Do you believe there is a reason or purpose to everything, that we are connected in some way? There are no accidents or coincidences.   In today’s episode, fellow Gallup and Certified coaches, Carolyn Grant and Jessica Cowan, share insights about the CliftonStrengths Connectedness® talent theme. With Connectedness® in their Top 5, our guests share how their talents allow them to easily see and make connections between people, thoughts, and ideas, even help others to understand how the past,...

Are you excited by opportunities to find a new way, envision what could be, think about what is to come? For those with Futuristic talents, this is not a once-in-a-while exercise but a daily, continuous activity.   In today’s episode we welcome Bill Beachy and Ron Cheshire to the podcast to share with us their personal insights about the CliftonStrengths talent theme, Futuristic.     Bill and Ron share with us how their Futuristic talents’ ability to look ahead, impacts their decision making...

Do you find yourself always striving to be ‘the best’, to put forth the best work, perhaps even a drive to improve everything you see & touch? Chances are you have high Maximizer® talents.   In today’s episode we are honored to share insights about the CliftonStrengths Maximizer® talent theme from two fellow coaches, Michael Stafford and Susan Gordon. With the Maximizer® theme in their Top 5, Michael and Susan share the ways they use their talents to MAXIMIZE success. They also help...

Are you a storyteller, are you energized and inspired by stories and sharing them with others? In today’s episode we are back with fellow coaches Brea Roper and Damian Zikakis to learn about the CliftonStrengths Communication® talent theme. Brea and Damian share with us how this Influencing talent helps them get the message out and the difference between Communication® as a talent versus communication as a skill.     As we listen, we gain a deeper understanding of the motivation of this theme...

We bring to you this special episode of the Thoughtful Talent Show highlighting some of our favorites from the 2023 Gallup at Work Summit. We have entirely too much content to share it all here, if you want to know more, please reach out to us (contact info below), we love to talk all things #CliftonStrengths and #EmployeeEngagement.    TIME STAMPS (approximate) [01:20] Chad and Jen share their Overall Experience[07:30] Highlights from a few of the Keynote Speakers: Jeremy Pietrocini - Senior...

Stranger? No way! A stranger is a friend I haven’t met yet! In today's episode we welcome fellow e2grow and Gallup Certified Strength coaches Brea Roper and Cindy Butts to talk to us about the CliftonStrengths Woo® talent theme. Brea and Cindy bring a strong social energy to our conversation, showing us the power and influence of Woo® talents. Listen as they describe how those with Woo® talents need and desire to meet and connect with new people every single day. They share that these...

Are you a ‘here and now’ person who isn’t easily flustered by change or being pulled in multiple directions? It is possible you have high #Adaptability talents.   In today’s episode we dive deep into the CliftonStrengths talent theme Adaptability®. Here to share their personal insights are two fellow e2grow and Gallup-Certified coaches, Josh Winter and Marisol von Appen. With Adaptability® within their Top 5, our guests share how this theme allows them to be flexible in times of change,...

Do you see the good in every situation? Can you find the light amidst all the darkness? Are you eternally hopeful?    In today’s episode we are back with fellow e2grow and Clifton Strengths Certified Coach Gina Brennan from Coach My Strengths to learn about the CliftonStrengths talent theme, Positivity®. Gina shares with us her natural feelings of hopefulness and her ability to see the good in everything!   As we listen to Gina share with us how this talent theme uniquely shows up for her, we...

Are you a collector? Do you struggle to ‘get rid of things’ because someday they may be useful -- to you or someone you know?   In today’s episode we are back with fellow coaches Damian Zikakis and Michael Stafford to learn about the CliftonStrengths Input® talent theme. Our guests share with us how this Strategic Thinking theme energizes them through the collection of knowledge, things, and even people.   As you'll hear from our guests, this talent them has the ability to take in, or...

Are you energized by seeing the growth and development of others? Do you regularly reach out to help those in need? Is it your belief that mistakes and failure are not to be ashamed of but rather normal parts of learning and growth?  In today’s episode we are honored to share insights about the CliftonStrengths talent theme Developer® from two fellow Gallup-Certified coaches, Carolyn Grant and Susan Gordon. With Developer® in their Top 5, our guest share how their strong Developer talents...

Do you yearn to discover the unique qualities about others? Do you regularly get ‘the perfect gift’ for a friend, colleague, or family member? In today’s episode we spotlight fellow coaches Kevin Fallon and Michael Stafford to learn about the CliftonStrengths Individualization® talent theme. Kevin and Michael share with us how this Relationship Building theme allows them to see others' value, and how finding & knowing the uniqueness of the individual energizes them. Listen and gain...

