Have you ever found yourself as the go-to person for advice at work? Early in my career, I discovered that leadership found me — not the other way around. I was just 25 when I stepped into my first leadership role in banking, and over the years, I’ve learned a lot about building teams, empowering others, and turning feedback into growth.
On the Strengths on Fire podcast with Sarah Collins and Bill Dipple, I had the chance to share how CliftonStrengths has shaped my leadership style and my journey to becoming an executive coach. If you’re a leader, or simply someone passionate about personal growth, I think you’ll find some valuable takeaways.
🎧 Listen to the episode on YouTube here.
Here’s What We Covered:
- Choosing Talents Over Skill Sets:
One of my biggest priorities as a leader is hiring the right people—not necessarily the ones with the perfect résumé, but the ones with the talent and potential to make a difference. It’s about seeing people for who they are and building a team that fits together like a puzzle. - How I Use My Strengths:
I lead with Relator, which helps me connect deeply with others, and Individualization, which allows me to see the unique potential in each person. My Significance theme drives me to make an impact—not in grand gestures, but by helping individuals grow. Of course, my Deliberative sometimes gets in the way (I’ve been known to punch holes in ideas), but that’s where self-awareness comes in. - Tackling Impostor Syndrome:
Even as a coach who helps others overcome impostor syndrome, I’ve had to confront it myself. I’ve learned to see it as a sign that I’m doing meaningful work. By leaning on my strengths, especially Responsibility and Learner, I can focus on growth and trust the process. - Building a Strengths-Based Culture:
One of the most rewarding aspects of my role is seeing how my team has embraced CliftonStrengths. With Sarah’s help, we’ve embedded strengths into our daily conversations and decision-making. Now, it’s part of how we collaborate, solve problems, and celebrate wins.
Why Listen to This Episode?
If you’re curious about how to use CliftonStrengths to lead more effectively, handle tough moments like impostor syndrome, or simply understand yourself and your team better, this episode dives into it all. We even manage to have some fun along the way (yes, there’s talk of penguins, spray tans, and guilty-pleasure TV shows).
And if you’re ready to build a strengths-based culture in your organization or want to explore executive coaching, let’s connect.
Let’s light up what’s possible — together.
My Top 10 CliftonStrengths:
- Relator
- Responsibility
- Arranger
- Belief
- Individualization
- Learner
- Achiever
- Significance
- Deliberative
- Discipline
About the Podcast:
Strengths on Fire is hosted by Sarah Collins and Bill Dipple, two incredible coaches who blend humor, insights, and their own unique strengths to inspire leaders and teams. Check out their work.
Ready to level up your leadership? Let’s get started.