The Thoughtful Talents Show

Strengths Applied: Finding Success Partners w/ Michael Stafford and Jen Pasquale

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 safety, clear communication, enhanced collaboration, and sustainable success. We share personal stories, practical tips for finding support when you’re feeling stuck, and strategies for building high-performing teams. We share how Strength-based relationships can transform the way we work. This episode offers insight and inspiration to help you find - and become - a great success partner! KEY MOMENTS * 00:00 Intro & Welcome Guests * 02:14 The Why & The Stats * 05:10 Personal Experiences with Success Partners * 14:41 The Role of Talents in Finding Success Partners * 29:20 Tips for Finding Success Partners When Feeling Stuck * 40:48 Challenges & Coaching for New Managers * 54:06 Final Thoughts and Key Takeaways OUR GUESTS: Jen Pasquale @ Lead with Curiosity LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-pasquale] | Website [https://www.leadwithcuriosity.co/] Jen’s Top 5 CliftonStrengths: Restorative | Relator | Strategic | Intellection | Analytical  Michael Stafford @ The Chapter Coach LinkedIn [linkedin.com/in/thechaptercoach] | Website [www.futureneerz.com] Michael’s Top 5 CliftonStrengths: Maximizer | Input | Individualization | Relator | Harmony YOUR HOSTS:  Jen Werner @ Jen Werner Coaching  Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/JenWernerCoaching/] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jen-werner361/] | Website [https://www.jenwernercoaching.com/] Jen’s Top 5 CliftonStrengths: Responsibility | Achiever | Belief | Deliberative | Activator  Chad Ahern @ Talent and Teams Consulting  LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/cahern] | Website [https://www.talentandteams.com/] Chad’s Top 5 CliftonStrengths: Learner | Deliberative | Responsibility | Harmony | Analytical  To learn more about CliftonStrengths talent themes [https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/home.aspx]. The opinions and insights we share on each CliftonStrengths theme are our own and are based on our understanding of Gallup’s Strengths-based development research. They are also informed by our unique work with our clients. Even though we are Gallup Certified Strengths Coaches, the insights we share here are not formally vetted, approved, or endorsed by Gallup, Inc.  Gallup®, CliftonStrengths®, and the 34 theme names of CliftonStrengths® are trademarks of Gallup, Inc. All rights reserved. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Strengths Applied: Learning Styles & Professional Development w/ Cindy Butts

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 professional development. Cindy bring her combined experience as an HR leader and Gallup Certified Strengths Coach to help us understand the intersection of individual learning styles, strengths alignment, and setting specific performance goals.  We emphasize creating safe environments for learning, advocating for personalized development strategies, and the importance of ongoing conversations to maximize effectiveness. This episode also provides practical advice for new managers on guiding their own and their team's professional growth. KEY MOMENTS * 00:00 Introduction to Learning Styles * 01:54 The Why & The Stats * 06:29 Personal Experiences with Learning Styles * 09:14 Connecting Strengths to Learning and Performance * 16:55 Seeing Strengths in Learning Styles * 24:03 Strengths hold the Clues to Learning * 36:29 Safe Learning Environments for those Who Struggle * 43:56 Strengths to Support Learning & Development - Day 1   * 49:30 Guidance for New Managers * 01:08:30 Final Thoughts and Key Takeaways GUEST COACH: Cindy Scibetta-Butts @ Grow With Strengths LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/cindy-scibetta-butts-60097660/] | Website [https://www.growwithstrengths.com/] Cindy’s Top 5 CliftonStrengths: Achiever | Input | Strategic | Activator | WOO YOUR HOSTS:  Jen Werner @ Jen Werner Coaching  Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/JenWernerCoaching/] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jen-werner361/] | Website [https://www.jenwernercoaching.com/] Jen’s Top 5 CliftonStrengths: Responsibility | Achiever | Belief | Deliberative | Activator  Chad Ahern @ Talent and Teams Consulting  LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/cahern] | Website [https://www.talentandteams.com/] Chad’s Top 5 CliftonStrengths: Learner | Deliberative | Responsibility | Harmony | Analytical  To learn more about CliftonStrengths talent themes [https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/home.aspx]. The opinions and insights we share on each CliftonStrengths theme are our own and are based on our understanding of Gallup’s Strengths-based development research. They are also informed by our unique work with our clients. Even though we are Gallup Certified Strengths Coaches, the insights we share here are not formally vetted, approved, or endorsed by Gallup, Inc.  Gallup®, CliftonStrengths®, and the 34 theme names of CliftonStrengths® are trademarks of Gallup, Inc. All rights reserved. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Strengths Applied: Overcoming Challenges

