“What leaders have in common is that each really knows their strengths, has developed their strengths, and can call on the right strength at the right time.” – Donald Clifton

Every organization contains untapped potential. I lead teams to unlock this potential by focusing on their natural talents using CliftonStrengths.  This leads to higher employee engagement, retention, productivity, and performance.

If you’re curious why I’m the perfect fit to lead your team’s training, here are five reasons using my own unique strengths.

When I first took the CliftonStrengthsFinder Assessment, I was working at a pediatric research institute in Baltimore, MD on a feeding disorders unit.  I don’t know if you have ever had a job you hated, but I hated this job.

I dreaded going to work every day.

Each morning when the alarm clock went off, I pushed snooze more times than I care to admit.

Every time I had a sick or vacation day available, I would call out.

And when I didn’t have any PTO days left, I took an unpaid day.

I was an awful colleague: unreliable and unfocused.

2023 was a year of immense change for me. As a parent of both a toddler and an infant, I faced the challenge of balancing my new responsibilities while pursuing my own venture, Dries Coaching and Consulting. Despite the uncertainties, I discovered the power of leaning into my strengths during times of transformation. Looking back, I want to share the lessons I learned through the lens of my top 5 talents: Achiever, Positivity, Learner, Developer, and Empathy. Each of these strengths played a vital role in navigating the ups and downs of this past year.

I have counted the number of books I’ve read since I can remember, and I can assuredly state that I’ve never read 125 books in one year, let alone the first full year that we kept two tiny babes alive and well, and also turned my previous side hustle into a full-time gig. But with both of these ventures: raising two amazing humans, AND leading my own business, I’ve had to lean in to learn as much as I can, and books are how I accomplish that.

Before I left higher education, I was offered an opportunity to lead a new student center with multiple offices directly reporting to me; it was my dream job ten, five, and even one years ago. I declined the offer.

When the offer arrived, my heart jumped to my throat —”This is what you’ve been waiting for,” I thought! But just as quickly, my gut said, “This doesn’t align with your values.”

It was an excruciating decision to say, “No thank you” to what was once my dream job. But I knew from the intensive value centered self-work I had been doing, this job was no longer a fit.

Here is how and why you should align your work to your values:

Attendees remember the beginning and end of any presentation more than anything else. With that in mind, I utilized an activity called the Group Anthem by the host of Facilitating on Purpose by Beth Cougler Blom for my closing at a recent training of student affairs professionals at Macalester College. The energy in the room spoke to its success. The claps––the snaps––the awes––all of it reverberated in the room as folks shared pure gems of inspiration.

I asked participants to think back on their experience from the day––the goals they’ve set for the future, and what they’re leaving the session with. Then, I asked participants to write a closing statement beginning with one of the two-word statements: