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CliftonStrengths
10 Tips for Leading an Effective Strengths Training
CliftonStrengths

10 Tips for Leading an Effective Strengths Training

Webcast Details

  • Gallup Called to Coach Webcast Series
  • Season 4, Episode 43
  • Listen as Dean Jones goes deeper into what it takes to lead effective strengths training sessions, in Part 2 of the series.

On a recent Called to Coach, we spoke with Gallup's Talent Development Architect, Dean Jones.

This webcast is Part 2 of a two-part series on leading effective strengths training. In Part 1, Dean discussed 5 basic things you need to cover about strengths during a training session:

  1. Strengths are rooted in the study of excellence; it's not a typology.
  2. Define the difference between a strength, a talent and a theme and be sure you know them by heart.
  3. Introduce the CliftonStrengths assessment and be able to talk about the validation of the assessment.
  4. Help people name, claim and aim their talents.
  5. Address how to handle weaknesses.

In this webcast, Dean dives deeper into how to lead an effective training. Here are the 10 new tips Dean covers in this webcast:

  1. Prepare based on 5 perspectives:
  • Understand the design of the course, get inside the integrity of the design and get the connection points, learn how it pieces together, the narrative and the flow.
  • Think about the participant experience and what you want the outcome for them to be.
  • How will you deliver the course as a leader?
  • Consider the logistics and the materials you will use. Remember not to give people materials until they need it, otherwise it is distracting.
  • What is the intended impact? Participants need something they can take away and apply immediately.
  1. Practice, practice, practice; great course leaders practice all the time.
  2. Be present.
  • Be authentic, transparent and vulnerable.
  • You don't have to be funny or entertaining.
  • Create a space of authenticity and connection; your attention is fully on the participants.
  1. How you start the course is everything; it sets your trajectory and how the course will land.
  • You don't get a second chance to make a first impression.
  • You want to create credibility and accessibility.
  1. The course doesn't begin for people until they hear their own voice in the room
  • Give people a couple of questions -- your name, what do you do, share three words that describe you.
  • Give them something good about themselves that they can share; share authentically, not just talk.
  1. Great courses work on three levels/dimensions -- Bloom's Taxonomy -- cognitive, psychomotor, affective.
  • What do we want people to know as a result of this course? Do (skills)? Feel?
  1. Reduce the risk of participating.
  • Participation is always a choice for people, they are calibrating their risk, even extroverted people.
  • Is this a safe place? Will my contribution be honored?
  • Are you creating an environment where people will choose to engage/participate?
  1. What participants say in the room is worth twice what you say.
  • Don't talk too much.
  • If they say what you say it means even more.
  • Training is helping people to discover something and integrate it; not just telling.
  1. Great trainings are practical.
  • Help people translate what they learn into action.
  • Great courses can provoke insights in people; need to set them up to translate their insights into action.
  1. Close strong.
  • The most important thing for people to do at the end is to be able to synthesize what they've learned.
  • Assimilate it into our thinking and behavior.
  • Great learning shifts our behavior, it becomes a part of us.
  • Make sure they review what they learned; what did you cover today?
  • Have people make commitments for what they are going to do next.

To hear more about coaching strengths for organizations, individuals and coaches, please watch the full video or listen to the audio above.

Dean Jones' Top 5 CliftonStrengths are Activator, Focus, Woo, Strategic and Relator.

Learn more about using CliftonStrengths to help yourself and others succeed:


Gallup https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/250418/tips-leading-effective-strengths-training.aspx
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