Tag Archives: Personal development

Podcast Episode 012: An Ordinary Life

TheStrengthsRevolution_albumart_2-2An ordinary life is an exceptional life in so many ways, particularly if we devote some time to reflecting on who we really are, what we are good at, and what we want out of our normal lives. So, can the idea of a Strengths Assessment as derived from health and social care services apply to everyone else who has nothing to do with being in need of or delivering such services?

Lets leave the idea of paperwork tools and unnecessary bureaucracy in its rightful place (the bin?). The concept is perfectly applicable to all of us when we think of it as our own informal subconscious way of adapting our personal values and principles to situations we find ourselves in throughout our lives. A strengths approach can provide a guide to the path we follow, whether that is a rocky rooad or a smooth highway at different points in time.

Thinking about and applying our strengths happens in every situation… moving home, changing jobs, developing new relationships or bringing up children. We draw on our accumulated experiences and resources, as well as taking a few risks along the journey.

We don’t normally confront a challenge by seeking out and applying our weaknesses. We actually draw on what we can do, what we are good at, apply our skills, adapt to circumstances, and call on others with the necessary expertise to help us accomplish the challenge. We work to our strengths!

For the full content of this episode click on the following links for iTunes and Sound Cloud (or go to Stitcher Radio):

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/strengths-revolution-steve/id867043694

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/012-an-ordinary-life/id867043694?i=315238335&mt=2

“It’s never too late to be what you might have been.” [George Eliot].

Podcast Episode 011: Nuts and Bolts

TheStrengthsRevolution_albumart_2-2When should we be starting to build up a Strengths Assessment, including within health and social care services? The answer is ‘immediately’, it should be a natural default position to how we connect with people and think about who they really are.

Searching for and using peoples strengths should be equally relevant when someone is acutely unwell or going through a period of crisis. It is not something that we just set aside a one-off time slot to complete; it is an on-going fluid conversation. The picture has to emerge over time if we are to have faith in it as an accurate positive picture of personal resources.

It requires a different mindset of practitioners working with clients/patients/service users. Medical approaches focus on the issue of identifying the diagnosis, as a descriptor of problems. It requires degrees of self-disclosure in order to engage a stronger therapeutic relationship.

Paperwork has a place for prompting and capturing the detail; but bureaucracy has no place in a picture of positive practice. We are ultimately helping people to build a positive picture of themselves, and of the resources they can personally apply to exert more control over their own experiences.

For the full episode of this podcast click on the following iTunes links (or go to Sound Cloud or Stitcher Radio):

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/strengths-revolution-steve/id867043694

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/011-nuts-and-bolts/id867043694?i=314851263&mt=2

“To create something exceptional, your mindset must be relentlessly focused on the smallest detail.” [Giorgio Armani].

Podcast Episode 010: Paint a picture of this

TheStrengthsRevolution_albumart_2-2Building a Strengths Assessment is like painting a picture, requiring careful attention to the detailed layers of its construction. From the broad brush of the different parts of our lives, to the strokes and touches that represent the fine detail of who we are.

Nobody’s life is simply black and white, we all have colours, contrasts and textures that help to define us. But don’t expect the canvass to give up its secrets lightly, a Strengths Assessment requires attention and passionate inquiry of a life lived and a future one hoped for.

The detail of a Strengths Assessment addresses the core questions of what is going on at the moment, what do you want to change, and what resources are needed to achieve that change? It is based in a few very practical principles that are outlined in this episode.

See the full details of the episode on iTunes at the following links (and on Sound Cloud and Stitcher Radio):

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/strengths-revolution-steve/id867043694

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/010-paint-a-picture-of-this/id867043694?i=314295917&mt=2

“The difference between something good and something great is attention to detail.” [Charles R Swindoll]

 

Podcast Episode 006: Identifying our strengths

TheStrengthsRevolution_albumart_2-2What do we mean by assessment?

