JamesSullivan_StrengthsFinder.md

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Strengths Reflection & Coaching Request

Read Through Your Theme Definitions

1. What words or phrases stick out to you? How would you define each of your top 5 talents in your own words?

   1. Strategic - This perspective allows you to see patterns where others simply see complexity. Mindful of these patterns, you play out alternative scenarios

   2. Learner - The subject matter that interests you most will be determined by your other themes and experiences, but whatever the subject, you will always be drawn to the process of learning.

   3. Ideation - Yours is the kind of mind that is always looking for connections, and so you are intrigued when seemingly disparate phenomena can be linked by an obscure connection.

   4. Communication - This is why people like to listen to you. Your word pictures pique their interest, sharpen their world, and inspire them to act.

   5. Positivity - Some call you lighthearted.

   All of these strengths resonate with me. I would definitely reiterate by saying I recognize patterns even when not immediately evident. I love learning. I'd rather listen to a philosophy podcast then watch TV. Again, I love finding connections in things. I pride myself on my communicative skills. I love language and how things fit together there. And people definitely say I'm upbeat.

2. Do these top 5 talent themes resonate with you? Why or why not?

   These themes do resonate with me. I feel a strong connection with each of these strengths. Each one seems desctribe me well, some particularly well. I pride myself on my strategic thinking. I enjoy parsing out the best way of doing things or finding an obscure connection.

   I love to learn. I try to take on one new profficiency a year. Somtimes it's just for fun, sometimes the goal is more concrete, such as enrolling here. I do enjoy the process.

   I love connecting the dots. Critical thinking and the satisfaction from figuring things out drings me much joy.

   I've been told I'm a good communitcator. I certainly try.

   I try to think positively. I also try to get through life while maintaining a sense of levity.

3. How have you seen yourself using each of these talents? How often do you see yourself using these talents?

   I believe I use these strengths daily to some degree. I would certainly be interested in learning how to leverage them more effectively.

4. When has it been difficult for me to be aware of this talent?

   During trying times, such as those at Turing, I find myself struggling to remember my strengths as I struggle through difficult things here. I will try to keep them in mind in order to leverage them against any obastacles.

5. What talents could you develop further that would help you in your growth at Turing and in your new career as a software developer?

   All of my talents listed here will be beneficial to my time here at Turing. The one that I understand the least is positivity. I feel it often lands on the happy-go-lucky side of things and could be better utilized in a can-do capacity.

6. How would you like to build more awareness around these themes?

   I would like to read my followup insight guides and decide what is applicable to me. I would also like to know when my strengths may become pitfalls or need to be checked.

7. In which situations would developing these themes be beneficial?

I can see the development of these themes to be a benefit to nearly every facet of life and on a day to day basis.

8. When might you overuse any of these themes? How might you benefit from dialing it down in a certain situation?

   Strategic thinking could be dailed down while listening to others. It often supercedes what other people are saying and contiues to run while I should be concentrating on what they are saying.

9. How could you use these themes to help you manage an area in which you might struggle?

   I would like to harness positivity to overcome feelings of defeat or failure while in the program and beyond.

10. How can you do more of what you do best every day?

I should be conscious of all this. I believe careful consideration and awareness can go a long way in harnessing these traits.

Look at the Suggested Action Items

11. What options sound doable?

I am inplementing many of these already. I would like to make myself available as a resource for others. I do this, but with all the new material at Turing, I sometimes lack confidence. But often times, my thinking generates a novel approach to problems even when the answer isn't immediately available.

12. What are some new ways to use these themes that you haven't utilized before?

I have yet to consciousely partner with people who possess complimetary stregths. I think this would be an interesting and potentially fruitful endeavor.

13. What obstacles are there to trying out any of these options?

I feel most of the obstacles are internal. It is easy to let things slip in the thick of the action. I need to remind myself about long term priorities and how extra now could yield better results later.

14. Shortterm: What is an action step you'd like to commit to help you develop your themes further today? Next week?

I would like to dive into helping others. Not only will this potentially help my peers, but solidify my learning as well. I now believe much of our education at Turing is about exercising the problem solving muscle. This will help others and myself. This can be done by jumping at the opportunities to do so. Even if I don't readily have the answer, I could help figure it out.

15. Longterm: What do you want to learn this module to turn your talents into greater strengths? How will this help you with your professional or personal goals?

I would like to learn how to best leverage these strengths as a professional and just a person. I was intuitively aware of some of these strengths before hand. As I consiously develop them, I would like to learn their full potential.

Next Steps

This reflection is for your own growth, and you do not need to turn this in.

However, if you would like to have a follow-up coaching session with Allison, please DM this gist to her when you set up your 1-on-1 with her. You can schedule that here or by sending her a DM.
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