Harness and Direct your Talents
Be purposeful in your interactions and aim your strengths.
As with any physical fitness program, you first identify what you need to develop your fitness, and then you apply it. When applying your mental and emotional fitness training, it is important to remember that consistency and self-awareness are key. Regularly practicing techniques like mindfulness, positive self-talk, or stress management ensures progress, while being mindful of your emotions and triggers helps you adapt and grow effectively.
We do this by appreciating our uniqueness and claiming our talents. Here we will learn how to use our talents to form patterns of behavioural excellence. Understand how our talents may be applied specifically, using direct action.
To apply your Strengths effectively, here are practical suggestions tailored to common areas of life and work.
Align Strengths with Job Roles: Identify tasks or projects that allow you to use your strengths regularly. For example:
If “Achiever” is one of your strengths, seek roles with clear goals and measurable results.
If “Strategic” is your strength, volunteer for projects requiring big-picture thinking and planning.
Highlight Strengths in Performance Reviews: Share specific examples of how you’ve used your strengths to achieve results.
Up-skill Strategically: Focus on learning skills that enhance your strengths rather than trying to “fix” weaker areas.
Set Strength-Based Intentions: Create personal objectives that leverage your natural talents. For example:
If you have “Learner,” commit to acquiring knowledge in a specific area of interest.
If you have “Relator,” aim to deepen connections with a specific group of people.
Practice Your Strengths Daily: Find ways to integrate strengths into everyday activities, such as problem-solving, decision-making, or hobbies.
Delegate Strategically: Focus on tasks aligned with your strengths and delegate others to team members with complementary skills.
Inspire Through Strengths: Use your top strengths to lead authentically. For example:
If you have “Positivity,” boost team morale.
If you have “Command,” confidently take charge in challenging situations.
Communicate Strengths: Share your strengths with friends, family, and colleagues so they understand how you naturally operate.
Appreciate Others’ Strengths: Notice and acknowledge the strengths of those around you, fostering stronger bonds and mutual respect.
Use Strengths in Conflict Resolution: For example:
If you have “Harmony,” mediate disputes effectively.
If you have “Empathy,” address emotional undercurrents in conflicts
Leverage Complementary Strengths: Identify how your strengths complement those of your team and find ways to collaborate effectively.
Take Initiative: Use your strengths to take ownership of tasks where you can provide the most value. For example:
If you have “Activator,” get projects started.
If you have “Responsibility,” ensure commitments are met.
Play to Your Strengths for Stress Relief: Use your strengths in activities that recharge you. For example:
If you have “Input,” read or research topics of interest.
If you have “Restorative,” focus on solving puzzles or fixing something broken.
Build Strength-Based Routines: Incorporate your strengths into daily habits to create structure and joy.
Mentor Others: Share your strengths with team mates or mentees by teaching them how to apply similar talents.
Seek Feedback: Ask others: coaches, team mates, managers, colleagues, family and friends how they see your strengths in action and for suggestions on using them more effectively.
Approach Problems Through Strengths: Frame challenges in a way that lets you use your talents. For example:
If you have “Ideation,” brainstorm creative solutions.
If you have “Discipline,” organise the problem into manageable steps.
Use Strengths to Enhance Communication: Apply your natural talents to communicate effectively. For example:
If you have “Woo,” build rapport quickly and engage your audience.
If you have “Adaptability,” tailor your message to meet the needs of different audiences in real-time.
Adapt Communication Styles: Recognise that communication may vary between personal and professional settings. For example:
With family and friends, you might prioritise emotional connection and casual language, leveraging strengths like “Empathy” or “Positivity” to create warmth and understanding.
At work, you might focus on clarity, professionalism, and goal alignment, using strengths like “Analytical” or “Strategic” to ensure effective decision-making and collaboration.
To Do List...
- Reflective Questions
- Activity: Aim your Strengths
- Activity: Combining Strengths
- Activity: Developing Habits of Strength
How have you intentionally used your strengths in the past to achieve a something significant?
What intentional steps did you take along the way?
Who and how did you connect with others to assist you?
Now that you are more aware of your strengths, what could you have done differently?
Let’s now look at each of your individual themes and answer questions directed at common areas of your life and work. Use your workbook, download the word or PDF version, or simply write your answers in a journal or diary. You will need five copies if you are downloading the paper version. Remember, you will achieve more success and grow your knowledge and understanding by handwriting your answers. Answer as little or as much detail as you feel worthy.
How can I direct this theme in my career?
How can I direct this theme in my leadership?
How can I direct this theme in my relationships?
How can I direct this theme in my teamwork?
How can I direct this theme in my personal well-being?
How can I direct this theme in my professional growth?
How can I direct this theme in my problem-solving?
How can I direct this theme in my communication?
How can you combine your talents to gain a greater understanding of yourself?
This exercise provides the opportunity to play with “strengths dynamics” or “strengths partnerships”. Pairing together two of your top five talent themes.
Use your workbook, download the word or PDF version, or simply write your answers in a journal or diary. You will need five copies if you are downloading the paper version. Remember, you will achieve more success and grow your knowledge and understanding by handwriting your answers. Answer as little or as much detail as you feel worthy.
Using the Strengths Combination Table below combine your talents and select one theme Combination Description (adjective) and pair it with one theme Characteristic (noun) to provide you an empowering phrase for two of your strengths. Each description and characteristic may remain consistent throughout your answers or may vary depending on the pairing. You may adapt the descriptive word (adjective) to become a verb, eg initiator (description) organiser (characteristic) may become ‘initiating organiser’.
Then write four empowering statements relating to each talent theme.
Once you have completed the first table for strength 1, move onto the next table for strength 2. For the example below, Theme 2 would be Connectedness and the Combination Themes become Maximiser, Ideation, Activator and Futuristic.
