Strengths…and Connection

When I first took the CliftonStrengths assessment, I remember smiling at my top five: Positivity, Arranger, Empathy, Individualization, and Communication.

Honestly, it made perfect sense.
I’ve always been someone who sees potential in people, who loves bringing ideas (and humans) together, and who believes that connection is where real work begins.

But lately, I’ve been realizing how those strengths show up — not just in what I do, but in how I build relationships.

Gallup’s new research on CliftonStrengths caught my eye because it said something I’ve always felt:

Every great partnership begins with trust — but the way we connect depends on our strengths.

And that hit home.

Work is actually Social

Whether you’re brainstorming with your team, coaching a leader, or grabbing coffee with a colleague, work is social.

It’s simple conversations, quiet check-ins, or moments of “You’ve got this.”
And just like any relationship, how we connect is shaped by who we are.

For some people, connection is the say:do ratio. Doing what they say they’ll do.
For others, it’s sharing ideas, offering encouragement, or problem-solving side by side.

For me?
It’s Positivity - believing in what’s possible even when things feel uncertain.
It’s Empathy - picking up on what’s not being said.
It’s Arranger - weaving people and projects together in ways that make the whole stronger.

And it’s Communication - making sure the message connects, not just gets delivered.

When we start to see how our strengths shape our interactions, we stop comparing, and we start connecting.

It starts with Awareness

If you’ve never looked at your CliftonStrengths side by side with someone you work closely with, it’s eye-opening.

It’s like pulling back the curtain on what makes each of you do what you do… what builds trust, and what breaks it.

And once you see that clearly, you can start leading and collaborating in ways that feel more human, more intentional, and more… you.

Working well together and connection comes from knowing each other, hearing and seeing each other, and valuing what makes us different.

Check out the full article at my Substack.