My Signiture Strengths

I've been thinking about a quiz I took over a year ago.  Martin Seligman's Signiture Strengths Survey   identifies your top strengths. The idea is that you should focus on what you are good at....instead of finding the things you are worst at and pushing yourself to get better.  Pick those things you are best at and do them more..make the most of what you do well.

My strengths are  (the idea of using these more is very attractive to me!)
Curiosity and Interest in the World
Love of Learning
Zest, Enthusiasm, Energy
Leadership
Perspective (Wisdom)

I'd like to ask other Resource Center staff to take the quiz and see how knowing each other's signiture strengths helps us do our best work and form a strong team.

Top six traits in confident leaders

In order to lead, people have to be confident of you and your abilities. What does it take for people to be confident in your leadership?  According to the Harvard Kennedy School of Public Leadership, there are six top traits.

• Trust in what you say ( no surprises)
  
• Competence to do the job (I'm good at what I do)
  
• Working for the greater good (they don't doubt your motives)
• Shared values ( we value the same things)
• Get good results ( I get things done)
• In touch with people's needs and concerns ( I listen)

These are good things to think about as we go through strategic planning...since we want our organization to be seen as a leader.

Want to learn more: check out Next Level Blog
Or read the study.

Can a Great Leader be a Poor Presentor?

 Here are my take aways from Dan McCarthy's post on the Great Leadership blog

1. No, because great leaders have to be able to inspire people to take action...which takes great presentation skills.
2. Presentation skills can be learned ( but it takes some effort)
3. Number one technique to master?  Telling stories!   

 Read more at Can a Great Leader be a Poor Presenter?
 Photo credit: Animated Cennydd Originally uploaded by psd

Three Strategic Planning Questions

Here are three questions I want to talk about with staff as we get started on strategic planning.

1. What do we do well?  Indiviudally and as a team: What are our strengths? What are we passionate about? How do our strengths fit with what is needed? How do we make the most of what we do well?

2. Why should people "follow" us? Why would people come to tobwis.org?  When have we been leaders and what did we learn from those times that can we use? Why would people use our resources as opposed to other ones?

3. What have we done to earn the trust of others?  And how will we continue to deserve that trust and earn more?  Although, I think all three of these are important. The issue of trust comes up again and again anad again. 

These questions are from Leadership at Work by John Baldoni
Photo credit: flickr: campascca