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 with intention. We also talk about the weight of the challenges we carry, and how we don’t have to carry that weight alone. This episode includes practical advice for those feeling unseen, and for new managers learning to lead through challenges. We offer ways to use your strengths with purpose, ask for support, and move forward with clarity and confidence. KEY MOMENTS * 00:00 Introduction to Overcoming Challenges * 01:00 The ‘Why’ & The ‘Stats’ * 04:48 Personal Experiences with Challenges * 12:30 Talents That Help and Hinder * 25:36 Coaching the Unseen and Unheard * 36:20 Advice for New Managers * 45:20 Final Thoughts and Wrap Up YOUR HOSTS:  Jen Werner @ Jen Werner Coaching  Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/JenWernerCoaching/] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jen-werner361/] | Website [https://www.jenwernercoaching.com/] Jen’s Top 5 CliftonStrengths: Responsibility | Achiever | Belief | Deliberative | Activator  Chad Ahern @ Talent and Teams Consulting  LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/cahern] | Website [https://www.talentandteams.com/] Chad’s Top 5 CliftonStrengths: Learner | Deliberative | Responsibility | Harmony | Analytical  To learn more about CliftonStrengths talent themes [https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/home.aspx]. The opinions and insights we share on each CliftonStrengths theme are our own and are based on our understanding of Gallup’s Strengths-based development research. They are also informed by our unique work with our clients. Even though we are both Gallup Certified Strengths Coaches, the insights we share here are not formally vetted, approved, or endorsed by Gallup, Inc.  Gallup®, CliftonStrengths®, and the 34 theme names of CliftonStrengths® are trademarks of Gallup, Inc. All rights reserved. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Strengths Applied: Workplace Onboarding w/ Damian Zikakis & Louann McCurdy

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 lost or undervalued. We all agree that using a tool like the CliftonStrengths assessment to identify a person's talents can transform the way new employees are welcomed into their roles.  This episode offers practical ideas for using CliftonStrengths to make onboarding better for everyone, whether you’re a leader, coach, or a new hire. As Gallup-Certified Strengths Coaches, we’re passionate about helping people feel seen, supported, and set up for success from day one. We explore how to support those new employees who are struggling to be seen (like remote and hybrid employees), and how new managers can use their strengths to create meaningful onboarding experience for themselves and their teams, even when the company doesn’t have a formal process.   KEY MOMENTS * 00:00 Introduction & Welcome * 03:02 Importance of Workplace Onboarding * 05:56 Personal Onboarding Experiences * 17:52 Leveraging Strengths in Onboarding * 30:07 Intentionality in Onboarding for visibility * 34:39 Building Confidence Through Strengths Assessment * 41:12 Tools for New Managers * 55:35 Final Thoughts YOUR GUESTS: Damian Zikakis @ DGZ Coaching LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/damianzikakis/] | Website [ https://dgzcoaching.com/] Damian’s Top 5 CliftonStrengths: Relator | Learner | Input | Connectedness | Communication Louann McCurdy @ PeerSpectives Consulting LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/louannmccurdy/] | Website [https://peerspectives.ca/] Louann’s Top 5 CliftonStrengths: Strategic | Ideation | Connectedness | Learner | Maximizer YOUR HOSTS:  Chad Ahern @ Talent and Teams Consulting  LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/cahern] | Website [https://www.talentandteams.com/] Chad’s Top 5 CliftonStrengths: Learner | Deliberative | Responsibility | Harmony | Analytical  Jen Werner @ Jen Werner Coaching  Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/JenWernerCoaching/] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jen-werner361/] | Website [https://www.jenwernercoaching.com/] Jen’s Top 5 CliftonStrengths: Responsibility | Achiever | Belief | Deliberative | Activator  To learn more about CliftonStrengths talent themes [https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/home.aspx]. The opinions and insights we share on each CliftonStrengths theme are our own and are based on our understanding of Gallup’s Strengths-based development research. They are also informed by our unique work with our clients. Even though we are both Gallup Certified Strengths Coaches, the insights we share here are not formally vetted, approved, or endorsed by Gallup, Inc.  Gallup®, CliftonStrengths®, and the 34 theme names of CliftonStrengths® are trademarks of Gallup, Inc. All rights reserved. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Strengths Applied: Bouncing Back from Failure

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 their role. It's also for new managers navigating their own setbacks or working to build psychologically safe environments for their teams. This conversation is meant to support your next step, filled with encouragement, insights, and tools to help you move forward with confidence or simply redefine what failure means to you.  KEY MOMENTS * 00:00 Intro * 01:06 Defining Failure: What It Means * 05:21 Our Personal Experiences * 20:06 Strengths & Bouncing Back * 32:59 Struggling to Be Seen or Heard * 35:16 Psychological Safety in the Workplace * 43:53 Advice for New Managers * 57:47 Final Thoughts and Encouragement YOUR HOSTS:  Jen Werner @ Jen Werner Coaching  Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/JenWernerCoaching/] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jen-werner361/] | Website [https://www.jenwernercoaching.com/] Jen’s Top 5 CliftonStrengths: Responsibility | Achiever | Belief | Deliberative | Activator  Chad Ahern @ Talent and Teams Consulting  LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/cahern] | Website [https://www.talentandteams.com/] Chad’s Top 5 CliftonStrengths: Learner | Deliberative | Responsibility | Harmony | Analytical  To learn more about CliftonStrengths talent themes [https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/home.aspx]. The opinions and insights we share on each CliftonStrengths theme are our own and are based on our understanding of Gallup’s Strengths-based development research. They are also informed by our unique work with our clients. Even though we are both Gallup Certified Strengths Coaches, the insights we share here are not formally vetted, approved, or endorsed by Gallup, Inc.  Gallup®, CliftonStrengths®, and the 34 theme names of CliftonStrengths® are trademarks of Gallup, Inc. All rights reserved. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.