Jason Powell - Church IT and Other Musings

Strengths Finder 2.0 Results

Our entire Comm/Web/IT team recently retook the StengthsFinder test, this time using the new 2.0 version. (my prior results)  This is a very valuable tool that I’d encourage everyone to use…especially among your teams.  In fact it’s part of my hiring process … that’s how much weight I give it. 

The Clifton StrengthsFinder measures the presence of talent in 34 categories called "themes." These themes were determined by Gallup as those that most consistently predict outstanding performance. The greater the presence of a theme of talent within a person, the more likely that person is to spontaneously exhibit those talents in day-to-day behaviors.Focusing on naturally powerful talents helps people use them as the foundation of strengths and enjoy personal, academic, and career success through consistent, near-perfect performance.
Below are my top five themes of talent, ranked in the order revealed by my responses to the Clifton StrengthsFinder.
How well do you think these themes describe me?

Analytical

People who are especially talented in the Analytical theme search for reasons and causes. They have the ability to think about all the factors that might affect a situation.

By nature, you can invent reasonably sequenced processes for performing various tasks. Having familiar patterns to follow makes it easier for everyone involved to handle recurring activities with ease and efficiency. You probably think favorably about individuals who rely on your processes day after day. People who say they cannot and will not use your system often irritate you. Chances are good that you generally rely on reason to determine how an event, decision, or condition led to an outcome. You usually desire to understand how things converge to produce the final result.

Deliberative

People who are especially talented in the Deliberative theme are best described by the serious care they take in making decisions or choices. They anticipate the obstacles.

Chances are good that you are likely to be the team member who is known for weighing the pros and cons rather than rushing recklessly to conclusions. You seldom make impulsive or rash decisions. Driven by your talents, you characteristically are quite reserved. You carefully consider just about everything you say and do. This explains to a large degree why you are happy to let someone else begin discussions. You prefer to listen to others talk.

Learner

People who are especially talented in the Learner theme have a great desire to learn and want to continuously improve. In particular, the process of learning, rather than the outcome, excites them.

By nature, you prefer to work in groups. You are attracted to teams whose activities and challenges intrigue you. You usually give these matters your undivided attention. Instinctively, you sometimes dedicate yourself to acquiring specific types of knowledge or using particular skills. Maybe you are self-taught. Maybe you work with an instructor, trainer, coach, or mentor. You might embrace opportunities to expose your mind to new ideas. You might welcome the chance to practice new ways of plying -- that is, diligently practicing – a trade or a craft. Driven by your talents, you occasionally dedicate yourself to acquiring certain kinds of knowledge or skills. You might devote many hours to mental labor. Because of your strengths, you have little difficulty giving intense effort to projects, problems, or opportunities that capture and keep your attention.

Harmony

People who are especially talented in the Harmony theme look for consensus. They don’t enjoy conflict; rather, they seek areas of agreement.

You are hardwired to meet others' high standards. This is how you avoid having conflicts and disagreements with people. Because of your strengths, you resist the temptation of presenting yourself as an expert on everything. Even though you have worked hard to master various topics, disciplines, and skills, you wait to be asked before sharing your knowledge. Usually you refer  people to highly trained individuals when you cannot answer their questions. Your commitment to obtain the correct information and solutions overrides your desire to impress others. As a result, your reputation remains intact.

Relator

People who are especially talented in the Relator theme enjoy close relationships with others. They find deep satisfaction in working hard with friends to achieve a goal.

By nature, you are quite comfortable being honest about yourself with others. You harbor very few illusions about who you really are. Furthermore, you can openly acknowledge your mistakes and shortcomings. This is apt to distinguish you from most people. When you have nothing to do, typically you find something to do. Sitting around and wasting time does not suit you at all. It’s very likely that you offer guidance to friends who seek your assistance. While you enjoy being helpful, you probably avoid imposing your ideas on someone unless the person makes a special point of asking you to do so. Driven by your talents, you periodically consider skills you might upgrade to be a better trainer or coach. Perhaps you derive some satisfaction from helping individuals improve personally or professionally. Instinctively, you may be determined to share some of your knowledge, skills, or experiences with people. Perhaps you use this information as a coaching tool if you train someone.

To learn more about the Clifton StrengthsFinder and how you can discover your top five themes, visit http://strengths.gallup.com

3 of my 5 were unchanged … Analytical, Deliberative, Leaner … no surprises there.  Harmony is new, but not a surprise after reading the full blown description.  Relator was the biggest surprise.  It certainly is me, but I would never have thought that was a strength.  Hmm.

We have a big team meeting tomorrow to talk about our new results so I’m curious to learn how everyone else scored this time around.  I’m also interested to dig into my “Personalized Ideas for Action Report” to get ideas on how to leverage these talent areas.  Interesting stuff.