Example
Top 5 – 1. Maximiser, 2. Connectedness, 3. Ideation, 4. Activator, 5. Futuristic
How can I purposefully direct my talents on a daily basis?
This exercise is designed to help you identify and cultivate habits that align with your personal and professional aspirations. Starting this process is important because small, consistent changes lead to long-term success. As you complete this exercise, remember that every habit you build is a step toward the life you envision. Let’s get started!
This exercise will align your strengths with your intentions for any given day. You may use a diary or a journal or simply keep a notebook handy to write your entries. You may wish to use your notepad in your phone, however, as we regularly suggest you will embed these habits more quickly and deeply by handwriting your answers.
Considering there are five days of the regular week, we are now going to align each of your five talent themes to each day of the week, ie Monday Theme 1, Tuesday Theme 2 etc. Then write an empowering statement to act upon on that given day. This works well in a working environment for most employees, however as different people work on different schedules you may wish to align days according to your priorities, for example an athlete may align with game days and training days or someone in hospitality may align with their busiest days. Simply keep it consistent.
These statements may be simplistic to begin with, and this is okay as you start to form this habit. Simply trust, the more you develop this habit by completing this exercise, the more detailed your statements will become.
Let’s use the previous example:
Week 1:
Monday Maximiser: Today I will intentionally find an area I can look to improve and make better.
Tuesday Connectedness: Today I will connect with a work colleague and ask about their weekend.
Wednesday Ideation: Today I will think of a new way to solve a problem.
Thursday Activator: Today I will look for a way to start a new project.
Friday Futuristic: Today I will imagine what my next holiday will be like.
Week 2:
Monday Maximiser: Today I will assess my reporting procedure and find ways to improve the system.
Tuesday Connectedness: Today I will introduce myself to the new employee, Sam and offer to help with anything they need to know about our reporting systems.
Wednesday Ideation: Today I will spend 5 minutes thinking about our reporting systems.
Thursday Activator: Today I will initiate a meeting with management to discuss our reporting systems.
Friday Futuristic: Today I will create a report explaining the benefits of a new reporting system and how that will help us in the future.
Strengths Combination Table
Driven, Persistent, Productive, Hardworking
Worker, Producer, Performer, Driver
Energetic, Initiator, Dynamic, Driven, action orientated
Initiator, Catalyst, Energiser, Starter
Flexible, Present, Responsive, Easygoing
Adapter, Responder, Improviser, Accommodator
Logical, Data-driven, Critical, Objective
Thinker, Researcher, Examiner, Critic
Flexible, Coordinated, Efficient, Organiser
Organiser, Coordinator, Planner, Adjuster
Purposeful, Values-driven, Grounded, Ethical
Advocate, Moralist, Guide, Visionary
Confident, Decisive, Bold, Authoritative
Leader, Director, Decision-maker, Influencer
Expressive, Storyteller, Engaging, Clarifier
Messenger, Storyteller, Spokesperson, Presenter
Driven, Winning-focused, Benchmarking, Determined
Contender, Challenger, Performer, Benchmark
Holistic, Perceptive, Purposeful, Unifying
Unifier, Philosopher, Linker, Harmoniser
Fair, Just, Equitable, Methodical
Equaliser, Standard-bearer, Mediator, Stabiliser
Historical, Retrospective, Grounded, Perspective-giver
Historian, Storyteller, Archivist, Interpreter
Careful, Private, Cautious, Risk-aware
Evaluator, Guardian, Analyser, Planner
Historical, Retrospective, Grounded, Perspective-giver
Mentor, Coach, Nurturer, Teacher
Organised, Structured, Precise, Detail-oriented
Perfectionist, Organiser, Scheduler, Regulator
Emotionally-aware, Compassionate, Intuitive, Relational
Listener, Relator, Counselor, Supporter
Concentrated, Goal-oriented, Directed, Determined
Goal-setter, Prioritiser, Executor, Finisher
Visionary, Forward-thinking, Imaginative, Dreamer
Visionary, Dreamer, Innovator, Planner
Consensus-seeking, Mediator, Cooperative, Peaceful
Mediator, Peacemaker, Negotiator, Collaborator
Creative, Innovative, Conceptual, Brainstormer
Brainstormer, Innovator, Creator, Conceptualiser
Welcoming, Accepting, Integrating, Inclusive
Welcomer, Integrator, Connector, Bridge
Customising, Perceptive, Observant, Tailored
Customiser, Observer, Tailor, Interpreter
Collecting, Resourceful, Inquisitive, Curious
Collector, Gatherer, Curator, Researcher
Reflective, Intellectual, Deep-thinker, Philosophical
Philosopher, Thinker, Debater, Analyser
Curious, Knowledge-seeking, Studious, Growth-focused
Student, Researcher, Explorer, Seeker
Excellence-seeking, Perfectionist, Quality-focused, Refiner
Refiner, Optimiser, Quality-seeker, Improver, Leader
Optimistic, Energetic, Enthusiastic, Uplifting
Cheerleader, Optimist, Motivator, Encourager
Loyal, Trustworthy, Intimate, Relationship-focused
Confidant, Partner, Ally, Friend
Dependable, Accountable, Conscientious, Loyal
Caretaker, Steward, Executor, Trustkeeper
Problem-solver, Fixer, Analytical, Resilient
Fixer, Problem-solver, Repairer, Healer
Confident, Decisive, Independent, Self-reliant
Confidant, Leader, Influencer, Decision-maker
Purposeful, Aspirational, Performance-driven, Recognised
Performer, Trailblazer, Role-model, Visionary
Visionary, Planner, Insightful, Problem-solver
Planner, Visionary, Mapper, Problem-solver
Charismatic, Outgoing, Social, Engaging
Connector, Networker, Influencer, Charmer