Who says - you need to focus on deficits and not Strengths?
Design your Life on Purpose – who says series – is about looking at amazing crazy ideas.
It might be my extreme positivity (I have been measured and I am 98% optimist and 99% happy), but I choose to look at the world from a strengths-based lens, rather than a deficit.
‘Existing wisdom’ is that we need to concentrate on what we do poorly and work on how we get better at it. I have had many performance improvement discussions in my career, where they told me to focus on x, even if I am really crap at it. Baffling!
Thankfully, there is evidence that this will not generate high performance and frankly can lead people to believe there is something wrong with them. Different people have different talents and these talents will show up in different ways. If this was not the case we would not have different people performing different roles. People are successful using the talents and skills they innately have. That is why we have accountants and artists, boiler makers and ballet dancers, because we are not homogenous beings.
My experience with strengths is relatively new, but fits very well with my view of the world. But the research and rigour applied by Cliftons/Gallup is an impressive way to evidence my world view.
Gallup */Clifton’s research shows that people who know and use their CliftonStrengths are:
more engaged at work
more productive in their roles
happier and healthier
*I always say they measure everything that moves
However, my reason for loving it, is it helps people make sense of themselves in a way that allows them to apply their strengths regardless of their role. It helps you appreciate how and when you succeed and how to repeat the circumstances that will make that happen more often.
It applies in the Design your Life on Purpose program as invaluable input and direction as to how you can help yourself. Let me demonstrate why this works by explaining how my top 5 strengths help me in creating Design your Life on Purpose and where my business is heading.
Positivity
My infectious enthusiasm, helps people unearth what is possible and then believe it is possible
Strategic
Helps me create different plans and approaches to get to the outcomes, and help them quickly decide what is going to work best for them
Futuristic
Helps paint a picture of what the future could be for them and helps me create a picture of what my future is
Ideation
Means I can quickly generate a bunch of ideas (quickly) that can help buffer against the roadblocks that can come up
Relator
Building deep enduring relationships means I can design an experience that is uplifting and unique, I am their partner in this for the long haul
The same strengths, in a very similar way show up in designing Incahoots, into a whole different business model. Where I will spend time working with teams and projects to design their change strategy, strategic plans and then coach their teams to achieve the outcome.
Have you ever received advice that you knew you could not apply? I often get the advice “are you going to toughen up now?”, usually after someone has let me down spectacularly, or being very judge-y that hurt me right to the core. I get the sentiment, but that is not how I navigate the world and I would prefer to be open and welcoming and be cut to the quick very occasionally. If I look at why that is so, my strengths point towards that outcome. Knowing your strengths will help you know what is going to work better for you and what you are trying to achieve.
So, what does this mean for you?
Strengths assessment and debrief (debrief – is essential to help understanding, connection and application) has been added to the Design your Life on Purpose program packages, because it can fundamentally change the way you approach the dreams you have in place and will help you achieve them.
If you sign up for DYLOP before the 9th July you will get a session to understand your strengths and how they will help you design your life.
What “existing” wisdom do you feel needs to be flipped?
Just because everyone is going one way, you can choose to go an entirely different direction. I want you to do the thing you have been avoiding, thinking it was not right or odd. It is doable. Ignore the naysayers and go do your thing.
I will be the cheerleader for your craziness.
You can get started with just a little bit of time each week. Even 1 hour a week will get you started. At the very least you will understand if this is for you or not.
Yours Collaboratively
Christina MM
Design your Life on Purpose (DYLOP) program
DYLOP is designed to guide professionals who have deferred their dreams, to unearth possibilities and design their strategic life map answering the question - now what?
DYLOP attracts 2 types:
1. Know Exactly - Peeps who know exactly what they want to do, but are unsure how to do it or have some blocks to overcome
2. No Idea - Peeps who are unsure what they want to design their life around, or know what they do not want
All details about the one day are contained on this page. It is packed to the gills with everything you can ever imagine asking, such as:
· Which package would you recommend?
· What is different to other offerings?
· Is there pre-work?
· Bonuses for the first 6 registrations and if you bring a friend
What was the experience like again….
Here are the details about Designing your Life on Purpose experience of the attendees.
“We all need this. Don't waste time being aimless”
Julianna Canale - Executive Manager, Westpac
“It was my time and I was giving myself permission to invest in me”
Deb C - Connexia Change Management Practice Director
“Do it. Even if they sort of know their path its' such a great exercise and it triggers your brain. Even more so for someone that is a bit lost - Everyone can do it.”
Frida Eriksson-Moussa
Design your Life, on Purpose program
Check out the program options below. The recommended level to give you the best support for the next 12 months. Common across all packages is the workshop component, so lock in Saturday 31 July.
READY TO GO!
If you are ready to create a Strategic Life Map that suits you personally, register right here
Once registered, an invoice and details about preparation will be provided.
Is this the year that you start designing a life that suits you perfectly?
Yes, then lock the Saturday the 31st of July in your calendar and register right now. I would love to see you there and see what amazing things you can achieve in the next 12 months.
Not quite ready for the 1day DYLOP workshop
Here are some other options to get you started on designing.
DREAM QUEST
As we start moving into adulting, we let go of the ability to dream, or it gets schooled out of us. This is an absolute tragedy, and probably responsible for the deluge of sameness we get surrounded with.
People that create amazing, desirable lives are the ones that never let go of dreaming and make those dreams come true.
Dream Quest is about kickstarting that process to unearth possibilities and expand your thinking beyond your now, developing the critical super habit of dreaming. Without this super habit of dreaming it is hard to know what you are designing your life towards.
More Info here
REFLECTION REVOLUTION
Our lives were already packed with loads of things, very important and valuable things, and then Global Pandemic! The world literally stops….. It then becomes even more important to take stock, and determine whether the life you were heading towards at break neck speed, is really the life that you truly desire.
Reflection is something that you do generally do periodically, rather than an everyday habit, therefore, Reflection Revolution will be offered as preparation for Design Your Life on Purpose workshops or retreats. It is important to note, that this can be done as a stand-alone activity, still very valuable.
More Info here
Incahoots exists
To guide professionals who have deferred their dreams, to unearth possibilities to design a strategic life map that answers the question - now what?
About CMM
Christina Morgan-Meldrum (CMM) is a coach, facilitator, author, change professional and creative. She particularly loves helping people and organisations unearth what’s possible to design a future that suits you perfectly (a Strategic Lifemap).
She has cultivated the ability to walk into any industry; see what is not seen, distil what is complicated, and simplify the chaos. This skill has been forged in a deliberate and concentrated way for over 20 years, through Personal Coaching and working in Organisational Change Management.
Christina fills her time on various side hustles, blogging, creating and learning the piano. If you are looking for her, she is likely at her spiritual home JB Hi-Fi, exploring stationery stores or artisan markets.