Have you taken a strength inventory? Quick, what were your strengths?

Chances are you have not even taken this baby step in workplace strength development. And if you did, chances are that you got a list that is sitting in some binder or book rather than being integrated into what you do everyday at work.

Is your work strength based? I am not talking about lifting weights and bulging muscles. Rather, do you know what you are best at and do you bring your best to work everyday in a variety of ways?

Do you work at ensuring that all employees are using their strengths? How do you determine strengths? How do you go beyond listing strengths to living strengths and using them in the service of results, others and the organization?

Strength based leadership is a core foundation of this website. As we move into spring 2008, I will rekindle the strengths approach to encourage you to refresh your strengths development. When leadership is strength based and employees are operating from their strengths you will experience high levels of engagement and results.

I want to re-introduce the strength-based focus to work by offering some nuggets from earlier posts. I will do this over the next few weeks and then bring a fresh focus to strength based work. If you are intrigued by the nugget, I encourage you to click on the title as this will take you to the original article.

On Peter Drucker (November 11, 2005)

This was the very first post on strength based work, written on the day Peter Drucker died. Peter Drucker, one of the foremost management experts and writers, wrote a very important article on Managing Oneself. in the Harvard Business Review March-April. 1999: 65-70. The essence of managing oneself was to know our strengths and to fully develop a strength-based leadership approach. Here is a short strength burst from the article.

Drucker challenged each of us to ask ourselves: What are my strengths? How do I perform? What are my values? Where do I belong? What should my contribution be?

Don’t try to change yourself, Drucker cautioned. Instead, concentrate on improving the skills you have and accepting assignments that are tailored to your individual way of working. If you do that, you can transform yourself from an ordinary worker into an outstanding performer.

Chess not Checkers (December 2005)

Marcus Buckingham said the right move for leaders is to see their talent management as chess not checkers. Don’t treat everyone the same and limit their work and career moves. Recognize the differences and strengths of each individual and maximize the contribution of each person’s strengths to the purposes of the organization.

Here is a quote from the Wharton business article about Buckingham: How to tell a good manager from a bad manager? According to Buckingham, it’s simple: Bad managers play checkers. Good managers play chess. The good manager knows that not all employees work the same way. They know if they are to achieve success, they must put their employees in a position where they will be able to use their strengths.

The Free & Powerful VIA Signature Strenght Inventory (March 2006)

The foundation of Strength Based Leadership is the identification and application of strengths. There are numerous pathways to strength identification but one of my favorite tools is the VIA Signature Strength Inventory at http://www.authentichappiness.org/. There is no charge to complete the inventory and receive your results. I appreciate the solid psychological research behind the inventory and the sharp focus on your top 5 signature strengths out of a possible 24 strengths.

Here are a few statements about signature strengths from Martin Seligman’s classic book, Authentic Happiness.

Our life task is to deploy our signature strengths and virtues in the major realms of living: work, love, parenting, and finding purpose. Personal meaning is the attachment of your signature strengths to something larger than yourself.

At work, Seligman believed that re-crafting your job to deploy your strengths every day can change your career into a calling. Your work can be more satisfying than it is now by using your signature strengths at work more often.

Watch for future posts on achieving strength based approaches in the workplace.

Photo credit: 2005 Mar-Austin Type Tour-032 - Hyde Park Gym Muscle by http://flickr.com/photos/mrflip/8916916/

by David Zinger

They are my favorite articles out of a possible 84 articles I wrote since July. I chose them based on how helpful they can be to the reader and how they also express my specific perspectives on employee engagement.

As an extra, I included a bonus article on engagement and retirement.

9. The Employee Engagement Six Pack. This article uses the six pack of aircraft instruments to look at six ways to assess employee engagement.

10.  Zengagement. This was a series of over 35 very short posts/articles with an image and a quotation to foster your thinking or inspiration on employee engagement.

***

Bonus Article: Blogging break…Retire Now. This article examines retirement less of a state and more as a way of approaching our work and our lives.

Photo Credit: Number 10 by http://flickr.com/photos/spilt-milk/164145237/

David Zinger is devoted to working with employee engagement

to foster results that matter for all.

Click here to view the video if the video does not load below.

This is part 5 of a 5 part series on leadership strength development through the application of StrengthsFinder 2.0.

