This is part of a series of articles on the different types of strengths that each of us as individuals have. You can take a look at the ACHIEVER strength that I discussed in the first post in the series.
Everyone is born with talents. Talents are our natural way of thinking, feeling and behaving that can be productively applied. When we invest and develop our talents, they then become strengths. A strength is the ability to consistently do an activity to near perfection. It is about the WAY we achieve success, and all of us have a ‘way.’
There is an assessment called Strengths Finder, and it takes about 45 minutes to do online, answering various questions. Once you are done, it then sends you a strength report. There are 34 strengths in total, and the assessment calculates your most dominant strengths from number 1 to number 34 in sequence of their dominance. You choose whether you want the report of your full 34 or just your dominant first 5 strengths.
In this Issue we are going to look at the strength of CONNECTEDNESS.
“Things happen for a reason. You are sure of it because in your soul we are all connected. This feeling of connectedness implies certain responsibilities. If we are all part of a larger picture, then we must not harm others because we will be harming ourselves. Your awareness of these responsibilities creates your value system. You are considerate, caring, and accepting. Certain of the unity of humankind, you are a bridge builder for people of different cultures. Sensitive to the invisible hand, you can give others comfort that there is a purpose beyond our humdrum lives, which can sustain you and your friends in the face of life’s mysteries.” Tom Rath, StrengthsFinder 2.0.
I have Connectedness in my top 5. Everything has a reason, as far as I am concerned. We are all connected in our humanity and our purpose. I love connecting the dots. I always know the murderer in mysteries before they are revealed. Understanding the connections helps to know how best to manoeuvre people and resources. There is a bigger picture that we are all a part of. A greater work that we cannot do on our own. I thrive in multi-cultural environments. Finding out how what I am good at is connected to how I can serve my community, has transformed my life.
I enjoy reading autobiographies, because they explain every condition that makes a person who they are, and how their experiences are connected with what they end up doing. Phil Knight, the founder of Nike, loved running as a young boy, and his passion turned to how best to support other sports people achieve maximum success. Comfortable running shoes was where he started and the rest is history. Such connections inspire me, as a coach, to help others find relevant connections too, in what they do. Connections are evidence of purpose.
Joyce Mutangara is a wife, mother, pastor, legal adviser and strengths coach. She loves to give inspiring personal interaction, through authentic discussion, and exploration of talents that motivate people to achieve optimum performance through intentionally deploying their strengths. For more information or access to her work and to get personal strengths coaching, you can email her: joycemut@gmail.com or visit her blog Joyce’s Blog.
