StrengthsQuest Reflection
I first took StrengthsQuest over the summer for the Leadership Collaborative. We spent the week talking about our personal strengths and how they could help us become better leaders. Since then, I have noticed my strengths having an effect on my everyday life, especially when I work in groups of people.
Positivity: My top strength is positivity, which came at no surprise to me. I am always looking on the bright side and trying to help others see the better side of situations. I used to teach dance, and I was always quick to give a compliment when I would see someone improve on a dance step. I think my positivity makes me easy to work with in pressured situations, such as during a lunch rush at the Union Market (where I now work). I still am happy to greet each customer as I take their order and praise my co-workers when the rush is over with a quick “Go us!”
Inclusiveness: My second top strength is being inclusive. While I was inclusive before I took the StrengthsQuest, but I not identify it as one of my strengths. It wasn’t until after I saw inclusiveness as one of my strengths did I realize it was natural for me to try to include others. Whenever I am working in a group, I like to make sure no one’s ideas are left out because they are afraid to speak up. In general conversation, I notice when others are talked over and unheard, and try to make sure they get a word in the conversation as well. If I see someone looking like they are left out, I always try to extend a hand and make sure they know they are welcome to join the group.
Maximizer: My third strength is maximizer. This one is very prevalent in college as I am choosing to focus in an area that has always been a strength for me: the arts. I realize I do not have the talent to pursue a performance career, so I chose to go a different route while still being around what I love. Majoring in Arts Management as well as Theater in pursuit of creating arts programs for kids allows me to put my talents – working well with the public and others, organizing, planning, working well with kids, being knowledgeable about the arts – together to do something I believe is important with my life. To me, it’s not worth the time or the risk to try to develop my abilities to the point where I could be confident in making a career in performing, so I chose to go as different route to make better use of my strengths.
My fourth strength is Harmony, and my fifth is Input.