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Does your team know their strengths?

Team strengths activity sheets on coffee table

Lately a number of personal development books have focused on teaching people how to find their strengths and use them to greatest effect. We ascribe to that philosophy at TwoTone. The more we can leverage our unique strengths and become the best in our areas gifting, the better we can serve our clients. Unfortunately, our culture tends to have us focus on our weaknesses and devoting energy into fixing ourselves. Our own internal voice compounds the problem by pointing out our shortcomings and minimizing the things that make us most valuable. We wanted to stop for a second and get a fresh perspective.

360 Degree Encouragement - In One Meeting

We blocked out an hour of the day and sat down in our conference room. Each person had a printed 8.5×11 with their name at the top. We passed our sheet to the person on our left and spent 3-5 minutes writing out the encouraging, positive, and value-added attributes we saw in the person listed at the top of the sheet. When everyone was done writing, we passed the sheet to the left and continued the process. If someone agreed with something that was written before them, they put a checkmark next to the item and continued writing.

When the papers ended back up with their owner (all were completely filled), we reviewed the final product, and passed around one more time because people wanted to see what was written and what was checked. We took some time to process as a team – asking what rang true and what was surprising. In the end, each of us knew in a fuller way the external picture of what we bring to the table. We all left with smiles on our faces.

Before you rush to do this yourself, consider if this type of workshop is really the best fit for your team. In cases where internal conflict reigns, or where there is a lack of humility, passive-aggressive comments would derail the goal of this exercise.

One of the most encouraging parts of reading everyone’s comments was the recognition that our team was mature enough to do this assignment the right way. Some people on the team, gifted with thoroughness and thoughtfulness no doubt, had even written out their thoughts before the meeting in preparation for the time.

While each of us left encouraged, the real test going forward is finding ways to take the things we see in each other and honing our best characteristics to become a better team. “Humility”, “Quiet Confidence”, and “High Energy” are excellent strengths – what can we do with them? How can we improve them? How do we create a company culture that is fertile ground for us to continue to grow?

Regardless, we’re excited to see what the future holds. This exercise helped knit us closer together and show us where we can continue to best contribute.

Our Results

It was hard to trim down and summarize the feedback everyone received, but the below are the call-outs that were checked most often and which everyone agreed were the truest about each individual. Hope you enjoy reading them as much as we enjoyed hearing them.

Rick headshot

Rick

Graphic Designer
  • Stabilizing influence

  • Always gets the problem solved

  • Humble

  • Contagious laugh

  • Committed to TwoTone, clients, and improvement

Vanessa headshot

Vanessa

UX/UI Designer
  • Quiet confidence

  • Radiates happiness—smile is welcoming, warm, and contagious

  • Focused and detail-oriented

  • Warm and positive when communicating with clients

  • Resourceful and driven

Abby headshot

Abby

Senior Graphic Designer
  • High-energy

  • Positive attitude

  • Cares about others

  • Problem-solver

  • Powers through tough projects

Jake headshot

Jake

Copywriter
  • Selfless and a team player

  • Clear and concise communicator

  • Voice of reason to all of Jenny’s ideas

  • Great at giving opinions with neutral language

  • Encouraging

Jenny headshot

Jenny

Founder & Creative Director
  • Puts others’ needs first

  • Treats us like family

  • Strives for excellence

  • Super approachable

  • Generous

Libby headshot

Libby

Graphic Designer
  • Can-do attitude

  • Thinks from the client’s perspective and desires to make them happy

  • Great communicator

  • Quick learner

  • Awesome typography and layout skills

Rick headshot

Rick

Graphic Designer
  • Stabilizing influence

  • Always gets the problem solved

  • Humble

  • Contagious laugh

  • Committed to TwoTone, clients, and improvement

Vanessa headshot

Vanessa

UX/UI Designer
  • Quiet confidence

  • Radiates happiness–smile is welcoming, warm, and contagious

  • Focused and detail-oriented

  • Warm and positive when communicating with clients

  • Resourceful and driven

Abby headshot

Abby

Senior Graphic Designer
  • High-energy

  • Positive attitude

  • Cares about others

  • Problem-solver

  • Powers through tough projects

Jake headshot

Jake

Copywriter
  • Selfless and a team player

  • Clear and concise communicator

  • Voice of reason to all of Jenny’s ideas

  • Great at giving opinions with neutral language

  • Encouraging

Jenny headshot

Jenny

Founder & Creative Director
  • Puts others’ needs first

  • Treats us like family

  • Strives for excellence

  • Super approachable

  • Generous

Libby headshot

Libby

Graphic Designer
  • Can-do attitude

  • Thinks from the client’s perspective and desires to make them happy

  • Great communicator

  • Quick learner

  • Awesome typography and layout skills

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