Click here to read the first article in the series.

Here is the schedule outlining my strength focus:

1. Maximizer (Week 1)
2. Strategic (Week 2)
3. Positivity (Week 3)
4. Ideation (Week 4)
5. Empathy (Week 5)

Here is a quick review of the process of working on our strengths:

• Complete the StrengthsFinder 2.0 inventory.
• Scan your top 5 strengths
• Study your first strength
• Outline strength based actions for the first week.
• Implement your action plan
• Review your progress
• Repeat the the process with the next strength on your list.
• Click here to download a one page PDF form to assist in your strength work.

Review Week 4: Last Week’s Strength (Ideation)

I was able to work a lot with my strategic strength during the past week. I found times before flying in airports an excellent time to use strategic thinking for the variety of projects requiring my attention. Two projects had a number of significant external developments and I was able to use this strength to navigate through some of the changes.

I believe that I may have missed some of my own strength resources had I not had a specific focus on this strength last week. It was a busy week and this series focusing on a specific strength gave some structure to ensure that the strength was applied.

Outline Week 4: This Week’s Strength (Empathy)

People who are especially talented in the Empathy theme can sense the feelings of other people by imagining themselves in others’ lives or others’ situations.

Empathy Action Plan

1. My background is in counselling psychology. Empathy is the key approach and skill in the practice of counselling. I will look at using the strength and skills I have developed in this area to other relationships.

2. I will apply empathy to get a close up view of how my customers view my services and ensure that I approach my interactions with them from this perspective.

3. I will consciously apply more empathy in general social situations and family relationships and ensure that I communicate more of my understanding from this perspective.

4. I will live my favorite empathy line: Seek first to understand and demonstrate that understanding before seeking to be understood.

Next Week: Conclusion and review.

Photo Credit: Empathy in a carton by http://flickr.com/photos/geoffjones/526861820/

Written by  David Zinger, M. Ed.

This is part 4 of a 5 part series on leadership strength development through the application of StrengthsFinder 2.0.

Click here to read the first article in the series.

Here is the schedule outlining my strength focus:

1. Maximizer (Week 1)
2. Strategic (Week 2)
3. Positivity (Week 3)
4. Ideation (Week 4)
5. Empathy (Week 5)

Here is a quick review of the process of working on our strengths:

• Complete the StrengthsFinder 2.0 inventory.
• Scan your top 5 strengths
• Study your first strength
• Outline strength based actions for the first week.
• Implement your action plan
• Review your progress
• Repeat the the process with the next strength on your list.
• Click here to download a one page PDF form to assist in your strength work.

Review Week 3: Last Week’s Strength (Positivity)

It was very beneficial to monitor my positivity-strength during the week. I would start the morning feeling upbeat and optimistic and watch some of this fade as challenges mounted and the day progressed.  It was helpful to capture how happiness can slowly dissipate away during the day and to renew my commitment to get the most from my strength of positivity.

In the future, I will plan a short “positivity” break to begin the afternoon. Over at Slacker Manager, a blog I co-write with Phil Gerbyshak, I am compiling a list of inspiring videos and I will make it a practice to watch one of these videos to start my afternoon.

Outline Week 4: This Week’s Strength (Ideation)

People who are especially talented in the Ideation theme are fascinated by ideas. They are able to find connections between seemingly disparate phenomena.

Positivity Action Plan

1. I love working with ideas and combined with my Maximizer strength I can bring out the best in others. I need to ensure I have partners who can help me bring the ideas to life.

2. Because I can generate many ideas I also need the freedom to let the poor or weak ones go.

3. I am working on a leadership network and this will be the idea week to outline the benefits, features, and key ideas of the project. I will also be catching 7 flights this week and I will use all the waiting time to add weight to the ideas I generate for this project..

Next Week: Review of Ideation and Strength#5 - Empathy.

Photo Credit: Idea by http://flickr.com/photos/mazakar/1720761226/

Written by  David Zinger, M. Ed.

These videos will be 1 to 3 minutes long and offer you quick tips or perspectives on leadership. The primary focus will be on the topics of strength based leadership and employee engagement.

Watch for more videos on this site and better videos as we progress into 2008.

This is part 3 of a 5 part series on leadership strength development embracing the application of StrengthsFinder 2.0.

