The Value of a CliftonStrength Coach

January 28, 2020

Financial Freedom and Retirement are words seemingly used loosely nowadays, as we all aspire to be released from the chains of our bosses and become the master of our own fate. Many individuals are even led to scrupulous gurus and mentors as they aspire that “one good trade” but fails to see the uniqueness in their own being and that they need to capitalize on what they are naturally good at than what takes so much of their energies to perform. To actualize your dreams, you have to realize that you ought to know who you really are, accept who you are, and work on what you have to be truly the best version of who you are.

To know who you really are, there are various means to discover your true self. One of the most reliable tools available is CliftonStrengths, which is based on 34 Talent Themes that forms the basis of what a person is naturally good at. It is important to note that a human being is a complex species. Hence, tools like CliftonStrengths should not be used as labels to tag a person with certainty or absoluteness. It is, however, interesting to know that CliftonStrengths allows you to achieve a level of self-awareness that enables you to consciously use your dominant talent themes to work for you than to work against you. Naming these talent themes is the first step for your journey towards self-discovery.

As you gain a better understanding of what you are naturally good at, it is important to own your dominant talent themes with certainty. These dominant talent themes energize you the more you use them, consciously or unconsciously. Some may refer to this as “the zone” or “the flow”, where you do not seems to notice the time pass by and you are constantly in a state of trance. People who know what they are naturally good at and use these dominant talent themes to accomplish jobs or tasks are at their peak performance each time they hone their talents into strengths. Eventually, a person claiming these talent themes as their own to start action steps that will lead them into the zone.

It is, however, interestingly difficult for most individuals to constantly use their natural talent themes into strengths and applied to what their jobs and tasks. Most often than not, they get distracted with mundane stuff such as “successes” of other people or tend to compare themselves with other people’s progress. This is a fatal flaw that a person can do to himself, as he puts unnecessary pressure over his life and disregards the concept that each individual has their own life context and innate resources, to begin with. Aiming with precision is of utmost importance to avoid wasting valuable time. And for this reason, a CliftonStrengths Coach is essential.

A CliftonStrengths Coach is one who will help you understand how to transform your usage of your dominant talent themes into mature ones and with direction. Of course, not all CliftonStrengths Coach will be of a match to you, as coaching is entirely built on trust. Hence, you have to first resonate with your coach for the entire journey to be seamless.

Here are some of my personal favourite reasons why a CliftonStrengths Coach boosts my life and career goals:

1. Unprecedented Depth. Getting a coach allowed me to see myself from a different perspective I could have not done on my own. Blind spots, too much familiarity, and knee-jerk reactions lead to immature use of talent themes that are not just considered “muda” (waste) but are also inefficiencies that do not only slow you down but slows other down too. From a quality assurance perspective, knowing yourself equates to understanding how you can use your ace cards alone or in collaboration with others towards the accomplishment of a task.
2. Agility and Flexibility. A CliftonStrengths Coach ensures that you are up on your toes with your life goals and that you are on track with the action items in your timeline. However, with periodic self-reflection and personal evaluation, I learn to adapt to the circumstances surrounding my journey and adjusts my strategies accordingly. This clarity on my life context and my personal journey allows me to prospectively see alternative paths and react accordingly as I see it fit using my dominant talent themes.
3. Accountability. Accountability partners are increasingly common in the world of trading, and this serves as a best practice that any professional can execute on their own life stories and career progression. Thus, your ability to own not only your successes but also your shortcomings enable you to add new data points in your quest towards your life and career goals. A CliftonStrengths Coach will be there to help you see alternative paths, realize your risks and opportunities and start owning your life decisions for better or for worse.

Everyone has a story to write on their own pages of their lives. You can choose the path of solitude to see your way towards your goal. You can also work with a CliftonStrengths Coach to help you create opportunities you have not focused on before. Whichever your decision, you have to ensure that you have no “what ifs” and keep enjoying this life journey without reservations.