Now, Discover Your Strengths

Our entire team ... Communications, Web, IT ... is going through Marcus Buckingham's 'Now, Discover Your Strengths' book.  We've only gone through the first 4 chapters, but it's already been pretty eye opening.  Last week each of us took the online Strengths Finder assessment which is designed to measure your talents/potential strengths across 34 categories and report your top 5.

Now before I reveal what it said about me, here's something I've found interesting.  Before this, I've never taken a single personality or similar assessment.  How can that be!?  You'd think being a Physics/Education major I would have encountered something in my education classes ... nada.  How did I get into and through grad school, again with a Physics/Education bent, without ever doing the Meyers Briggs??  Oh well.

So what did the assessment reveal about me?  Well, much of it pegs me.  My wife read the results and said, "yup, that sounds like you."  One of my talents was kinda surprising, and one talent I thought for sure I'd have didn't show in the top 5 ... hmmm.

So for what it's worth, here's the brief version of my top 5 raw talents in order from strongest ...

Learner - People strong in the Learner theme have a great desire to learn and want to continuously improve. In particular, the process of learning, rather than the outcome, excites them.  This is certainly me, but I'm surprised it's at the top.

Deliberative - People strong in the Deliberative theme are best described by the serious care they take in making decisions or choices. They anticipate the obstacles.  Oh man, this is sooo me!  This drives certain people, like my wife, totally bonkers at times :-)

Analytical - People strong in the Analytical theme search for reasons and causes. They have the ability to think about all the factors that might affect a situation.  Hmm, no surprise here.  I would have thought this would have been higher though.

Achiever - People strong in the Achiever theme have a great deal of stamina and work hard. They take great satisfaction from being busy and productive.  Totally me again.

Context - People strong in the Context theme enjoy thinking about the past. They understand the present by researching its history.  This is the puzzler of the five.  If you read the full blown description of context it does fit me to a certain point ... perhaps more than I yet realize so I'm not writing it off as incorrect.  It's certainly sparked my curiosity.

Now, after looking at all 34 possible talent areas I'm VERY surprised that this one didn't make my list:
Strategic - People strong in the Strategic theme create alternative ways to proceed. Faced with any given scenario, they can quickly spot the relevant patterns and issues.  Come on!  How did this not make my top 5?!  I enjoy strategic stuff and have been told I'm pretty good at it.  I'll have to assume this is number 6 on my list ... though it will bug me not knowing.  Perhaps I'll find a way to take the test again someday and vindicate my strategic talents :-)

I really think having this info is going to be a big plus for our team ... but I'll save that for a later post.  Next objectives/chapters are about taking these talents and cultivating them into strength areas ... should be interesting.

Velvet ... Vista ... WUS ...

Velvet Vista ... now there's a good name for a band :-)

I just got back from a small vacation ... so here's a few things that have happened recently

Velvet - I've finally finished Rob Bell's Velvet Elvis book (see prior post Spinal Tap and Rob Bell?).  I so resonated with this book.  I first heard Rob speak at the Cataylst Conf in 2003 ... and he totally blew me away.  His talk then is actually part of his book ... when he talks about how he wanted to walk away from it all ... and the prayer shawl piece ... I can still today recall, after he unpacked the prayer shawl bit, saying to myself, "How is it I've never learned this before!  And I went to a Christian University for cryin' out loud!"
In his book Rob said a lot of things I personally needed to hear and hear loudly ... some of them were great affirmations ... some of them made me hurt as they are too close to home ... some of them I'm still wrestling with ... yup, this book is a definite "must read again" book.  One of the great things about this book is that it applies to all spirtual walks of life...be you a newbie or an old fart :-)
This is one of those resources that IMHO every new believer should receive along with a Bible.  No I'm not giving it equal status with the Bible, but it would be soooo helpful for a newbie to read.
For those of us 30-somethings that have been brought up in a very traditional setting...it's refreshing and challenging...and freeing.
For old and crusty folks...it's great for opening their eyes as to what this current generation is looking for.
I could go on, but that's enough ... get the book yourself ... you'll see ... 2 thumbs WAY UP!

Vista - one of our IT volunteers brought in Vista Beta1 on his laptop last Tuesday night.  It's always fun to check out betaware especially something of this magnitude.  So far I'm really liking what I see and I'll post more once I can weasel a copy for myself ( what say you Dustin? ) so I can really kick the tires ;-)

WUS ... opps, now it's called WSUS - we've started phase 1 of WSUS implementation Tuesday night.  Server install was a breeze.  I was surprised at how granular of control you can have over the who, what, when , how of Microsoft updates...and this is completely no cost...sweet!!!  Ever since the SP2 doomsday we've turned off auto-updates across the network.  Hopefully this will work as claimed and give us complete control over which updates/patches get delivered to whom.