Now, Discover Your Strengths! The Strengths Revolution

"We wrote this book to start a revolution - a Strengths Revolution" These were the opening words of the book "Now, Discover your Strengths" by Marcus Buckingham and Donald O. Clifton. The premise is that businesses (and people) are built on two faulty assumptions:

1. Each person can learn to be competent in almost anything.
2. Each person's greatest room for growth is in his or her areas of greatest weakness.

The authors offer alternative assumptions that sure make sense to me:

1. Each person's talents are enduring and unique.
2. Each person's greatest room for growth is in the areas of the person's greatest strengths.

People progress more rapidly in their areas of greatest talent than in their areas of weakness. Yet too many training and development approaches focus on making improvements in areas of weakness. Read the full article here

Are You Part of a Team or a Group?

Ten Ways to Build a Winning Team Just because people happen to work together in one department does not mean they make a team. They may be merely a group. Groups seldom achieve great things. Just imagine if a football team consisted of people who did not compensate for each other’s weaknesses, did not have a common strategy known to everyone, and did not really want to play together. You can easily predict the results they would get. Many groups have learned to become teams that produced breakthrough results. Here are ten ways to do it:

1. Make sure the team has a challenging goal to achieve, and that all team members understand it and are committed to it.
2. Provide the necessary training to master the skills needed to achieve the goal.
3. Stay the course even when things are tough. Keep all eyes on the ball.
4. Resolve conflict before it distracts people and splits the team.
5. Measure the team’s progress, and make the score known to all.
6. Ask team members for their input and find out what they need to win.
7. Encourage diversity of work styles within a shared dedication to the goal.
8. The coach is to motivate and guide, but not hold players’ hands.
9. Give recognition to both efforts and accomplishments, and keep everyone motivated.
10. Celebrate small wins along the way, until you achieve the big one.

Leadership In Action - Charésumé

Leadership In Action - Charésumé: Résumés of Distinction Mrs. Karen Huller exemplifies leadership as she embarks on a new endeavor... With years of experience, talent, and a proven record, Karen Huller has left her 9 to 5 job to start her own business -- Charésumé. Charésumé is a résumé writing service. But Karen takes it beyond the typical services offered by others. With Charésumé you can not only get superb help with your résumé and cover letters, but also invaluable advice and coaching on job search tactics and interviewing strategies. Karen can help you “uncover your strengths, skills and personal traits that fit your perfect job and how to present them to potential employers within a finite amount of time with the confidence that hiring managers seek and need.” Karen is one of the founding members of The EarthAsylum Leadership Circle and we couldn't be more proud - both of her past accomplishments and of her future outlook. And what can we learn as leaders from Karen? Here are just 10 traits that Karen models on a daily basis:

1. Have vision.
2. Demonstrate integrity and trust.
3. Take (and manage) risks.
4. Lead a balanced life.
5. Build relationships.
6. Shape and show the way.
7. Take responsibility.
8. Stay true to yourself.
9. Continually learn (and teach).
10. Deliver value.

To learn more, visit www.charesume.com

Think About What You Think About

Do you ever think about what you think about? This, in fact, is the most important thinking you can do. If you think about a lot of negative things; worries, fears, failures, unfairness, conflict, frustrations, sorrows,... then these negative thoughts will form your inner world, and eventually your whole world. But if you think a lot of positive thoughts; dreams you want to achieve, possibilities you entertain, great projects you want to work on with others, and solutions for problems around you, these thoughts will create a positive world of possibilities for you. Abraham Lincoln concluded that, "Most folks are as happy as they make their minds to be." So make sure that, from time to time, you think about what you think about.