BUILDING AN
ENGAGED PARISH
DGFB – October, 2014
DISCOVERING & LIVING
OUR STRENGTHS
STRENGTHS
 Name a recent success
STRENGTHS
 Activity
When have you faced a challenge for which you did not feel
equipped?
What made the task difficult for you? How did you complete this
task?
When have you faced a challenge for which you know you had just
what was needed? What within yourself did you draw upon?
What
was the result?
STRENGTHS
 Foundational element of engagement:
At my parish I have the opportunity to do what I do best
STRENGTHS
 Key point of engagement:
At my parish I have the opportunity to do what I do best
HOW DO I KNOW WHAT I DO BEST?
STRENGTHSFINDER
Background
STRENGTHSFINDER
We are at our best when we do what we naturally do best.
 You don’t have to become a different person to become successful. You
just need to be more and better at who you already are.
STRENGTHSFINDER
 You formed my inmost being; you knit me in my mother’s womb. I praise
you, so wonderfully you made me; wonderful are your works! (Psalm 139)
 You are my beloved, in whom, I am well pleased. (Luke 3:22)
 There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; there are
different forms of service but the same Lord; there are different workings
but the same God who produces all of them in EVERYONE. To EACH
INDIVIDUAL the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit. (1
Cor 12:4-7)
 ONE body, MANY parts!
You have to be who God made you –
without that which you bring, the body is not whole.
STRENGTHS
Psychometric tools don’t put people in boxes,
people put people in boxes!
 1 in 278,256 chance someone has the same Top 5 as you (in a different
order)
 1 in 33,000,000 – chance that someone has the same Top 5 in the same
order
OUR MISSION AND PURPOSE
 What is our common mission / purpose?
 How do you see yourself bringing the mission to fruition? What is your
part?
Soul – What is my unique identity?
Role – What is my best contribution?
Goal – What is our common mission / purpose?
STRENGTHS
What you do, I can not do, but what you do, I can not
do. The needs are great, and none of us, including me,
ever do great things. But we can all do small things
with great love, and together we can do something
wonderful.
Mother Teresa
STRENGTHSFINDER
 SF is a tool that provides insight into our natural thoughts, feelings and
behaviors.
STRENGTHSFINDER
 SF gives us a common language, a vocabulary, to speak about our talents
/ strengths.
 EVERYONE has something to offer
STRENGTHSFINDER
 SF is NOT about weakness fixing – fixing your weaknesses might
prevent failure, but it will NOT ensure success.
STRENGTHSFINDER
 TALENT – a naturally recurring pattern of thought, feeling, or behavior
that can be productively applied
STRENGTHS
 TALENT – a naturally recurring pattern of thought, feeling, or behavior
that can be productively applied
 STRENGTH – the ability to provide consistent, near perfect
performance in a given activity
STRENGTHS
 TALENT – a naturally recurring pattern of thought, feeling, or behavior
that can be productively applied
 STRENGTH – the ability to provide consistent, near perfect
performance in a given activity
 (Knowledge + Experience + Skill) x Talent = STRENGTH
TALENT is the multiplier!
STRENGTHSFINDER
 FOUR CLUES TO TALENT:
 Yearning – what kinds of activities are you naturally drawn to
 Rapid Learning – What kinds of activities do you seem to pick up
quickly?
 Timelessness – In what activities did the time seem to “fly by” for you?
 Glimpses of Excellence
STRENGTHS
SF allows us to see ourselves differently and each
other differently
UNDERSTANDING THE STRENGTHS OF OTHERS
 BLM Disease
 I think everyone should Be Like Me
 SF gives us a tool to see others differently and affirm and value our
differences
Everyone is a genius.
But if you judge a fish on its ability to climb a tree,
it will live its whole life believing it’s stupid.
Albert Einstein
UNDERSTANDING THE STRENGTHS OF
OTHERS
 Barrier labels – when a powerful strength is mistakenly devalued and
diminished as weakness
UNDERSTANDING THE STRENGTHS
SPECTRUM
Raw vs. Mature
STRENGTHSFINDER
SF allows us to see ourselves as a valuable part of
the Church – THE BODY OF CHRIST – directing
us in ways we can be most effective in living out
the calls of the Gospel.
WE ARE MANY PARTS – ALL ONE BODY
STRENGTHS
 Strengths call us into AUTHENTIC, MISSION BASED community!
I don’t have to be all things to all people – no ONE person has all
the answers!
SEVEN STEPS OF STRENGTHS
DEVELOPMENT
 Awareness – Identifying who you are and who you are not.
 Acceptance – Accepting who you are and who you are not.
 Appreciation – Embracing and enjoying who you are.
 Amplification – Becoming more of and better at who you are.
 Alignment – Finding and filling roles that fit who you are.
 Avoidance – Escape situations that highlight your weaknesses.
 Affiliation – Partner with those who are strong where you are weak.
STRENGTHS
 Strengths development happens in stages:
Personal
STRENGTHS
 Strengths development happens in stages:
Personal
Interpersonal
STRENGTHS
 Strengths development happens in stages:
Personal
Interpersonal
Communal
STRENGTHS
 Strengths development happens in stages:
Personal
Interpersonal
Communal
Ministerial
UNDERSTANDING THE STRENGTHS OF
OTHERS
 Partnerships require:
1)
A level of understanding about the power of complimentary
partnerships
2)
An understanding of the unique talents of those people around you
3)
An appreciation for the talents of others
UNDERSTANDING THE STRENGTHS OF
OTHERS
 When working in teams, you need to:
1)
Understand your own strengths and help others to recognize their
own strengths
2)
Create complimentary partnerships
3)
Identify a common purpose / goal to help focus the team
4)
Help team leverage their collective talents toward achieving their goals
UNDERSTANDING YOUR STRENGTHS
 EFFECTIVENESS EXPLORATION IN A ROLE
 What are my natural abilities that could be used in this role?
