Using strengths for team building

I’ve tried this with two department-level leadership teams and one coaching team and it seemed useful. I prefer this over any of the personality-based approaches.

Step 1: Each team member does a strengths assessment

Take the CliftonStrengths 34 assessment (better) OR get the StrengthsFinder 2.0 book which comes with a code (adequate).

NOTE: “Strengths” is not equivalent to what you are good at but rather what strengthens and energizes you.

Step 2: Each team member shares their top 5 strengths

Have each person reason read out each of their top 5 strengths and the description of the strengths. You will naturally notice overlaps but read the descriptions again each time to reinforce what each means.

Example (my top 5 strengths)

1. Ideation: “You are fascinated by ideas.”
2. Strategic: “You create alternative ways to proceed.”
3. Learner: “You have a great desire to learn and want to continuously improve.”
4. Intellection: “You are characterized by your intellectual activity.”
5. Input: “You have a need to collect and archive.”

NOTE: There is much more detail in the actual report.

Step 3: Visualize everyone’s top 10 strengths under the strength…