1. Strengths-Based Development
Presentation for JPMC PNA NY
Bill Reid & Amanda Vanasco
May 6, 2009

2. Activity
Stand up if this describes you…
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3. Knowing Strengths
“Most Americans do not know what their strengths are.
When you ask them, they look at you with a blank stare
or they respond in terms of subject knowledge,
which is the wrong answer.”
Peter Drucker
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Copyright © 2007 The Gallup Organization, Princeton, NJ. All rights reserved.

4. Weakness Fixing: The Wrong Assumptions
1. Behaviors can be learned.
– If you try hard enough, you can do it.
– If you want it badly enough, you can do it.
– If you dream it, you can achieve it.
2. The best in a role all get there exactly the same way.
3. Weakness fixing leads to excellence.
Copyright © 2007 Gallup, Inc. All rights reserved. 4

5. Activity
Dominant vs. Nondominant
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6. Strengths Development
3500
2900
3000 Average Reader
Above Average Reader
Words per minute
2500
2000
1500
1000
500 350
90 150
0
Time Time Time Time
One Two One Two
Copyright © 2007 Gallup, Inc. All rights reserved. 6

7. The Science of Strengths
“Behavior depends on the formation of appropriate
interconnections among neurons in the brain.”
Principles of Neural Science
Dr. James Schwartz
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Copyright © 2003 The Gallup Organization, Princeton, NJ. All rights reserved

8. Strengths and Neurological Development
 Day 42 after Conception
- Neuron #1
 By Day 162
- 100,000,000,000 neurons
- 9,500 Neurons per second
 Birth minus 60 Days
- Neurons begin to attempt to communicate
- Axon strands create synapses
 Age 3
- Each of your 100 Billion Neurons have
made 15,000 Synaptic Connections
 Age 16
- Half of these 100,000,000,000 * 15,000
Synaptic Connections are gone
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Copyright © 2003 The Gallup Organization, Princeton, NJ. All rights reserved

9. Strengths and Neurological Development
“Roads with the most traffic get widened.
The ones that are rarely used fall into disrepair.”
Dr. Harry Chugani, Professor of Neurology
Wayne State Univ. Medical School
Copyright © 2007 Gallup, Inc. All rights reserved. 9

10. Strengths and Neurological Development
“…your effectiveness depend(s) on how well you
capitalize on your strongest connections.”
Now Discover your Strengths
Marcus Buckingham & Don Clifton
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Copyright © 2003 The Gallup Organization, Princeton, NJ. All rights reserved

11. A Deeper Understanding of Strengths
Application
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12. Clarifying the Language: Definition of Talent
Talent : A naturally recurring pattern of
thought, feeling, or behavior
Talent ≠ Skills ≠ Knowledge
Copyright © 2007 Gallup, Inc. All rights reserved. 12

13. Clarifying the Language: Definition of Strength
Strength: A naturally recurring pattern of thought, feeling, or
behavior that’s productively applied
Strength = Talent (Skills + Knowledge)
Copyright © 2007 Gallup, Inc. All rights reserved. 13

14. Basketball
Strength
Consistently hits the
shots that win
the basketball game
Skills
• Dribbling
•Rebounding
•Shooting
Knowledge
•Rules
•Plays
•Teammates
•Opponents
•Capabilities
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15. Activity
Highlighting your strengths…
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16. A Deeper Understanding of Strengths
Application: Clues to Talent
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17. A Deeper Understanding of Strengths Application:
Clues to Talent
Y
F
E
L
A
O
R
W
N
What kinds of activities are you In what activities did the “steps”
naturally drawn to? just come to you automatically?
G E
L X
I C
R
M E
A
P L
P L
S L
I E
E E
D A
N
R
N O C
F E
What kinds of activities do you During what activities have you had
seem to pick up quickly? moments of subconscious excellence,
“How did I do that?”
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18. A Focus on Strengths: The Right Assumptions
1. Talent ≠ Skills ≠ Knowledge
2. Best use their own path
3. Strength = Excellence
4. Weakness = Frustration
Copyright © 2007 Gallup, Inc. All rights reserved. 18

19. About The 34 Strength Themes
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20. The Clifton StrengthsFinder®
 Web-based tool
 Based on over 30 years of research of 2 million individuals
 Identifies 34 main themes of Talent
 4 million+ individuals
– 3,000 per day
 Over 100 different companies
 Over 60 countries
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21. StrengthsFinder® Themes
Achiever Context Intellection
Activator Deliberative Learner
Adaptability Developer Maximizer
Analytical Discipline Positivity
Arranger Empathy Relator
Belief Focus Responsibility
Command Futuristic Restorative
Communication Harmony Self-Assurance
Competition Ideation Significance
Connectedness Includer Strategic
Consistency Individualization Woo
Input
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22. StrengthsFinder® Themes Example
1. Competition
2. Maximimizer
3. Input Memorize your Top 5
4. Relator
5. Individualization
6. Woo
7. Achiever
8. Positivity
9. Responsibility
10. Activator
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23. The Uniqueness of Each Individual
 Chance of identical twins: 1 in 250
 Chance of having triplets:
approx. 1 in 8,100
 Chance of having quads (four
babies): 1 in 729,000
 Chance of having quints (five
babies): 1 in 55,000,000
 The chances of meeting someone
with your Top 5 in the same order:
– 1 in 33.4 million
 Permutation: 34!/(34-5)!
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24. Activity
Love, Crazy, Envy
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25. A Deeper Understanding of Strengths
Application: Managing Weaknesses
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26. What about Weaknesses or Areas of Challenge?
 Determine the Cause
 Encourage-Confront – addresses a deficiency of intention
 Change the Circumstances
 Training – addresses a deficiency of knowledge or skill
 Stop Doing it – addresses a deficiency of talent
 Partner with Someone Else - addresses a deficiency of talent
 Implement a Support System - addresses a deficiency of talent
 Leverage other Strengths - addresses a deficiency of talent
Copyright © 2007 Gallup, Inc. All rights reserved. 26

27. The Leader’s Focus
2%
100%
80% 45%
58% 61% Engaged
60%
40% 33%
20% 40% 38% Not Engaged
22%
1% Actively Disengaged
0%
Ignored Weakness Strengths®
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Copyright © 2006 The Gallup Organization, Princeton, NJ. All rights reserved.

28. Commitments
 What one insight are you taking away today?
 Identify one Clifton StrengthsFinder Theme and how you will use
those talents more intentionally.
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29. Thank you!
Bill_Reid@gallup.com
Amanda_Vanasco@gallup.com
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30. Copyright Standards
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literary property of The Gallup Organization. It is for the guidance of your
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others outside of your organization. Gallup and Q12 Advantage are
registered trademarks of The Gallup Organization, Princeton, NJ.
Therefore, this document is of great value to both your organization and The
Gallup Organization. Accordingly, the ideas, concepts, and
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No changes may be made to this document without the express written
permission of The Gallup Organization.
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