Click here to read the first article in the series.

Here is the schedule outlining my strength focus:

1. Maximizer (Week 1)
2. Strategic (Week 2)
3. Positivity (Week 3)
4. Ideation (Week 4)
5. Empathy (Week 5)

Here is a review of the process we are following:

• Complete the StrengthsFinder 2.0 inventory.
• Scan your top 5 strengths
• Study your first strength
• Outline strength based actions for the first week.
• Implement your action plan
• Review your progress
• Repeat the the process with the next strength on your list.
• Click here to download a one page PDF form to assist in your strength work.

Review Week 2: Your Second Strength (Strategic)

I was able to work a lot with my strategic strength this past week. I find the times before flying in airports an excellent time to use strategic thinking for the variety of projects requiring my attention. My ideas are flying long before the plane takes off.

Two specific projects had 4 significant external developments and I was able to use my strength to navigate through some of the changes that will be required because of development from competitors and the business environment. I believe that I would have missed out on my strategic strength resources had I not had a specific focus for this strength last week.

Outline Week 3: Your Third Strength (Positivity)

People who are especially talented in the Positivity theme have an enthusiasm that is contagious. They are upbeat and can get others excited about what they are going to do.

Positivity Action Plan

1. Keep enthusiasm alive for the variety of projects and initiatives and ensure that I communicate this with my partners and my students.

2. I will keep a focus on this strength to prevent a positive drain when I have too many demands or feel high levels of stress.

3. I will navigate around negative people who will not be responsive to a constructive or more positive outlook so as not to sap my own positivity.

4. I will also take time to express thanks and gratitude immediately after seeing something I am thankful for.

How did things go with the application of your second strength and what are your plans for to apply your third strength next week?

Next Week: Review and Strength#4 - Ideation.

Photo Credit: Free Running Belfast by http://flickr.com/photos/jettloe/1314858172/

Written by  David Zinger, M. Ed.

This is part 2 of a 5 part series on leadership strength development through the application of StrengthsFinder 2.0.

Click here to read the first article in the series.

Here is the schedule outlining my strength focus:

1. Maximizer (Week 1)
2. Strategic (Week 2)
3. Positivity (Week 3)
4. Ideation (Week 4)
5. Empathy (Week 5)

The process of working on your strengths includes the following steps:

• Complete the StrengthsFinder 2.0 inventory.
• Scan your top 5 strengths
• Study your first strength
• Outline strength based actions for the first week.
• Implement your action plan
• Review your progress
• Repeat the the process with the next strength on your list.

Click here to download a concise and colorful one page PDF form to work  on your strengths during our 5 weeks of strength training.

As we work together, you will move from weak to week to strength!

Review Week 1: Your First Strength (Maximizer)

I was able to put my maximizer strength to good work this week. A network project with one of my parnters had very rapid and acclerated growth the past week with each of us raising the bar. I was also able to spend some maximizer time with my oldest son helping him to maximize his strengths during his first year of university.

I did lose sight of numerous opportunites to apply the strength - I call this strength myopia. We have our strength right in front of us and often fail to use it in obvious situations. Before reading about the strategic strength I will review maximizer one more time.

I also learned that the combination of Maximizer and a work mantra I call GEMO (Good Enough Move On) is very significant in creating tremendous progress in projects in short periods of time. Click here to read my article on Finding GEMO. GEMO helps me get projects started and to keep them moving while maximizer help me continually make them better.

Outline Week 2: Your Second Strength (Strategic)

People who are especially talented in the Strategic theme create alternative ways to proceed. Faced with any given scenario, they can quickly spot the relevant patterns and issues.

Strategic Action Plan

1. Rather than being amused by external entertainment I will seek and nourish muse time. I need to take time to be think over projects, patterns, and pathways. One terrific place to do this will be before and during two flights I will take this week.

2. In two meetings this week I will ensure that I think about the initatives from my strategic strength and offer different pathways to accomplish results.

3. Strategic thinking can seem like inaction at times so I will ensure I place a high value on this strength and give it the time it deserves to unfold. I will also carry a tape recorder and paper to capture any strategic insights while spending time between activities.

4. I have much experience in blogging and online management/leadership development and I will seek out 2 opportunites to offer my strategic perspective to others in this rapidly growing field.

