The Thoughtful Talents Show

Who makes you better? Who are your powerful success partners? This week, we’re joined by returning guest Michael Stafford and first-time guest Jen Pasquale for a conversation about how intentional, strengths-based partnerships can help each of us grow & improve performance, especially for new managers and leaders. We explore how knowing ourselves and others creates space for psychological...

Have you attended a conference that left you little time to process what you "learned"? Or engaged with an online learning series that left you bored? It's probably because those professional development opportunities didn't align with your talents. In this episode of Strengths Applied, we welcome back Cindy Butts to help us explore the connections between learning styles, strengths, and professio...

In this episode of Strengths Applied, we talk about the challenges we face; both the ones we choose, like changing jobs or starting a family, and the ones that catch us off guard, like health issues or job loss. We share personal stories and reflect on how our talents have shown up in those moments, sometimes helping us move forward, and sometimes making things harder when we’re not using them wit...

In this episode of Strengths Applied, we welcome guest coaches Damian Zikakis and Louann McCurdy back to the show to dive into "workplace onboarding." We begin by sharing our personal experiences and how our own talents shaped those moments. We also dive into the lessons learned when onboarding is done with intention and is human-centered...and when it's done in ways that leaves people feeling los...

In this episode of Strengths Applied, we take on the uncomfortable topic of failure. We explore what it means, how it feels, and how we can grow through it. We share stories from our own “squiggly” career paths, where things didn’t go as planned, and reflect on how our strengths helped us bounce back, and even forward. This episode is especially for anyone feeling stuck, unseen, or unheard in thei...

In this episode of “Strengths Applied”, we invite fellow coach, Sally Magee, The Sober Strengths Coach and founder of Magee Leadership Solutions, for a powerful conversation about embracing change, both personally and professionally. We explore the emotional and practical sides of change: why it’s hard, why it matters, and how your unique CliftonStrengths can help you better understand, navigate,...

In this episode of “Strengths Applied” we invite Shaina Lane to help us to unpack the art of managing up and advocating for your team. We dive into what it really means to lead from where you are, even without formal authority. CliftonStrengths can be a powerful tool to bridge communication gaps helping to build credibility and communicate effectively between team members and leadership. Listen in...

In this episode of Strengths Applied, we welcome fellow Gallup Certified Strengths Coach and Leadership Scholar, Dr. Susan Madsen, to discuss the topic of Equity. We begin with unpacking the difference between equity and equality at work—and why that difference really matters. We share powerful stories and insights about the barriers to equity in the workplace. The conversation touches on eve...

In this episode we welcome fellow coaches, Florence Hardy and Jessica Cowan, to talk about resolving conflict. Listen as each of us shares our individual preferences around conflict and how our strengths either help us resolve it, or sometimes get in the way. Avoiding conflict can mean staying silent when something needs to be said, so we stress the importance of perspective and using our voice, o...

In this episode of Strengths Applied, we welcome fellow strengths coaches Bill Dipple and Sarah Collins from “The Strengths on Fire Podcast” to discuss career transitions. We highlight the importance of self-awareness and leveraging personal strengths to find the right role. Each of us shares how recognizing our talents has guided our career changes and the steps we took to pivot successfully. We...

In this episode of Strengths Applied, we welcome Bill Beachy and Ron Cheshire to discuss managing distractions and the crucial roles our talents play in maintaining attention and focus. We highlight how different Strength Domains appear in this conversation, discussing the balance between personal needs and the needs of others. We emphasize advocating for those who struggle to be seen and heard, a...

What do you do when your talents don't match with your working environment? This is one of the key questions we explore in this episode with our good friend and returning guest coach, Michael Stafford from The Chapter Coach . Join us for a lively conversation about how our talents often impact our "ideal" work environments; and how a "one-size-fits-all" approach is often ineffective. We also dive...

How can you inspire great connections with your customers? In this episode, we dive deep into the importance of customer engagement. Whether internal or external, we share a few compelling stories that highlight how our unique talents have helped us meet customer needs. We discuss strategies to connect with those who feel unseen and unheard by anticipating their needs, asking insightful questions,...

