Got Talent?

Got talent? Of course you do! It's a rhetorical question.

We are all created by our Heavenly Father with gifts and talents. We are uniquely made special, each one of us!

One of the tools I love to use with my clients is Strengths Finder. The book Strengths Finder 2.o is a #1 Wall Street Journal bestseller. In his book, Tom Rath gives a definition for Strengths. He says that talent is a natural way of thinking, feeling, or behaving. Investment is time spent practicing, developing your skills, and building your knowledge base. Talent x Investment = Strength which is the ability to consistently provide near-perfect performance.

I had a Strengths session with a client earlier this year and remember her "Aha" moment when she saw herself through different eyes. At work she was not acknowledged and she felt very drained for having a boss that did not see her potential. She had never seen her gifts presented in this way before. She did not realize she had any gifts, anything to offer. I told her that God had blessed her with these gifts and that she had these strengths and talents and so much more to offer.

Earlier this year I facilitated a Strengths workshop at my church. The workshop met three times. We learned about our Strengths, how we use them at work, at school, and our personal lives. We also learned about our basements, which can be seen by others as a weaknesses. Every Strength has a weakness, because others perceive us or see us through their own lenses. For instance, I have Achiever as one of my top Strengths. Achievers work hard, are committed, and driven. Others may see us as judgemental or too competitive. As an Achiever I can be too hard on myself and I have a problem with saying, "no."

One of the activities we did in the workshop was a Strengths Wall. In this activity we all drew pictures of how we view a particular Strength in ourselves and how that particular person uses their Strength. It was exciting to see how each of us viewed our Strengths even compared to someone else in the group with a similar Strength. Here are a few of the responses on our Strengths Wall.

Restorative Strength - See themselves as problem solvers

Analytical Strength - See themselves as always asking, "Why?"

Belief Strength - See themselves as having strong values they live by

Intellection Strength - Love to read and learn

Activator Strength - Are fired up and ready to start

Learner Strength - Desire for knowledge

Ideation Strength - Being creative and thinking of solutions

Responsibility Strength - Follows through

Includer Strength - Wants to include everyone

These were how these individuals saw their Strength played out in them. Since we strive in our top 5 Strengths, how we use a particular Strength may be different than how someone else uses theirs. Whatever your strengths and talents, these are gifts from God. These gifts are how God designed you with a special plan and purpose.

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. Psalm 139:14

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matthew 5:16

Got talent? Of course you do, for you are fearfully and wonderfully made. Let your light shine before all men that it may glorify our Heavenly Father! Amen.