As a concept it applies in ordinary lives not just in formailsed services.

Most assessment focuses on the problems and deficits, so we need to be prompted to give equal attention to what we are good at.

A strengths assessment will offer resources and confidence to underpin any call-to-action.

It helps us to articulate our priorities and exert some control over our own lives. Genuinely working with strengths still has barriers to overcome.

For the full content of this episode click the following links, or go to Stitcher Radio or Sound Cloud:

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/strengths-revolution-steve/id867043694

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/006-identifying-our-strengths/id867043694?i=311906357&mt=2

“Don’t wait for extraordinary opportunities. Seize common occasions and make them great. Weak men wait for opportunities; strong men make them.” [Orison Swett Marden – American Author 1850-1924].

Podcast episode 004: Talent within organisations

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A new skill involves the development of new brain synapses, but true talents and strengths are interwoven in the whole weave of the brain.

We need to focus more attention on what we can do, and less obsession with fixing weaknesses.

Focus on what you have control over.

It’s about systems as much as it is about people.

Talent needs encouragement and direction.

Being aware of weaknesses is a part of helping us to build on our strengths.

For the full episode of this post go to:

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/strengths-revolution-steve/id867043694

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/004-talent-within-organisations/id867043694?i=305161323&mt=2

“Talent without discipline is like an octopus on roller-skates. There’s plenty of movement, but you never know if it’s going to be forwards, backwards or sideways.” [H. Jackson Brown Jnr].

Podcast episode 003: Identifying our natural talents

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Our talents run deep, they are not just superficial positive comments.

We are not always encouraged to identify talents, so for many people they are unaware of them.

They can often be discovered by accident, when we are least expecting something to emerge.

We need to be open and personally reflective to recognise when a talent is at play.

For the full episode of this post go to:

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/strengths-revolution-steve/id867043694

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/003-identifying-our-natural/id867043694?i=305161326&mt=2

“Human resources are like natural resources; they’re often buried deep. You have to go looking for them, they’re not just lying around on the surface. You have to create the circumstances where they show themselves.” [Ken Robinson].

Podcast episode 002: Defining our talents

TheStrengthsRevolution_albumart_2-2 Everyone has talents the trick is how to discover them.

Don’t waste time comparing yourselves to other experts, they had to start somewhere as well.

Once discovered we have a personal responsibility to make best use of our talents, for the benfit of ourselves and others.

It is the productive application of a talent that underpins the development of a strength.

For the full episode of this post go to:

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/strengths-revolution-steve/id867043694

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/002-defining-our-talents/id867043694?i=305161325&mt=2

“Everybody is talented because everybody who is human has something to express.” [Brenda Ueland].

Podcast episode 001: Introducing the Strengths Revolution

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We don’t spend enough time identifying and working with our personal qualities and strengths, but we all have them.

We all have talents, abilities, capabilities, desires, motivations and wishes.

Our strengths underpin our abilitiy to take risks and make decisions.

As an approach in health and social care the concept emerged through Social Workers in the University of Kansas in the early 1980’s.

As a focus for successful businesses worldwide the study of strengths has been a key programme for the Gallup organisation for several decades.

The approach applies equally to individual clients, employees, teams and organisation-wide.

For the full episode of this post go to:

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/strengths-revolution-steve/id867043694

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/001-introducing-strengths/id867043694?i=305161324&mt=2

“If human beings are perceived as potentials rather than problems, as possessing strengths instead of weaknesses, as uninhibited rather than unresponsive, then they thrive and grow to their capabilities.” [Barbara Bush].

Podcast launches

TheStrengthsRevolution_albumart_2-2‘The Strengths Revolution’ weekly podcast show was launched on the iTunes Store on 22nd April 2014. It is established to offer and discuss all things ‘Strengths’ focused. Please do access this free resource, subscribe and review episodes. The following link will take you to the area where the episodes are hosted:

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/strengths-revolution-steve/id867043694