Core Concept #1: Skills, Experiences, And Talents (S.E.T.) For Strong Teams
In this episode, we start joining important puzzle pieces together to make your team a genuinely strengths-powered one.
When we zero in on the nuts and bolts that make strengths work, we develop the kind of perspective that can build and rebuild teams as often as necessary -- no matter what changes or challenges arise in your work environment.
Once you\u2019ve mastered these core concepts, you will have won over the most unconsidered elements in implementing strengths at work.
Ready to set sail towards your shared goals as a stronger team? Since you\u2019re here, I take it to mean you\u2019re all set!
Let The Total You Shine
When it comes to career branding, people usually think showcasing their skills and experiences is enough. For the longest time, it's what we have seen others do: fill resumes and LinkedIn profiles the skills they've acquired along the way.
If that\u2019s not enough, then what\u2019s missing?
Oh, it\u2019s just what we already have all along: talent!
StrengthsFinder views natural talent as the way we do things driven by the inherent way we think, feel, and act. When we add that to our list of skills and experiences, we are able to establish a more solid character behind our career brand.\xa0Yet how often do we really come across natural talents in LinkedIn profiles, resumes, and CVs?
Rarely.
Now that we've found what completes our branding equation, it\u2019s about time we don\u2019t leave talent out.
For example, if you have Deliberative/Intellection talents, you can present them in your career branding effort as:
- Detecting risks that others overlook\xa0
- Dissecting on a topic with sensibility and depth
Your Challenge: Shift From 1D To 3D
Career branding without talents is merely a one- or two-dimensional view of yourself. To not showcase them is to deprive others the best of what you can give easily and naturally.
Imagine how sturdier and more powerful your career branding would be if it\u2019s standing not just on two but three solid legs. You have your skills, your experiences, and your talents. Now that sounds like a total package!
Once you start adding in your arsenal of talents, you can expect to get a better match for this newfound well-rounded version of you.
Your Team\u2019s Game Plan
As you determine your team\u2019s pool of strengths today, it\u2019s important that you get a 3D view of each other. The key is that you're willing to put out a 3D view of yourself. This means going through the following steps:
1. Think about your career brand vis-\xe0-vis: how you're known currently and how you want to be known or remembered in the future
2. Think about how to communicate to your team--your process of working through your natural talents.
3. Mine natural talents and look for them from your teammates so you can\u2026
- see how you can collaborate better
- observe when they're doing what leads them toward their aspiration
- celebrate it with them
The 'Aspirational You' Impact
At Stronger Teams, we explore \u201cAspirational You" -- the things you want to be known for or remembered by other people. It resides in the \u201cT\u201d zone of S.E.T. This is an important step in career branding efforts and in your team's game plan. As a quick reminder, so that you don't have to scroll up to peek, S.E.T. stands for Skills, Experiences, and Talents.
If a 1D or 2D view has brought some positive effects on your career, imagine how much more the inclusion of \u201cAspirational You\u201d would do for your brand! Imagine how much influence it would have on your team as you implement strengths altogether.
Digging Into 'Aspirational You'
Stronger Teams brings \u201cAspirational You\u201d essentials to the surface through training for teams and individuals.
Here are examples of sets of words that the participants thought up as the aspirational representation of themselves.
- decisive, observant, bridge-builder
- trustworthy, inquisitive, excellence-seeker
- casual, decisive, influencer
- bold, forward-looking, listener
Of course, these examples are merely a guide on how you can come up with your own \u201cAspirational You\u201d version.
Think well of how you want to be remembered as you move on from one role or career to another, and then find the right descriptive words that best capture you.
While you may be straightforward with your team, you may soften the words a bit by turning them into meaningful sentences. See how you can be creative and impactful as you share these words on your LinkedIn account\u2019s About section.
Examples:
- \u201cPeople have told me I am ________.\u201d\xa0
- or simply list down your StrengthsFinder talent themes.
Ready For The Next Concept?
Up next: from the elusive T to the troublemaking \u201cT\u2019s.\u201d Stay tuned!
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