Next Week: Review and Strength#3 - Positivity.

Photo Credit: 3 payers chessboard by http://flickr.com/photos/slip/272995622/

Written by  David Zinger, M. Ed.

I invited you to join me in a 5 week strength building and training regime.

You won’t end up with more muscle but you will end up stronger and more engaged in your work.

Each week we will focus on one of our strengths from the StrengthsFinder 2.0 inventory. We will work at developing a greater understanding of the strength, determine applications of the strength for the following week, and review how we performed on the last strength before moving on to the next strength on the list.

I will use my 5 signature strengths as a springboard for you to work on your strengths in the next 5 Monday Morning Percolators.

1. Maximizer (Week 1)
2. Strategic (Week 2)
3. Positivity (Week 3)
4. Ideation (Week 4)
5. Empathy (Week 5)

Complete the StrengthsFinder 2.0 inventory and use each week to examine one of your strengths. To take the online version of the inventory you must purchase the book StrengthsFinder 2.0 by Tom Rath. Enter the code you will find in the book at the StrengthsFinder 2.0 website.

After you complete the inventory get a list of your 5 strengths and review the following website resources:

• Strength Discovery
• Brief Strengths Discovery Guide
• Action Planning Guide

What are your 5 strengths? What is your first strength?

I have included a free one page PDF form to use for your five weeks of strength training. Click the link below to get a copy of this form:

zinger-strength-training-form.pdf

Use this form to record you strengths, determine applications, and assess your progress.

This week, focus on your top strength from StrengthsFinder 2.0.

For example my top strength is maximizer. According to the book and website:

People who are especially talented in the Maximizer theme focus on strengths as a way to stimulate personal and group excellence. They seek to transform something strong into something superb.

After reading the description and looking at the ideas, I generated the following 6 step focused application of the maximizer strength for this week:

1. read and review the descriptions and ideas for my number one strength at least twice this week
2. determine what I am doing well and how I can make it better
3. reflect on the strengths of my partners and bring out these strengths in our projects
4. apply this strength to things outside of work
5. raise the bar on projects that are going well
6. remind myself of the strength by placing the phrase Maximizer: Take it to the Max in places I will see it frrequently during the week - without reminders we can lose sight of what we want to achieve because of all the things requiring our attention.

Join me on the journey for the next 5 weeks to delve into the details of your strength.

Grow strong along with me, the best is yet to be.

Photo Credit: Pole vault athlete in motion by http://flickr.com/photos/ftcb/100461465/

A free 18 page detailed PDF E-review of this series was on this site but it became unavailable when the site was revised. I have put the resource back on the site and apologize to anyone who had difficulty accessing the resource.

Click the link below to get a copy of this review:

Trombone Player Wanted

Photo Credit: Trombone Player by http://flickr.com/photos/ubikwit/1333825025/

The great question about leadership, about taking real steps on the pilgrim’s path, is the great question of any individual life: how to make everything more personal. How to understand life or leadership not as an abstract path involving devious strategies but more like an inhabitation, a way of life, a conversation, a captaincy; an expression of individual nature and gifts and a familiarity with the specific nature of your own desires and fears. In a conversation there is always more than one voice, and one of the voices must be our own or it is no conversation at at all (p55-56).~ David Whyte, Crossing the Unknown Sea.

Photo Credit: Auroville 014 —– Colour Purple by http://flickr.com/photos/pandiyan/133235475/

Click here to read 5 key leadership inputs:

1. engage yourself
2. hold engaging conversations
3. be strong and strengthen others
4. engage the clutch.
5. apply the simple and significant

David Zinger

Welcome to David’s new website design to create an intregrated publishing site that will offer you more information, options, and resources that are easier to find. This site goes beyond a blog or a static website to offer you a variety of resources and information to improve your personal and professional development.

Here are some of the changes you will see:

• You will be able to find current articles that David has written at other sites.
• You will be able to read current articles related to employee engagement and strength based leadership.
• The new design will facilitate constant and current updating on the latest developments in leadership and employee engagement.
• There will be more integration of video and other publishing within the new design

You can navigate to other pages of the site by clicking on the top bar for the following information:

• A profile of David Zinger
• Client feedback
• Resources
• Speech and workshop descriptions
• Schedule & calendar