Gallup Strengths

 My top five leadership strengths are Empathy (relationship building), Input (strategic thinking), Individualization (relationship building), Intellection (strategic thinking), and Connectedness (relationship building).
     
Obviously by looking at my strengths, you can tell that my core strengths all fall into one of two categories; relationship building and strategic thinking. While this potentially puts me at an advantage in these areas, it leaves plenty of room for improvement in the remaining categories of executing and influencing.

Empathy- Being able to sense and articulate the feelings and emotions of those around you can be an invaluable skill to have. It's immensely helpful in relationship building, as you can provide relief for those who may be more introverted feelers by helping them emote.

Input- People who are inclined to "input" are inquisitive and curious by nature. We are constantly collecting and storing bits of information that may or may not prove to be of use later. The resulting mental 'database' is consistently updated, providing a resource for information on any range of topics (tailored of course to the interests of the individual).

Individualization- Recognizing and acknowledging the great diversity of talents and personalities on a personal level can give those with this skill a unique perspective on things. Understanding how these different character traits and talents interact with and complement each other is hugely important for those who are working with others or assembling a team.

Intellection- Those who are endowed with the natural ability to process information in an efficient,  discerning manner are more inclined to dwell on, and ultimately to understand more complex issues. These are people who need to be mentally stimulated on a regular basis, and who like to engage in erudite conversation with fellow intellectuals.

Connectedness- People who are skilled in this category possess the innate ability to observe patterns in society on both a large and small scale. They are mostly "big picture" people who recognize the importance of diversity and the role it plays in occupying important societal niches.


After spending the morning talking to LeighAnn Taylor-Knight about the different types of strengths, I learned a lot about myself, attributing and applying the information provided to my own life and to the way I think about my strengths and weaknesses. Learning that I don't prominently possess any of the characteristics that fall under the umbrella of "executing" or "influencing" was a bit of a reality check for me.