Recognizing Your Strengths and Super-Powers

Photo by quicheisinsane

Photo by quicheisinsane

How do you describe your job?  Your strengths?  Your super-powers?  My "day-job" is consulting.  You could say I'm a "process consultant," but given my adoration of the Agile Manifesto, I would rather be thought of as a "individuals and interactions consultant."  And I must say, my coworkers are awesome people.  No, not just people--talent.  Awesome talent.  Three of us were met for drinks and were talking about the challenges we face as consultants and how we use our strengths.  One commented on my passion, but really, we are all passionate about our work--that's how we ended up having drinks after work.  We seek people out who will make us better and keep us accountable.  Those who may be the yin to our yang.  I think of them as my partners in crime, my allies for change.  In order to work together effectively, it is helpful to know our strengths and super-powers.

According to Tom Rath's StrengthsFinder 2.0, my strengths are Input, Intellection, Deliberative, Restorative, and Futuristic.  I consume information, appreciate intellectual discussions, envision the future, anticipate obstacles, and am adept at solving problems.  Part of this explains why I have started a blog.  

But when I think about my super-powers, I think of Rainbow Brite.  Rainbow Brite was a regular girl who became responsible for the colors on Earth.  She eradicates the darkness and shadows.  I shed light on ugly practices and behaviors, build strong teams from groups of individuals, and in a sense, create an environment for magic to take place.  I look for others to help in these endeavors--other Color Kids, you could say.

How do you describe yourself?

Allison Pollard

I help people discover their agile instincts and develop their coaching abilities. As an agile coach with Improving in Dallas, I enjoy mentoring others to become great Scrum Masters, coaching managers to grow teams that deliver amazing results, and fostering communities that provide sustainability for agile transformations. In my experience, applying agile methods improves delivery, strengthens relationships, and builds trust between business and IT. A big believer in the power of community-based learning, I grew the DFW Scrum user group significantly over the five years I served as an organizer. I am also a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach, a foodie, and proud glasses wearer.