 What are my potential vulnerabilities, that is, how might my dominant
themes occasionally be misunderstood or labeled in a negative way by
others and thus hinder my effectiveness?
 What are my liabilities and disabilities, that is those abilities that are
either absent or quite unnatural for me but are requirements for my role?
 What things give me credibility for this role? (Education, experience,
etc…)
 Where and with whom am I most compatible? (Partners, audiences,
situations)
STRENGTHS
 Leaders must use their strengths to create:
TRUST
COMPASSION
HOPE
STABILITY
SF DOMAINS OF LEADERSHIP
 Domains of leadership – talents grouped into “domains” of similar
outcomes
 The broader Domains offer a practical lens to look at the makeup of a
team
 People shouldn’t be well–rounded, successful teams are!
STRENGTHSFINDER
QUESTIONS? THOUGHTS? COMMENTS?
 Break!
ACTIVITY
 Worksheet
STRENGTHSFINDER
Review of full 34 by Domain
STRENGTHS
 Relationship Buildling
 Adaptability
 Connectedness
 Developer
 Empathy
 Harmony
 Includer
 Individualization
 Positivity
 Relator
STRENGTHS
 INFLUENCING
 Activator
 Command
 Communication
 Competition
 Maximizer
 Self-Assurance
 Significance
 WOO
STRENGTHS
 STRATEGIC THINKING
 Analytical
 Context
 Futuristic
 Ideation
 Input
 Intellection
 Learner
 Strategic
STRENGTHS
 EXECUTING
 Achiever
 Arranger
 Belief
 Consistency
 Deliberative
 Discipline
 Focus
 Responsibility
 Restorative
STRENGTHS
 ACTIVITY
 Strengths insight cards (2-3)
STRENGTHS
 Thnik about the last time someone drove you crazy – can you begin to
reframe some of the behaviors in the context of strengths / barrier
labels?
STRENGTHS
 In a small group – LOVE, CRAZY, ENVY
WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?
Persue ENGAGEMENT
WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?
Persue ENGAGEMENT
Persue ME25
WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?
Persue ENGAGEMENT
Persue ME25
Persue STRENGTHS
WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?
Persue ENGAGEMENT
Persue ME25
Persue STRENGTHS
Chew on it
ACTIVITY
Creating an action plan!
IMPACT PLANNING IN 45 MINUTES OR LESS!
STRENGTHS & ENGAGEMENT
APPLICATION
 Questions, thoughts, ideas…
THE FUTURE OF STRENGTHS &
ENGAGEMENT
 Gallup Faith Practice
STRENGTHS
 Resources!!!
STRENGTHS
 Resources – online and consulting
csec.info
CSEC Live!
www.gallupstrengthscenter.com
w
www.strengthsquest.com
www.strengthsexplorer.com
www.csecsharing.wikispaces.com
Bridge2Faith.net
LITANY OF BEING GOD’S INSTRUMENT
OF GOODNESS
Response: God who sings through us, we thank you.
 For the talents and the abundance of gifts that are ours…
 For the faith that stirs and grows in our hearts…
 For the many people who have been your instruments of goodness in
our lives…
 For the moments when we have known the song of your presence in a
special way…
 For the times when your goodness has made music through us…
LITANY OF BEING GOD’S INSTRUMENT
OF GOODNESS
Response: God of goodness, help us to trust in you.
 When fear rises up in us and we do not believe in our ability to be your




instrument…
When the busyness and schedules of our lives press upon us and create
questions about your song within us…
When we doubt your presence in the difficult aspects of our days…
When we loose sight of the truth that we are called to be instruments of
goodness…
When emptiness, loneliness, and other struggles keep us from hearing your
melody of love…
LITANY OF BEING GOD’S INSTRUMENT
OF GOODNESS
Response: God of love, sing your song through us.
 As we grow in believing in our goodness…
 As we allow more and more of who we are to be influenced by your
presence…
 As the song of your love grows in us and the call to be your instrument
becomes clearer to us…
 As we struggle to know how and when to share our gifts and goodness
with others…
 As we go forth from here with the desire to be your instruments of love…
UNDERSTANDING THE STRENGTHS OF
OTHERS
 “We never get to the bottom of ourselves on our own. We discover
who we are face to face, side to side with others in work, loving and
learning.” Robert Bellah
 “Vocation: The place where your soul’s deep gladness and the world’s
deep hunger meet.”
Fredrick Buechner
STRENGTHS
 What is YOUR experience?
What experience illustrates one of your themes in action? How might you build on this
in the future?
OR
What experience illustrates something that you naturally do well? How might you build
on this in the future?
Executing
Relationship
Building
Influencing
Strategic
Thinking
STRENGTHS
 How are your talent the means with which God equips you to live the
call of faith, relationships and work?
CONTACT INFORMATION
Kirsten Hangas
Christ the King Parish
Together Strong, LLC
kirstenhangas@yahoo.com
406-546-1433
6650 Linda Vista Blvd
Missoula, MT 59803