A Strengths Based Approach to New Year’s Resolutions (That Actually Works)
Posted on Fri, Dec 30, 2011 @ 06:17 PM
Oh yes…it is that time of year again when people begin to reflect on the previous year (maybe years), and what they would like to accomplish moving forward. We laughingly joke about the ‘resolutions’ we absolutely will accomplish this year....knowing that majority of them will slide into the following year to be restated over and over and over again. So what does it take to make resolutions that stick?
Play To Your Strengths
I recently attended an offsite focused on Strengths and Strengths Based Leadership that is, what I consider, my launching pad for achieving my resolutions this year. If you have not taken the Clifton Strengths Finder 2.0 assessment I highly recommend it. To follow along with this blog post please be sure to purchase the book ‘Strengths Based Leadership’ and the accompanying survey access code as it will provide you with more information than the ‘Strengths Finder 2.0’ book.
The StrengthsFinder assessment is the culmination of more than 50 years of Dr. Clifton’s (and a team of scientists) work surrounding Strengths-Based Psychology. After a semi-brief survey it provides you with a report on your top five strengths out of a possible thirty, along with suggestions on how you can apply your stengths. Understanding your unique personal strengths, and reflecting on how you apply these in your life TODAY to accomplish your goals is critical to understanding how you can accomplish your goals for the future.
There are several fundamental concepts regarding your Strengths:
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You are a unique combination of strengths and even when someone has the same Top 5 strengths they will have different meaning and application. Yes, we are all truly unique.
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A strength is something you are both good at and passionate about.
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A strength is not something you are good at but hate doing.
Applying Your Strengths
Once you have completed the survey you will be provided with a report outlining your top 5 strengths as well as what themes these strengths fit within (again, please be sure to use the survey access code from the ‘Strengths Based Leadership’ book). Your strengths will fall within four themes:
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Executing
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Influencing
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Relationship Building
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Strategic Thinking
The next step is to create a table with your resolutions and applicable themes. Your resolutions should follow the SMART method (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Timely). A reasonable goal is not to become a World Class athlete in 2 months! More information about this method of setting goals can be found at ‘Creating S.M.A.R.T. Goals’.
The following is an example resolutions table:
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Resolutions
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Strengths Themes
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Executing
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Relationship Building
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Strategic Thinking
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Influencing
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Resolution 1 – Walk 30 minutes every day
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[Achiever] – Track using a FitBit and achieve a goal of 8,000 steps per day by March
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[Learner] – Research the best walking programs to achieve maximum fitness by end of January
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Resolution 2 – Expand professional network by 50 people outside of my current company
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[Achiever] – Decide on 2 certificates I would like to achieve this year (& when) and professionally connect to class participants on LinkedIn
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[Individualization] – Join a mentoring program where I can act as a Mentor for people at other companies
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[Strategic] – Join Advisory boards for organizations & issues I care deeply about
[Learner] – attend FWL events each month and professionally connect to participants on LinkedIn
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Resolution 3
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Resolution 4
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For each resolution reflect on how you can use the Strengths and Strengths Themes to accomplish your goal. Your individual report from the StrengthsFinder Assessment and the book can help you with ideas on how to apply your particular strengths. Write in examples of how you will use your natural strength to accomplish your resolution. It is o.k to combine strength types, as well as strength themes to get the job done. The more you apply your natural strengths…the far more likely you are to achieve your resolution.
Wishing You Success in Your Resolutions & A Happy New Year!
About the author: Celeste Paradise is an award-winning Silicon Valley Professional with 10+ years IT experience in media, advertising, operations management/optimization, social media & marketing. You can connect with her via: 