Are you naturally intuitive, can you feel emotions others are feeling, do you regularly sense the emotions of individuals within moments of entering a room?   In today’s episode, we give up the spotlight to fellow Gallup Certified Strengths Coach Chris Heinz, to talk about the CliftonStrengths talent theme Empathy®. With Empathy® talents in his Top 5, Chris provides us an insight into how his talents help him be successful in relationships with others, being able to ‘dial in’ to what is...

In today’s episode, we share the spotlight with fellow coaches, Damian Zikakis and Michael Stafford, as we discuss the CliftonStrengths Relator® talent theme. Damian and Michael share insights into how their Relator® talents have helped them build deep & meaningful relationships with others. As they share with us their personal use we hear a longing for relationship with others and a sense of loyalty to those they hold close.  You'll also hear how their Relator® talents have influenced...

"Fairness is giving all people the treatment they earn and deserve. It doesn't mean treating everyone alike." - John Wooden, legendary UCLA Men's basketball coach In today’s episode we discuss the roles our Consistency® talents have played in our lives and why we believe these talents make us stable, predictable, and trustworthy. As we dig to get to the bottom of the motivation of this theme we find a common thread – fairness. Key notes from today’s episode: As a teammate, realize the gift of...

“In God we trust. All others must bring data” – W. Edwards Deming   In today’s episode, we look through the analytical lens at the CliftonStrengths® talent theme of Analytical®.  Chad shares with us how having this strategic thinking theme has been a key ingredient in his success and how it has helped him aid others when making important decisions.         As Chad shares how this theme shows up for him personally, we notice a drive for accuracy and a curiosity driven to validate ideas are...

Do you feel an impatience for inaction or are you eager to get things started? In today’s episode we welcome fellow Gallup Certified Strengths Coach, Adam Mustoe, to talk about the CliftonStrengths talent theme of Activator®. Jen and Adam share with us how having this influencing theme in their top 5 has aided their personal success, their ability to engage and motivate others, and how they appropriately focus and manage their "emotional intensity.". A common thread among those with high...

What comes to mind when you hear the word ‘harmony’? Is it communal “kumbaya,” or is it about actionable consensus? In this episode we explore the CliftonStrengths talent theme Harmony®: discussing some of the assumptions, perceptions – and misperceptions – of this theme; dive into the ways we have witnessed this talent at work in others we have coached, and; provide ideas and insights to appreciate and support those with Harmony® talents. We also highlight the battle of the overused,...

Do you live or work with someone who's super strong values that guide their life? Are you someone that considers their "Why" the most important factor in whether you ‘get on board’ with an idea?  If so, this episode is for you! In this episode we invited a special guest, Gina Brennan, to join us to talk about the CliftonStrengths talent theme Belief®. Gina is a fellow e2Grow High Performing Team certified and Gallup Certified Strengths Coach. Through her company, Coach My Strengths, she...

In this episode we welcome our first guest to the show! Damien Zikakis, an ICF-, Gallup- and fellow e2Grow-certifed coach, joins us to talk about the CliftonStrengths Learner® theme. Damian is an experienced coach who offers Strengths training for teams as well as executive and career coaching for individuals. Do you crave the opportunity to research and learn new things? Do you "eat up" new knowledge like Pac-Man clearing every last pellet? Or perhaps you enjoy the adventure of exploring new...

Do you remember the Energizer Bunny, seemingly happy to keep going and going? Would you describe yourself with any of these phrases -- hard-working, love being busy, thrive on ‘getting stuff done’, or a 'to-do' list keeper? If so, you likely have Achiever® talents as defined by Gallup and the CliftonStrengths assessment. In this episode we are sharing our experiences with having the Achiever® talent theme within our top 10 themes, and appreciate how this talent theme might show up in...

Did you ever get nervous about high school "group projects" because you didn't want to deal with the "slackers"? Ever wonder why you just can't let go of a promised to-do item? If this sounds like you - or someone you work or live with - this is the episode for you. In this episode we share our experiences with having Responsibility® in our Top 5 CliftonStrengths® talent themes and how to appreciate this talent theme as it shows up in others.   We dive into the ways these talents present in...

Gallup's research says that people exceptionally talented in the Deliberative® theme are best described by the serious care they take in making decisions or choices. They anticipate obstacles. But what does that look like in everyday life? In this episode, we share our experiences having Deliberative® in our Top 5 [talent themes] and an appreciation of how this talent might show up in others. We also highlight some imagery (and even a Top Gun reference) that can help others better understand...

Hi & Welcome! He's Chad Ahern of Talent and Teams Consulting, She's Jen Werner of Jen Werner Coaching. We're here to share our experiences and insights living out our strengths, and in witnessing how others - including our respective clients - came to understand and develop their talents into Strengths. We hope that what we share helps you better understand yourself and those around you. We are Gallup Certified Strengths Coaches who work with individuals, leaders, and teams to enhance...