Coach to Coach

What's it like to live with Responsibility as a top strength?

In this episode, Lisa Schmith joins Brandon to explore the power of accountability, the challenges of saying no, and how to balance big commitments with self-care.

🎙 Tune in for practical insights and a fresh take on harnessing Responsibility to get things done without burning out!

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• Responsibility is more than reliability: It's about deep ownership of commitments and a drive to follow through no matter what.
• Clear expectations are crucial: People with high Responsibility need clarity to avoid missteps.
• Autonomy is essential: Micromanagement erodes trust and morale for those with this strength.
• Burnout is a real risk: Balancing accountability with self-care and learning to say "no" are critical.

What makes Relators the masters of meaningful connections? 💬 Sara Regan from Strengths Now joins Brandon to dive into the magic of this trust-driven strength.

Discover how Relators build authentic bonds, navigate tough conversations, and create spaces where people feel truly seen. Whether you're a Relator or just work with one, this episode is packed with insights, laughs, and real-world tips you can use right away.

Hit play and join the conversation! 🎧

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Connect with Sara on LinkedIn

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• Relator thrives on building trust and deep, authentic relationships, often one-on-one.
• Vulnerability is key for creating meaningful connections in personal and professional settings.
• Leaders with Relator can balance professionalism with genuine care to foster team cohesion and psychological safety.
• Relators excel at delivering tough conversations and feedback when trust is established.
• To support Relators, create opportunities for meaningful, smaller interactions, and honor commitments like one-on-one meetings.

In this episode, Jen Pasquale, founder of Lead with Curiosity, joins Brandon to dive into the "Restorative" strength—a gift for tackling tough problems and finding real solutions.

Jen opens up about how she went from feeling frustrated by her problem-solving instinct to using it as a superpower in her work with nonprofits and pharma teams.

Whether you're a natural fixer or just curious about strengths, Jen's story will have you seeing challenges (and solutions!) in a whole new light.

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• Understanding Restorative Strength – The restorative strength is rooted in problem-solving, but it's about addressing the root cause rather than just symptoms.
• Impact of Restorative in Teams – Individuals with restorative strengths can see potential issues and solutions that others may miss, making them invaluable in times of change.
• Creating Space for Problem-Solvers – Teams should give restorative individuals room to contribute their insights, which often lead to powerful, lasting improvements.

Brandon Miller dives deep into the strength of Input with the dynamic Christine Minh-Minh Gardner, a pro in the nuclear industry and proud "collector of everything"—ideas, knowledge, and even friendships!

From her meticulous collection of knowledge and resources to her deep curiosity and passion for connecting dots between people's stories, Christine shares insights that will resonate with anyone aiming to harness their strengths for impactful leadership.

Tune in to explore the complexities of the input strength, its real-life applications, and how it empowers Christine in her unique path—from being a crawdad fishing queen to embracing AI as an extension of her knowledge hoarding!

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• The Depth of Input: Input isn't just about collecting things; it's about gathering knowledge, ideas, and people to build an invaluable network and resource pool.
• Resourcefulness and Preparedness: Input strengths often appear as heightened readiness, reflected in Christine's detail-oriented approach to work and life (e.g., her "mom bag" and thorough note-taking).
• Curiosity Drives Success: Christine's ability to maintain friendships and seek insights positions her as an impactful leader and contributor to her team's success.
• Embracing Technology: Christine's exploration of AI as a tool to organize and expand her input-driven mind showcases how modern technology can support inherent strengths.

Get ready for a deep dive into Context—one of the rarest yet most powerful CliftonStrengths!

In this episode, Brandon chats with Kasie Heiden, a master coach who shows how understanding the past can supercharge your future. Kasie shares how Context isn't just reminiscing—it's connecting dots to avoid repeating mistakes and drive your mission forward.

Plus, hear about her unique coaching program, The Arena, crafted for CEOs and their teams to maximize growth.

If you're ready to unlock the wisdom of the past for bold, future moves, this one's for you! 🚀

Additional Resources:

Connect with Kasie on LinkedIn

Connect with Brandon on LinkedIn How to Be a Good Teammate to me: [email protected] Learn more about 34 Strong Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn

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• Context as a Strength: Understanding the past is crucial not just for nostalgia but for informing better decisions in the present and future.
• Advocating for Context: People with high Context need space to share insights that can prevent repeated mistakes.
• Leadership Insight: Combining Context with strengths like Futuristic creates powerful strategic plans and foresight.

In this episode, Brea Roper, expert Strengths coach, joins Brandon to unpack the often misunderstood strength of Connectedness.

If you're a coach or leader, you'll love Bria's take on how Connectedness can unify teams, spark purpose, and amplify impact. Discover why this strength is much more than "woo-woo" intuition—it's a driving force for creating meaning, fostering relationships, and building visionary cultures.

