Learn how to leverage natural strengths to improve personal and team effectiveness.
In our current socioeconomic and political landscape, higher ed is undeniably a fertile ground for constant change and transition. It can be challenging to find stability, anchor yourself in your innate talents, and build an understanding of your team’s most powerful strengths.
Join us for this one-of-a-kind workshop to build awareness of your own personal strengths and how they translate to your work and career trajectory and to learn how to apply a strengths-based lens to your team members, both direct reports and those within your sphere of influence.
Before this workshop, you will be asked to take the Clifton StrengthsFinder assessment, which will give you a detailed report on your top five natural strengths. During our 2-day program, you will build a strategy outlining the implementation of a strengths-based culture at the individual and team level. With the help of our expert facilitator, you will find answers to crucial questions, such as:
- How do you build a cohesive team that allows its members to recognize and leverage their biggest strengths?
- How can you put people in the right roles and on the right projects based on their strengths to achieve the optimum team dynamic and outcomes?
- How can supervisors use strengths in coaching conversations to help team members develop self-awareness, think big picture, and discuss future career directions?
- How can you better understand your team’s current composition in terms of strengths to search for and hire to grow your team for success?
You will leave this training with a greater understanding of how you can leverage both your own and your team’s individual strengths in the unique context of your higher education organization.
This program is highly a immersive experience and limited to just 35 participants to maintain a productive learning environment. We anticipate reaching capacity and encourage you to register and reserve your spot early.
Follow Through With Success Coaching
Have you ever gone to a training only to find that you came back with great ideas but don’t have the time, support, or skills needed to make the changes?
Academic Impressions has produced thousands of trainings and we have learned that utilizing a coach after attending a conference helps provide accountability and bridges the training with the on-the-ground work of getting the job done.
As a result, we are offering a package of three individualized success coaching sessions to help you maximize the impact of this workshop. You will be paired with an experienced higher ed coach who’ll help you reflect on the insights you learned and turn them into tangible actions. You will have the chance to workshop ideas, discuss challenges, and collaboratively brainstorm ideas for successful implementation. To gain access to three coaching sessions, select the Premium Pass option at registration.
To learn more about how success coaching can benefit you, contact Patricia Sandler at patricia@academicimpressions.com.
Who Should Attend
This content of this program is beneficial and applicable across all levels and types of leadership, across both academic and administrative areas. Formal leaders in managerial positions, as well as informal leaders with dotted line reporting lines or influence on others are encouraged to attend.
HR professionals looking to establish a strengths-based culture on their campuses will also benefit from this training.
Agenda
Your registration fee includes full access to all conference sessions and materials, breakfast, lunch, and access to the networking reception on Thursday, breakfast and lunch on Friday, as well as refreshments and snacks throughout the conference.
8:30 a.m. - 5:15 p.m.
We’ll begin our orientation towards a strengths-based culture with a focus on positivity and growth at every aspect of individual, team, and organizational existence and functioning. Then we’ll explore how a strengths-based culture that focuses on purpose and ongoing development motivates people and results in increased individual and team productivity, greater employee engagement, and improved quality of life.
Defining a Strengths-Based Development Model
In order to build a shared framework, we will establish a common language and understanding of key concepts in a strengths-based culture, including: strengths, competencies, talents, abilities, skills, and knowledge.
Identifying Your Individual Strengths
Based on the results from your Clifton StrengthsFinder Assessment completed before the conference, we will do an in-depth exploration of your top five strengths and explore how to leverage and cultivate them for increased engagement and future development.
Mapping Domains of Leadership
With a strong foundational understanding of individual strengths, we can begin to explore strengths in relation to the larger team context. We will focus on what it takes to surround ourselves with the right people and maximize our team in a way that explores how to draw on individual talent and creativity in support of team productivity and long-term results.
Networking Reception
This informal reception is your chance to decompress, have a drink on us, and expand your network of connections. Our programs are intentionally designed for smaller groups, which means you will have the opportunity to meet your peers and our speakers face-to-face.
DAY 2: IMPLEMENTING A STRENGTH-BASED PERFORMANCE MODEL
8:00 a.m. - 4:15 p.m.
Participants will have the opportunity to have breakfast with others based on shared interests and job responsibilities.
Implementing Individual Strengths Development
We will begin our second day by focusing on the mindset required to implement a strengths-based culture on an individual, team, and institutional level by focusing on three steps: awareness, application, and action. You will outline ways to implement a strengths based performance model for individual success and ongoing professional growth.
Implementing Team Strengths Development
With an individual plan in place, you will design an implementation plan at the team level. Following the three steps of awareness, application, and action, you can design a plan that outlines goals and draws on an understanding of your specific team’s strengths.
Implementing a Comprehensive Strengths Development Model
You will draw on the individual and team strengths implementation plan and learn the tools necessary to build a strengths-based culture on your campus.
Putting your Implementation Plan into Action
Drawing on the insights you have learned and generated about building and implementing a strength-based culture, you will design an action plan that has clear priorities that allows for sustained growth and sustainability, with mechanisms for support and accountability.
Speakers

Therese Lask
Talent Development Specialist, Colorado State University
Therese is a Training Specialist. She has worked in higher education for more than 25 years and as a consultant for the Gallup Organization for four years. As a consultant, Therese has helped organizations infuse a strengths-based culture to assist with building teams and helping individuals contribute their best at work.
Questions About the Event?

Patricia Sandler
Director of Integrated Professional Development, Academic Impressions