Our recent leadership cohort client group had just completed their CliftonStrengths profiling as part of their professional development. Wanting to better understand the framework and the conversations we’d be having together, I decided to complete my own assessment for the first time.
One of the unexpected gifts of this experience was the reminder to stay curious about tools like CliftonStrengths and other self-awareness tools.
While no assessment can fully define who we are, they can offer valuable insights into the talents, motivations and patterns that shape how we show up in the world.
Sometimes they help us understand why certain roles, careers or ways of working feel so energising and natural. Other times, they highlight opportunities for growth or strengths we’ve been overlooking.
My top five strengths are:
– Individualisation
– Empathy
– Connectedness
– Developer
– Arranger
At first glance, I wasn’t entirely sure what to make of them. Especially Individualisation as number one. But as I started reading the descriptions and digging deeper into the behaviours and traits behind each strength, something clicked.
These strengths were describing the “Why” for me. Why I feel the fit of the work I do. Why it motivates and energises me.
Individualisation – seeing people for who they truly are, recognising their uniqueness and potential.
Empathy – understanding what others may be experiencing and meeting them where they are.
Connectedness – helping people see the bigger picture and the impact of their actions.
Developer – believing in growth and patiently supporting people as they discover what’s possible.
Arranger – bringing together complexity, people and experiences in ways that create clarity and momentum.
As I reflected on each strength, I realised how naturally they show up in my work as a leadership and team development coach. And even more so with the assistance of my four-legged co-coaches.
Horses have an incredible ability to cut through titles, roles and carefully prepared answers. They respond to authenticity, awareness and presence. They create immediate feedback and profound learning opportunities that help people better understand themselves and their impact on others.
Reading through my strengths felt less like receiving a personality profile and more like seeing my vocation reflected back to me.
It gave language to why I’m so passionate about helping leaders and teams grow through equine assisted experiences.
It reminded me that the work we are drawn to often aligns with the strengths that not only feel most natural to us, but that we develop and grow into throughout our journey.