This episode is a masterclass in connection, purpose, and helping others see the bigger picture. Tune in and get inspired to harness the power of Connectedness for yourself and your team!

Additional Resources:

Connect with Brea on LinkedIn

Connect with Brandon on LinkedIn How to Be a Good Teammate to me: [email protected] Learn more about 34 Strong Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn

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• Understanding Connectedness – Connectedness sees interrelationships and patterns in ideas, people, and even across time. It's especially effective at fostering unity and promoting a shared purpose.
• Application in Leadership and Coaching – Leaders with Connectedness can inspire and rally teams by intuitively spotting common ground and resolving conflict through shared goals.
• Personal Growth with Connectedness – Developing Connectedness starts with self-awareness and trusting one's instincts, using this strength to forge relationships and facilitate a larger sense of community.

n this episode, Brandon chats with Kansas State Senator and founder of O'Shea Strengths Coaching, Kristen O'Shea, to unpack the surprising superpower of Discipline. Kristen's story is one of balance—a state senator, entrepreneur, mother of two, and occasional Jazzercise enthusiast, she brings new meaning to "doing it all" without losing her center. This isn't just a conversation about getting things done. It's about the beautiful art of balancing control and adaptability.

Additional Resources:

Connect with Brandon on LinkedIn How to Be a Good Teammate to me: [email protected] Learn more about 34 Strong Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn Learn more about PeopleForward Network

Key Takeaways:

• The Power of Discipline: Discipline is a unique strength that drives efficiency, planning, and the ability to adapt to changes while creating order and eliminating chaos.
• Balancing Control with Flexibility: While discipline thrives on planning and structure, unexpected changes and external demands require a balance between control and adaptability.
• Recognizing Discipline's Rarity: Discipline is among the rarest strengths, offering individuals with it an edge in managing both big-picture goals and intricate details with ease.

What happens when learning becomes your superpower?

In this episode, Brandon speaks with Angeline Soon, who left a 20-year corporate IT career to launch her own business, Amplify Soon.

Explore how the Learner Strength can help anyone navigate major life changes, embrace the unknown, and turn failure into fuel for growth.

Angeline shares her personal journey and the key lessons that helped her trust her ability to learn through every challenge.

Additional Resources:

Connect with Angeline Soon on LinkedIn Connect with Brandon on LinkedIn How to Be a Good Teammate to me: [email protected] Learn more about 34 Strong Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn

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Key Takeaways:

• Learner is about embracing the joy of learning—from not knowing to knowing—and it thrives in the process of discovery, rather than just the end result.
• Learners face the unknown with fearlessness, trusting in their ability to figure things out and grow from the experience.
• Resilience in Learners comes from viewing failures as lessons, enabling them to bounce back quickly from setbacks.

In this episode, Brandon sits down with Melanie Shaffer, Founder & President of Talent Suite LLC, for a conversation that will hit home for any leader who's ever wondered, "How do I get my team to actually do what I need them to do?" (Hint: It's not just about checking off to-do lists.)

Melanie shares her deep expertise on the Executing Domain—those strengths that keep teams humming, projects moving, and leaders almost out of panic mode.

Weather you're leading a team or planning to hire one, this episode is a go-to playbook for aligning expectations and driving results.

Additional Resources:

Connect with Brandon on LinkedIn Connect with Melanie Shaffter on LinkedIn How to Be a Good Teammate to me: [email protected] Learn more about 34 Strong Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn

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Key Takeaways:

• Execution & Leadership: Leaders with strong execution strengths often face the challenge of balancing control with delegation.
• Celebrating Milestones: For execution-driven teams, it's critical to celebrate milestones, not just the final outcome, to keep motivation high and recognize progress.
• Effective Communication: Teams with high execution strengths need clear, structured communication and touchpoints to perform at their best.

This week Brandon delves into the fascinating world of the Strategic Thinking domain with guest Ken Barr Jr., Gallup Certified Strengths Coach. Whether you geek out over data, thrive on visionary ideas, or just want to know how to get the most out of the deep thinkers in your life (or on your team), this episode is for you. Get an understanding of all eight Strategic Thinking strengths and uncover how they drive better decision-making, stronger teams, and, to be honest, a little frustration. Ken's been in the coaching game for nearly two decades, and he's sharing his best insights on how to unlock the superpowers of these thinkers.

Additional Resources:

Connect with Brandon on LinkedIn How to Be a Good Teammate to me: [email protected] Learn more about 34 Strong Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn

Learn more about PeopleForward Network

Key Takeaways:

• Strengths in this domain—such as Input, Strategic, and Learner—focus on gathering and organizing information to identify long-term solutions.
• Thinkers in this domain thrive when they are given the freedom to explore information before making decisions.
• Friction can arise between thinkers and execution-oriented colleagues, emphasizing the need for a balance of perspectives.