the growing confidence of a skill mastered—this is the process that entices you. Your excitement leads you to engage in adult learning experiences—yoga or piano lessons or graduate classes. It enables you to thrive in dynamic work environments where you are asked to take on short project assignments and are expected to learn a lot about the new subject matter in a short period of time and then move on to the next one. This Learner theme does not necessarily mean that you seek to become the subject matter expert, or that you are striving for the respect that accompanies a professional or academic credential. The outcome of the learning is less significant than the “getting there.”

Action Items

You want to continuously learn and improve.

You enjoy the process of learning as much as what you actually learn -- perhaps even more.

You get a thrill out of learning new facts, beginning a new subject, and mastering an important skill. Learning builds your confidence.

You can get frustrated about wanting to learn so many different things because you fear you'll never be an expert.

You are energized by the challenge of keeping up with constantly changing fields.

Identify your own learning style. How do you learn best -- through doing? By reading? When you listen to experts? When you are able to work with friends in a group? Find your best learning environments and organize your life so that you are in these environments more. Use your Learner talents to learn about yourself -- and achieve more in the process.

Find ways to track the progress of your learning. If there are distinct levels or stages of learning within a body of knowledge or skill, celebrate your progression from one level to the next. If no such levels exist, create them for yourself. (For example, set a goal of reading five books on the subject.)

You love the challenge of a steep learning curve, so beware of learning plateaus. Seek opportunities to stretch yourself with more difficult or complex assignments and courses.

Learning is meaningful to you. Keep the mentality that you are never done learning, not even when school is over. You are a lifelong learner. Keep a journal of "lessons learned" that you can go back to often.

You love the process of learning so much that the outcome may not matter to you. As a result, you may have a number of unfinished projects that you plan to come back to "someday."

Keep a journal in which you reflect on what you learned from your experiences.

Exceed expectations. Do more than is required of you.

Look at every situation as a possible learning experience. This approach will help you become aware of what you do well and where you need help.

Always ask, "What did I learn from this?"

Have lots of conversations on subjects you are passionate about with people who are interested in learning.

Build relationships with those from whom you want to learn.

Don't restrict your learning experiences to the classroom. Engage in activities in which you can expand your knowledge about subject that interest you most.

Choose a work environment that encourages constant learning or where study is a way of life.

Environments that value the learning process will bring out your best, particularly if you will have opportunities to develop strengths.

Read more...

StrengthsQuest #3 - Developer

i love that this is one of my strengths...

Developer

Theme Description

You see the potential in others. Very often, in fact, potential is all you see. In your view no individual is fully formed. On the contrary, each individual is a work in progress, alive with possibilities. And you are drawn toward people for this very reason. When you interact with others, your goal is to help them experience success. You look for ways to challenge them. You devise interesting experiences that can stretch them and help them grow. And all the while you are on the lookout for the signs of growth—a new behavior learned or modified, a slight improvement in a skill, a glimpse of excellence or of “flow” where previously there were only halting steps. For you these small increments—invisible to some—are clear signs of potential being realized. These signs of growth in others are your fuel. They bring you strength and satisfaction. Over time many will seek you out for help and encouragement because on some level they know that your helpfulness is both genuine and fulfilling to you.

Action Items

You naturally see others' potential to move, change, grow, and develop for the better.

You love to see others make progress, and you will notice even the slightest progress.

Being a part of another person's development is the one of best experiences in the world for you.

Other people may not be as interested in their development as you are. In fact, they might push you away because they feel you are pressuring them.

Your role in any setting usually involves facilitating growth. Roles in teaching, advising, coaching, or managing might prove especially satisfying for you, so seek out those opportunities.

Notice when your friends learn and grow, and enhance their growth by sharing your specific observations.

You are a natural encourager. Take the time to call or e-mail people who need your encouragement most.

You probably will flourish when you help less fortunate people or disadvantaged students see that their talents are opportunities for development.

Recognize that while you notice the "baby steps" of progress, others may expect bigger steps. Be able to articulate these intermediate steps to others.

Keep an ongoing list of your key learning experiences. Track your own progress and growth.

Pretend that you are going to explain to others what you are trying to learn. This will help you retain more information and improve your comprehension.

Always have one or more mentors, and let them know what they add to your life. Consult them regularly.

Help your friends choose developmental experiences.

Coach friends who have a specific goal or focus in mind (such as running a marathon or losing weight). Encourage them in their progress.

Use your ability and passion to help others by joining organizations that will allow you to exercise your talents in helping others succeed. This will allow you to feel good about what you do and learn from your experiences. For example, consider becoming a mentor or peer counselor, or join community service organizations.

You likely have a talent for noting people's progress and for helping them become even better at what they do. Seek an environment in which your work involves getting "people done through work" rather than "work done through people."

You will be most satisfied in a career that provides some type of service to people or in which organizational success is based on interpersonal relationships and your ability to help people be successful.

Environments that are collaborative and people-oriented, where you can be part of a team but also have time to work one-on-one with others, is likely to allow your Developer talents to flourish.

Talk to counselors, teachers, speech therapists, athletic coaches, acting coaches, life coaches, and those who work in your campus learning center to find out what they enjoy most about their work.

Read more...

StrengthsQuest #4 - Input

bring on strength #4...

