Capitalizing on Strengths

Last week in SOMDville, we took two assessments to determine our strengths as leaders. These tests help us to better understand how we interact with people, so we can serve them more effectively.

The first assessment was a general personality profile, called the DISC test, used more commonly in the workplace. It basically helps you figure out if your leadership style is more task-orientated, or people-oriented.

Surprisingly, my categories were almost equal:

The photo might be a little blurry, but this chart basically demonstrates that I lean toward task-oriented thinking, but am also capable of relating fairly well.

The second assessment we did was Strengths Finder, a more in-depth look at what your top five areas of strength are. 

For those of you that are familiar with the test, these were my highest areas of strength:

1. Intellection

2. Empathy

3. Achieving

4. Adaptability

5. Input

Once again, it looks like I have strengths in both strategizing and relationship- building. It's nice to have some more insight into what I have to offer to any team environment in which I may find myself.

While it's useful to have more insight into my own personality and the talents God has given me, the most important thing I took away from last week's teaching is that we should develop our areas of strength so we can capitalize on them.

Think about it - if you already have a talent in one particular area, practicing that talent or strength will result in more growth than an area that you consider one of your weaknesses. So in order to be better leaders, we were challenged to focus on areas in which we already exhibit strength.

Of course it isn't possible to only work on your strengths, especially in the workplace, but there is definitely a lot to gain from building where you have a foundation already. It definitely builds personal confidence, to say the least.

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On the weekend, we went out in the surrounding community to do acts of service and ministry. 

My group partnered with a community house for women downtown. They were a part of an organization called Open Door Ministries. We spent the morning painting and priming their house. 

We will be doing more of these inner city missions projects, called Service Saturday, next month. Check out a few photos below!

That's all for now..thanks for reading!