Mindfulness of your Strengths, Part II - Benefits not Considered

During an executive team training this morning, I realized some of the Strength Finder Themes could evoke expectations that may be confusing when one is trying to figure out how those Strengths apply to them. A participant asked "Why don't they sometimes work exactly the way they are described in the book?" That was a great question. For example, it‘s understood that a person with the Strength of Harmony is calm, even-keeled, capable of resolving conflicts, and certainly conflict resistant. However, in a drive for creating and/or experiencing Harmony, one may create conflict and unrest to get to it.  This may be an odd  situation, which depend on many other elements that impact one's life such as emotional and mental issues, environmental issues, etc that contribute to a sense of war before calm.  Additionally, depending on the other Strengths one has, the way Harmony is expressed might be different than expected. The fact is that none of these Strengths manifests itself completely independently. Each Strength influences other Strengths by either supporting, complementing, reinforcing or leveling out their opposite effects.

For example, a person who also has Discipline with characteristics of hating chaos, confusion and doing things spontaneously might feel judgmental towards that sort of person or environment. Thus, the effects of his or her Harmony might be reduced temporarily in order to use Discipline to resolve the situation. Visa versa, the Harmony might reduce the sometimes rigidness of Discipline.

Another aspect of the Strengths that‘s not realized is the fact that some Strengths have an unnoticed natural ability in them. A good example is the Strength of Connectedness. Connectedness, when utilized consciously and skillfully, is a great soil for cultivating ideas and strategies. It is due to the ability inherent in the Connectedness to see links that others may not see. Ideas form rapidly and, if the person is mindful enough, most of them may be viable and reliable ideas and solutions. Thus, Connectedness can work as well, if not better than, Ideation and/or Strategic. All it takes is awareness and consciousness (Mindfulness).

Mindfulness training can provide the awareness needed to realize what is happening in the mind and body so that one might know which Strength is present in order to optimize its effects and benefits.

….. more on this topic on future blogs.

For more information on Mindfulness training for individuals visit:  http://mindfulvalley.org
For more information on Mindfulness & Strength Finder training for organizations visit:  http://MindfulBusinessInstitute.com  or Write to us at: info@mindfulbusinessinstitute.com