Input

Theme Description

You are inquisitive. You collect things. You might collect information—words, facts, books, and quotations—or you might collect tangible objects such as butterflies, baseball cards, porcelain dolls, or sepia photographs. Whatever you collect, you collect it because it interests you. And yours is the kind of mind that finds so many things interesting. The world is exciting precisely because of its infinite variety and complexity. If you read a great deal, it is not necessarily to refine your theories but, rather, to add more information to your archives. If you like to travel, it is because each new location offers novel artifacts and facts. These can be acquired and then stored away. Why are they worth storing? At the time of storing it is often hard to say exactly when or why you might need them, but who knows when they might become useful? With all those possible uses in mind, you really don’t feel comfortable throwing anything away. So you keep acquiring and compiling and filing stuff away. It’s interesting. It keeps your mind fresh. And perhaps one day some of it will prove valuable.

Action Items

You always want to know more. You crave information.

You like to collect certain things, such as ideas, books, memorabilia, quotations, and facts.

You have an active curiosity. You find many things very interesting. A few minutes of "surfing the Net" may turn into hours once your curiosity takes off, and you might have difficulties filing and housing all of the new information you acquire.

You are naturally curious but may need to intentionally schedule time to feed your mind. Take time to read books and articles that stimulate you, or to travel to new places. Your Input talents need regular "feeding."

Devise a system for storing and easily locating the information you gather. This system can be as simple as a file for all the articles you have clipped or as sophisticated as a computer database.

Identify situations in which you can share the information you have collected with other people. Being able to share your "stuff" with others will make for a better learning experience for everyone.

A sense of when to stop seeking information is just as valuable a talent as your thirst for information.

Save all notes, books, magazines, etc. to create a personal library.

To continue making progress and stay on track while doing required work, put sticky notes on areas you wish to go back and look at.

Prioritize the most critical information. Otherwise, you might become distracted by other information that fascinates you but is not as relevant.

Share your information with friends. Determine who would be interested in each bit of information, rather than giving all information to everyone.

Be aware that the more you know, the more likely it is that others will seek you out for information and see you as highly credible.

Study about fascinating places to travel. Gather information, and go!

Environments that give you the freedom to pursue threads of information and that focus on informed decision-making are likely to bring out your best.

You probably will enjoy a career in which you are always on the cutting edge of knowledge and you can gather and share valuable pieces of relevant information.

Choose jobs that require you to be an expert collector and consumer of research. This type of environment will energize you.

Read more...

StrengthsQuest #5 - Adaptability

so we had to take this test for work that defines our top 5 strengths. i was skeptical at first. i've done so many personality tests, leadership tests, etc. then i took StrengthsQuest.

it completely defines me.

eerily so.

here is my #5. (the rest will follow...)

Adaptability

Theme Description

You live in the moment. You don’t see the future as a fixed destination. Instead, you see it as a place that you create out of the choices that you make right now. And so you discover your future one choice at a time. This doesn’t mean that you don’t have plans. You probably do. But this theme of Adaptability does enable you to respond willingly to the demands of the moment even if they pull you away from your plans. Unlike some, you don’t resent sudden requests or unforeseen detours. You expect them. They are inevitable. Indeed, on some level you actually look forward to them. You are, at heart, a very flexible person who can stay productive when the demands of work are pulling you in many different directions at once.

Action Items

In many ways, you modify yourself to meet the demands of your environment.

You easily adjust to many things all day long because you naturally live in the moment.

You create the future out of the choices you make right now, one choice at a time.

Your "go with the flow" attitude may seem like irresponsibility to those who prefer structure and predictability. They may get irritated with what they perceive to be sloppiness or carelessness.

Adaptability talents are valuable because they allow you to keep moving forward when the unexpected happens. You can press ahead in a world of unknowns and seemingly unfair treatment when others would give up. You can deal with everything from injustices to crises and still find a way to make progress.

Your ability to take things in stride means that you can be a calm and reassuring influence to people who don't handle change well. Use your exceptional ability to deal with stress by making yourself available to those who need your perspective.

You enjoy the journey as much as you enjoy the destination. Help others find enjoyment along the way by encouraging them to see what's happening in the moment. You will enjoy the journey even more when there are others to share it with you.

Your spontaneity can help others realize how many valuable experiences might be missed if they don't seize the moment.

Because you live in the moment, you might find yourself easily distracted by new things that come along. You might be particularly likely to drop everything when your friends want you to go out with them. Connect your Adaptability talents with some of the talents in your other Signature Themes to help you remember the importance of what you're doing, so you'll be more likely to stay on task when necessary.

Your natural ability to "go with the flow" enables you to make adjustments easily, but added perspective on how to organize your schedule or be more efficient when the pressure hits is important.

To others, things seem to just "fall into place" for you. Help them recognize that it isn't luck. You have a talent for adjusting to changing circumstances and that it takes a lot of hard work.

Live in the moment.

Leverage your ability not to feel overwhelmed by multifaceted assignments. Document three to five instances during the day when you successfully juggled competing tasks.

Surround yourself with individuals who, like you, pause to take in the world's loveliness as it appears. Identify people who automatically put aside what they are doing to watch a sunset, listen to rustling leaves, or enjoy the arts.

Convince those around you of the importance of not fighting change. Outline the benefits of letting go of the original plan in order to try a new process.

Your Adaptability talents will flourish in environments that reward responsiveness and your ability to "turn on a dime."

You may thrive in chaos. Avoid environments that are highly structured or routine, with lots of rules and regulations.

Read more...