We can’t actually be anything we want. I’ll never be an astronaut because I get dizzy and claustrophobic. Instead I’ll put my energy into
being the best of who I am. It feels completely natural and exciting for me to stand in front crowds of people helping them learn, making them laugh, helping them connecting to each other in positive ways. I love who I am in that moment — I love being me. So I “amp up” these qualities of mine and be the best of who I am whenever I can. It makes life so much richer.
Each of us have native strengths and passions that when we use them fully make us feel wonderfully alive. When we find the strengths and passions that also help us make a living we are on a path of fulfillment, achievement and increasing power.
1) What are your strengths and passions?
2) What do you do that makes you feel fully alive?
3) How can you “amp up” those strengths in your life to be even more fulfilled, successful and vibrant?
4) What are people willing to reward you for doing?
Find out what lies at the intersection of all three of these areas. That’s your Best DNA for work, or for volunteer work, or whatever area you want the rewards in.
How would you answer these questions for your employees … spouse … children?
If you want help answering the strengths questions, the book “Go Put Your Strengths to Work” and other works by Marcus Buckingham can be very helpful. (note: The author has absolutely no connection to Buckingham, only respect for his work.)
Later in 2012 Matchbox Group (matchboxgroup.com) will be putting out a self-assessment process for discovering your own Best DNA, along with tips on what to do to enhance that and make your life more successful and fulfilling.
Tagged: appreciative inquiry, Best DNA, Brain chemistry, change, motivation, positive, Purpose, solutions focus, transform
Strengths exercise from Marcus Buckingham; Go Put Your Strengths to Work; Free Press; New York; 2007
SIGNS of a Strength
• S = success – you do it well – are successful at it
• I = instinct – you feel as if you can’t help but do it – you are drawn to it – before you do it, you look forward to it
• G = growth – it feels easy – you forget time and food when you are doing it – you want to learn more about it, read up on it, refine it with new tricks – while you are doing it, you feel inquisitive and focused
• N = Needs – it fills some real need of yours – as if you are driven to doing it – After you do it you feel energized, powerful, fulfilled
• S = Strong – it makes you feel strong
You are the best judge of your strengths.
Ultimately, your goal is to produce three or four “Strengths Statements”. They look something like this:
• I feel strong when I’m coaching my team to meet their quarterly sales goals.
• I feel strong when I’m meeting with a buyer to discuss the benefits of our product relative to a competitor’s product.
• I feel strong when I’m preparing for a presentation on something I’m really interested in – especially the FIRST time I present on that topic
• I feel strong when I synthesize and compile information into a clear and concise report
To get to that clarity, there is an exercise you can do. During the coming week, notice times when you feel one of the following, write down the activity you are doing on a 3×5 card –
• powerful
• confident
• smooth
• on fire
• high
• great
• authentic
• “that was easy”
• awesome
• “when can I do this again?”
The card should say “I loved it – I felt strong when…” and then the specific activity you were doing. During a week, you might create 3 cards or 23 cards – quantity is not important – but try to capture every time you feel one of those things.
Likewise, pay attention to what weakens you – and on 3×5 cards write down what you were doing when you felt any of the following:
• drained
• “time is going by slowly”
• “I can’t concentrate”
• frustrated
• wiped out
• forced
• “I’m getting a headache”
• “How much longer?!”
• irritated
• bored
• “Why can’t the new guy do this?”
Those cards should say “I loathed it – I felt weak when… “ and then the specific activity. Note the word “SPECIFIC.” It might make a difference where, or who with, or for whom, or the subject matter, or the specific subject matter or the time of day – so be as specific as you can.
When I give this exercise to executive coaching clients, most often they are so energized by the clarity they get that they give it to the folks who work for them. I encourage them to have the entire team share the strengths and weaknesses in a session and then to brainstorm how to maximize the opportunity they have to let everyone work from strength whenever possible.
Try it. Working from strengths is powerful and freeing.
This is a great comment, Michael.
This activity is powerful and can be very helpful in guiding positive change. Thanks so much for posting it!
Bob
Hi Bob,
I had a few minutes today to read part of your Blog and some of the posts. I can tell you are really talented at what you do! Reading more of your Blogs, it made me want to attend one of your workshops sometime. Do you present workshops for companies, organizations, etc.? I’ll try to read more of your Blogs and post comments, if I have additional comments.
Mary
It’s great to see you on my blog, Mary. I appreciate your compliments.
I do presentations for companies, organizations, etc. That’s my favorite way of talking about these topics.
My title is “Chief Ignition Officer” because I get everyone energized, participating, laughing and enjoying the learning. I love it!
I hope to start posting video clips on this blog of myself in action soon.
I hope to see you many more times on the blog!
Reblogged this on bob faw's blog and commented:
I’ve updated this blog post with new insights, photos and links.
Can you be more specific about the content of your article? After reading it, I still have some doubts. Hope you can help me.