Strengths Zone: A life worth living

Strengths Zone: A life worth living

Strengths Zone: A life worth living

“Live your best life”. Easy to say, not always easy to do. Everyone’s best life is unique to themselves. This uniqueness is why we spend so much time comparing, copying, and envying what others can achieve. What is natural and innate to us will be easy, efficient, and energising. From this our individual success flows.

One day an eagle, a monkey and an otter were gathered by the stream talking about their best days. The eagle said, my best day is when I am soaring high above the clouds, suspended by the air currents under my wings, I feel like I’m floating. The monkey said, my best day is when I’m swinging from tree to tree, its effortless and I don’t even have to thinks about it, before I know it, I’m where I need to be. The otter said, my best day is when I’m on my back floating down the stream with snacks on my tummy, my eyes closed, basking in the warm sun. It is living the dream and feels exactly like what I was made to do.

They all decided that each other’s best days were even more amazing than their own, so they gave them a try. The otter sat frustrated at the bottom of the tree as she was unable to climb it. The monkey ended up with scratches and bruises from falling through the trees from trying to fly. The poor eagle nearly drowned, lost all the food, and got sunburnt under his wings.

 “Energy comes from doing more of what we are talented at doing”

Our best life comes from understanding and doing more of what we are talented at. As a CliftonStrengths coach I see this repeatedly in people I coach. Once they understand what their strengths and talents are, they can ask questions about how they are using them in their life. This then, benefits themselves and those around them.

Gallup writes in “The Power of Strengths”

While continuing to learn more about strengths, Gallup researchers have also examined decades of data on the topics of individual performance and personal development. Gallup has studied more than 1 million work teams, conducted tens of thousands of individual interviews and coached tens of thousands of executives, leaders, managers, and individual contributors.

All of this research shows that the key to success is to fully understand how to apply your greatest talents and strengths in your everyday life.

People Who Focus on Using Their Strengths ...

-          are three times more likely to report having an excellent quality of life

-          are six times more likely to be engaged in their jobs

Teams that focus on strengths every day have 12.5% greater productivity.

When people have an opportunity to use their greatest talents and strengths, they …

-          experience positive energy

-          are more likely to achieve their goals

-          are more confident

-          perform better at work

-          are more engaged at work

-          experience less stress

For more information: https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/

Our best life comes from understanding our innate talents and strengths. Then we will be like the characters in the story when they were doing what they were designed to do. The things we do will be effortless and energising, others will look at us and see this in us.

 My 5 Learnings:

·       I should work on identifying the things that I am talented and good at

·       Ask others what they see I’m talented at

·       Look for opportunities to use my talents and strengths more

·       Align my work and life with my talents and strengths

·       When I’m not operating in my talents and strengths things will be a lot harder

It’s OK that we are not good at everything. Unfortunately, we spend a lot of time trying to fix our weaknesses rather than focus on our strengths. Understanding our strengths and then using them more is where our best life stems from.

My 3 Questions for you:

·       When was the last time you were energised doing something?

·       What was the best day you have had and what were you doing?

·       What are you doing currently that you are not enjoying?

“Talent must be viewed as the most indispensable ingredient for success, but success also depends on how that talent is managed” - ALLAN SCHWEYER

Take time to do the CliftonStrengths Assessment. It’s not a big cost. Then connect with a CliftonStrengths coach and unlock your newfound potential.

If you need Strength’s coaching, or if there is something you have questions about, please direct message me. I would be happy to chat with you. +64272989867

Remember daily to, “Find value in your influence”