Discovering Your Strengths - what difference would it make for you?
“You cannot be anything you want to be – but you can be a lot more of who you already are.” – Tom Rath
Have you ever wondered what are your strengths and what difference would it make for you?
It made a big difference for me. My relationship with CliftonStrengths goes back to more than 15 years ago. Then, a friend introduced me to a book “Go Put Your Strengths To Work” that led me to do the StrengthsFinder (now known as CliftonStrengths) assessment. I experienced a new paradigm shift and learnt a whole new language on strengths. I have always been taught to try harder and to grow in my areas of weaknesses. That’s what I did. I put myself through different learning curves to close the “competency gaps” and strived to do my best. My work was affirmed. But inside me did not feel right. I realised that I could be doing a good job but that does not mean the job was right and good for me. The new insight was liberating. It freed me to say no to what is good but does not fit me, and to make choices of work portfolios that would leverage on my strengths and motivation. This marked the new beginning of my journey to invest and grow in my strengths.
In the early years, long before I was a certified Strengths coach, I was actively introducing CliftonStrengths and running informal group sessions to help my friends learn this new strengths language. And it made a difference for my friends. It was rewarding to see how my friends discovered their strengths and how through that process made a difference to their work. Some realised that they need not leave their profession but only need to find a suitable sub-specialty or industry where their strengths could be better applied and flourish. Others discovered that while their strengths fit well, they need to watch out for the blind spots of their strengths by taming and maturing their strengths. That would then enable them to play to the full potential of their strengths in their vocation.
The language of strengths is empowering and compassionate. It gives word to what you might not even realise are strengths within you. When your strength has a name, you will experience how you are able to call it out and activate it in your life – relationally and vocationally. It is like an inner compass that leads you to live out who you truly are and guides you to make choices that offer your best self to the world. As a strength coach, I help you navigate using your internal strengths map. The process of strengths coaching will help you own and see the power of your strengths and points you in the direction of how you could invest, develop and maximise your strengths. And because your strengths are strengths, they are valuable. I will work with you to compassionately care for your strengths by managing their blind spots - trimming the raw edges so you could shine.
This is why I love strengths coaching. It was life changing for me in my vocational crossroads. I have seen how it made a difference for my friends. Through my private practice as a strengths coach, I am affirmed once again that strengths coaching made a difference for my clients. What better ways to share that than in their own words:
“I was in a dilemma in deciding my career path when I was introduced to Grace to explore how my strengths can provide some insight and set some direction for me. The session with Grace proved to be intellectually stimulating, invigorating and extremely informative. She was able to pick up my conundrum which goes beyond the immediate concern of career path but also in terms of the next phase of my life. I appreciate her calm and confident demeanour to understand me and guide me towards further exploration and appreciate my strengths in a refreshing way. Her suggestions and sharp wit also offered me further scope of reflection and ponderance. I left the session with a sense of being validated with new insights to decide my next course of action. She is an amazing strengths coach whom I give 6 stars out of 5!” - Alexis, 37
“I’ve done the CliftonStrengths assessment 3 times, but it was only recently that I did the CliftonStrengths34 assessment along with a coaching session with Grace. I would describe the session as extremely enlightening and energizing! Not only did she dispel my misconceptions concerning CliftonStrengths, more importantly, she pointed the way to help me return to who I am – I had an amazing grand revelation of why I had made certain decisions in the past. The session with Grace helped me access a new language to name the strengths that drive me.
In her gentle yet assertive way, Grace pointed out some struggles I had experienced. She gave me very concrete suggestions on how I could work on those areas by leaning on my other strengths. She also led me to consider how my strengths could be paired together so they could flourish. These ideas were new to me and by reflecting upon them was extremely life giving.
I really think every professional should have a strengths coach like Grace – she has effectively integrated her knowledge on strengths and background training in counselling to cater to individual needs, and intuitively point out not just strengths areas but caution areas too!” - N.Wong, 52
I invite you to discover your strengths with me as your strengths coach. It does make a difference – because it is empowering and compassionate. It is about knowing your strengths and developing yourself according to your unique talents blueprint. Invest in yourself today.