Meet Your StrengthsTrail Guide: Jac Peters

What are your top 5 strengths and how do they show up in your coaching and facilitation?

My top 5 strengths are Positivity, Activator, Empathy, Includer and Developer.

Positivity shows up in the energy and passion I bring to the interaction and encourages others to focus on the possibilities around them. Activator is evident when I am coaching and facilitating, supporting others to take action on what they can do today to move things forward.

Caring about the people I work with, I draw on my empathy strength to understand what is most important to them. Includer sees me bringing people into the conversation when I am facilitating and trying to make sure everyone has a voice, and developer means I get a real thrill out of seeing people grow and achieve their goals. 

Do you remember your first reaction to your strengths?

I connected strongly with my report and was surprised how accurate it was, not just in the strengths it uncovered, but how these show up for me and how I would describe myself. It took me a little longer to connect with the includer strength, but when I spoke to others and reflected on this further, I understood why this strength was part of my DNA and the joy I feel when I can bring people into the conversation or group.

What is the most surprising way your strengths have helped you personally or professionally?

For me, positivity and activator go hand in hand in how I show up in my personal and professional life. I find that I’m happy to give most things a go and that’s been important when I’ve been through periods of change or big decisions – typically I’ll jump in and say yes to things without too much thought, and to date it’s not got me into too much trouble.

How has knowing your strengths changed the way you face challenges?

With the “glass half full” attitude I have with positivity, I have found that I’m open to challenges and change. When I have felt myself getting stuck or frustrated with things, I coach myself with activator to do one thing to move things forward or connect with someone to talk things through which always energises me.

What is your favourite thing someone has said when debriefing their strengths?

It’s not uncommon to hear people say “my partner says this about me all the time” or “I knew that would come up” when I hear this, I know there has been a connection to the strengths report, when people resonate strongly with it I find they are more eager to understand more about their strengths and how they can leverage even more!

If you could develop one lesser strength into a greater talent, which would it be and why?

I always used to think I needed to be more strategic, but have found other people to work with that have this in spades, so for me it might be Discipline. With four out of my top five strengths being in the relationship building domain: Positivity, Empathy, Includer and Developer I can find myself in such wonderful conversations and interactions with people that I lose track of time…a bit more discipline might manage this!

What is one piece of advice you would give to someone new to strengths?

Learn to love them and understand that they are what is unique about you. Consider how they have supported you in the past and how they can continue support you to be your best.