LEADERSHIP QUOTE:

"What leaders have in common is that each really knows their strengths, has developed their strengths, and can call on the right strength at the right time." Donald O. Clifton

A LITTLE BIT DEEPER:

We continue the conversation on STRENGTHS for a few more weeks.

Donald O. Clifton really began the study of STRENGTHS which came from this thought:

"What will happen when we think about what is right with people rather than fixating on what is wrong with them?"

Clifton went on to create the CliftonStrengths (Strengthsfinder 2.0 with Tom Rath) which has been used around the world to help people identify their core strengths using a 34-theme template.

The idea is pretty simple: If I come home with a report card in Junior High School, and I have an A in English, a B in History and a D in Math, my parents will naturally tell me I have to focus on getting the math grade up, and at the expense of the classes I excel in, I need to put all my energy into my math grade, which in turn might bring my math grade up to a C, but it might also bring my English & History grades down.

Clifton calls it "weakness-fixing" and he points out that this leads to mediocrity and that it doesn't reflect my true capacity.

Of course there's balance in everything. If you're getting a D in a class you need to work on that to some extent, however in Cliftons writings, he shares that in areas of weakness, learn to be content with a C grade in math and then spend your energy and time on areas of interest and natural talent.

I wish I had understood this concept earlier in my life, in my development.

When I was a kid, my first instrument was an accordion. I have no idea why my parents would do that to me, but I hauled the accordion for a while back and forth to lessons. I don't remember ever really enjoying it. My next instrument was the piano, and while I enjoyed this, I just didn't want to be a piano player, of course this was before Elton John & Billy Joel made it cool.

I wanted to be a drummer! I had dreams and goals of being a rock and roll drummer, and fortunately my parents believed in that dream. I took lessons, I rented a snare drum to practice at home, eventually I got my first drum set (which was banished to a room far away from everyone else), and I played the drums all the way through late elementary school, junior high and high school. After college I played at my church and continued to play percussion for many many years.

Drumming was in my bones. Gina experiences it often as I work out a rhythm on the steering wheel of our car, over and over again!

I don't know if drumming is a strength, a talent or a passion, but I'm thankful that my parents saw that in me and not only encouraged me, but made it possible for me to develop this in my life.

That's what I want to do more of: identify areas of strength in people and help them experience the joy that comes from using that God-given gift to impact the world!

What's a STRENGTH you have that you'd like to explore and invest in?

LEADERSHIP QUOTE:

"Cultivate a deep understanding of yourself - not only what your strengths and weaknesses are but also how you learn, how you work with others, what your values are, and where you can make the greatest contribution. Because only when you operate from strengths can you achieve true excellence." Peter Drucker

A LITTLE BIT DEEPER:

Last week, I referenced a Peter Drucker book, The Five Most Important Questions that we used at our Leader Mundial Cohort here in Orange County.

As I revisited this book, and came across this quote of his above from something else he had done, and I've been thinking about it this week.

This month, I want to do a deep dive into the conversation around our "STRENGTHS". I'm not sure where this will take us, but I want to explore this with you a little bit over the coming weeks.

There are some great books and teaching on STRENGTHS, and I want to look at a couple of different approaches over the next few weeks.

The first comes from Marcus Buckingham. He's done some great writing and teaching on strengths so let me give you a simple overview from him.

Buckinghams definition of a strength: "a strength is an activity that makes you feel strong". He goes on to say "not something you're merely good at, and not something other people praise you for - but an activity that, when you do it, energizes you, draws you in, and leaves you feeling more alive afterward than before."

He points for four practical signals using the acronym SIGN:

• SUCCESS - you do it well or at least pick it up quickly

• INSTINCT - you find yourself drawn to it, looking forward to it

• GROWTH - you're naturally curious and absorb information quickly

• NEEDS - you feel fulfilled and replenished after doing it, not depleted.

Buckingham goes on to say that "strengths are not the same as talents".

An example of this in my life might be:

• When I "gather people together", it energizes me, draws me in and leaves me feeling more alive. This is a strength that I am able to grow and develop over time. The strength might be "Activating or Maximizing Relationships".

I think when Buckingham says that a strength needs to "energize you" that's an interesting description.

What strengths do you personally feel you have that fit this description?

LEADERSHIP QUOTE:

"Rest isn't a reward for work; it's part of the work." Leesa Renee Hall

A LITTLE BIT DEEPER:

I want to continue this theme one last week. REST.

I appreciate Leesa Renee Halls quote above in that she's reminding us that rest and work must co-exist. They are essential to each other. There's another quote that says this:

"Rest is not a reward for great work, it's a requirement for great work to happen." (accredited to a number of different people).

REST and WORK go hand in hand and there's no perfect balance to it, there's just a desire to see them both co-exist because we need both.

This past weekend, Gina and I worked in our yard. We tackled some huge projects, and were able to get a lot done. Long days, one project leading to another, but great satisfaction with how everything came together.

At the end of day one, we both collapsed when it got dark outside, watched a show, laid on the couch, then went to bed. We needed REST after a long day of WORK.

The next day, Gina was up really early going after the next projects. I eventually joined her and we did another full day, just getting stuff done. Stuff that we wanted to do for a long time, but were now able to go after it.

Again, at the end of the day "we rested". Sore bodies, tired from the lifting, pulling and hauling, but satisfied with what was accomplished.

I wrote to you about my "sabbath experience" last week, when I was able to take a day and just rest, walk, listen, nap, enjoy space. That was pure joy.

This weekend was pure joy as well. There's a great sense of accomplishment that comes over you when you finish some projects. We're happy with the work that was done and we're now ready to start the week.

I wish I could say that we got everything done because we didn't, but we have a plan and a pathway forward to finish some things we started.

See the rhythm? It's some work, some rest, even some sabbath and when they are all working together I feel like I'm in a good place.

I think it's when we solely focus one one or the other that we get in trouble. The complete absence of REST isn't sustainable. The lack of purposeful WORK leaves us wondering what we're here for, and the opportunity to find and practice SABBATH on an ongoing basis keeps us connected to our Father and to ourselves.

What are you missing? Which one of these three is the most elusive to you? What are you doing to address that?