In this episode of Strengths Applied, we welcome Bill Beachy of the Beachy Group to discuss our personal journeys in entrepreneurship and the crucial role our talents have played. Fueled by our strengths and passions, we share how these have been instrumental in our success. We redefine entrepreneurship to include passion, and aiming to help others be seen and heard. Emphasizing the importance of...

What does it mean to have a "best friend" at work? And why is it so important? In this episode, we explore the significance of the 'Best Friend at work' concept as highlighted in the Gallup Q12 Engagement Assessment. As we share our personal experiences, we also look at the relevant statistics, and discuss key traits of a "best friend." We also provide insights on leveraging individual talents to...

Feedback, similar to recognition, plays an essential role in encouraging improved employee performance. When delivered effectively, feedback works to unlock an employee's full potential. Unfortunately, many leaders and team members are using outdated approaches, and offering feedback too infrequently to make a difference. In this episode, we share data-informed approaches that can drastically impr...

Creating Meaningful Employee Recognition Recognition plays an important role in engagement in the workplace. Getting recognition right will boost morale, while generic or incorrect recognition can lead to demotivation and disengagement. It is key to acknowledge individuals for their unique efforts. This personalized and specific recognition makes employees feel valued and appreciated.  I...

Understanding and clearly defining expectations is key for employees and teams to thrive. One effective way to achieve this is by revising and co-defining job descriptions with each team member. By incorporating Strengths-based discussions, we can empower employees to do more of what they do best. Listen in as we explore how leaders and individual contributors can expand their conversations, job c...

Employee Engagement is crucial for success. Engaged employees drive profitability, productivity, and employee wellbeing. Organizations with high engagement levels experience lower absenteeism, turnover, theft, and defects. [1:00] Staggering Stats about Employee Engagement [4:35] Engagement, Wellbeing & Focus on Strengths [7:50] The trouble with disengagement [10:45]Satisfaction is not equal to...

How do you integrate your work-life with your family, community, and personal interests? If you're a leader, how are you supporting your team members' work-life integration? Proper work-life balance - or integration - is crucial for professional success and personal well-being...and setting and maintaining appropriate boundaries is key. In this episode, we explore how understanding your personal v...

Experiencing Burnout? Feeling useless, exhausted, cynical, and full of negative attitudes towards your job? Let's dive into what Burnout is, the ineffective methods, root causes, and preventive strategies.    [1:05] W.H.O. definition of burnout [1:58] Statistics and the impact on performance & health [4:43] Gallup research suggests ‘root causes’ of burnout & the chronic condition...

Trust is the number one need leaders must fulfill for their followers. Yet, research from Gallup and other organizations show more and more employees aren't trusting their leaders. So what can leaders and people-managers do differently, and how can they capitalize on their unique talents? Listen in as we explore the data, trust's importance, and offer our suggestions.    [0:34] The stats...

How can leaders help their teams be productive and engaged? In this episode we explore the importance of establishing clear shared team expectations and focusing on a singular key goal. Based on current research by Gallup , only 47% of people know what's expected of them at work. At the same time, research by TeamStage indicates that more than 75% of employees strongly agree that collaboration is...

We had so much fun with our first season, we are back again for more! Enjoy this brief trailer episode where we introduce what we're going to talk about this season. Remember to follow and subscribe so you don't miss any episodes. YOUR HOSTS:  Jen Werner @ Jen Werner Coaching  Facebook | LinkedIn | Website Jen’s Top 5 CliftonStrengths: Responsibility | Achiever | Belief | Deliberative |...

On this bonus episode of The Thoughtful Talents Show, we share our highlights from the 2024 Gallup at Work Summit in Omaha, Nebraska. Again this year, we have entirely too much content to share it all but did want to share a few quick takeaways. If you want to know more, please reach out to us (contact info below), we love to talk all things #cliftonstrengths and #engagement.  Key Moments (ap...