Meet Your StrengthsTrail Guide: Kate Hemat-Siraky

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

My top five strengths are Activator, WOO (Winning Others Over), Communication, Achiever & Input. 

Every human I coach and every facilitation assignment is unique and I like to think that I bring a unique mix of my more dominant strengths to whatever the topic or ‘vibe’ is. It’s no surprise that my Communication strength holds me in very good stead when delivering messages and interacting with large groups of learners. Especially in environments where I’ve never met the people in the room with me, WOO kicks in to make sure my participants leave sessions thoroughly convinced of the subject matter. In a coaching space, my Input means I enjoy collecting information that helps my coachees no matter where they are at, I’ve happily gone down rabbit holes researching subject matter like chronic fatigue or board director roles, am not adverse to learning about industries I’ve never worked in and enjoy seeking out valuable people I can suggest adding to my coachee’s network. I’ll always work hard with a lot of stamina and enjoy doing it - thanks Achiever!

Do you remember your first reaction to your strengths? 

Vividly! I was ‘gifted’ my strengths assessment report by a provider looking to work with my organisation delivering a learning program. What a gift! I went into the exercise essentially feeling like it was a ‘tick the box’ in participating in the due diligence. The moment I read my report, I was floored. It felt like reading a horoscope except it was precise and specific and 100% me. I remember immediately thinking of real life examples, particularly for Achiever and Activator that made my report resonate immediately. I now love coaching and debriefing on strengths and seeing people have the same reaction I did when I first read my strengths. 

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

Professionally, I don’t have any huge surprises. I have learnt to manage my Achiever so that it works hard for me, but doesn’t make me hold people to unattainable standards that are unfair to expect of them. That hard work to best aim my Achiever professionally, also made me realise that while I might feel good with a weekend full of appointments, social catch ups, jobs around the house, downtime can also be productive and is necessary (my family think so, too!) and that has been helpful learning in application. 

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

I’ve always faced challenges head on, one foot in front of the other. I don’t think too much about the issue I’m faced with and just figure it out as I go. I’ve stopped getting frustrated on those occasions I pursue the wrong path and need a re-do. Most of the time, I would rather tackle things the way that I’m my best and don’t mind that it makes me cool and calm under pressure. 

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

I remember debriefing a Product Sales Rep on his strengths once. A really burly bloke, with Harmony (Relationship Building) as his #1 Strength. He had read his report before we met. The very first thing he said was “I finally realise why every relationship I’ve ever been in until now, failed” and then he followed up to say that his last girlfriend shouted at him in an argument “Why won’t you just argue with me?” and after reading his report and his Harmony strength, he finally got why. 

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

Deliberative my #32 was my first instinct on this question. Surely it couldn’t hurt to weight up the options and consider possibilities more before acting. After thinking a bit more, I decided that Consistency which is my #34 and also an Executing strength could probably serve me more when working with teams and organisations to be a little more level-playing field, fair and even.   

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

Your strengths are so unique! Just because you might share a particular Strength with someone you know, or your boss or a team member, doesn’t mean it plays out the same for you personally. Learning how to ‘aim’ your strengths so that you are so uniquely and confidently you will be the most amazing thing you ever do (and keeping doing day after day, for success).