The Strengths Whisperer

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: 

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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: 

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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

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 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. 

Ever felt like you're swimming through life only to hit an unexpected wall? Katie Swearingen knows the feeling—and she’s mastered the art of adapting on the fly.

In this episode, Brandon chats with Katie, Organizational Development Advisor at CARTI, about the power of adaptability and how it’s shaped her career (and even a triathlon mishap).

This isn’t just about bouncing back; it’s about thriving in uncertainty. If you’ve ever wondered how to pivot gracefully, keep your team engaged, and still hit your goals, this episode is for you.

Buckle up—because life’s plan B might just be your best move yet.

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: 

• Adaptability Builds Confidence: When people embrace their natural strengths, like adaptability, they gain confidence to tackle challenges head-on.
• Quick Decision-Making: Adaptability allows leaders to quickly pivot and make decisions that keep teams moving forward, even in unpredictable situations.
• Engagement and Well-being: Knowing and using one’s strengths, like adaptability, directly contributes to increased employee engagement and overall well-being.

Elmo Alforque, a certified Strengths Coach, joins the Brandon to discuss the Analytical strength.

Elmo reveals how this strength can drive data-driven decision-making, research, and strategic thinking. There is a balance between using logic and understanding people. Get practical advice for how to develop leadership while leveraging analytical abilities.

Tune in to discover the benefits and potential pitfalls of this powerful strength and how it plays out in real-life leadership and team dynamics.

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What if the secret to smarter decision-making lies in slowing down?

Brandon interviews Chad Ahern, Gallup-certified strengths coach and co-host of The Thoughtful Talents Show, about the intricacies of the Deliberative strength.

They explore how this "measure twice, cut once" strength is essential for thoughtful decision-making, risk management, and long-term strategy in both personal and professional settings.

Get real life analogies and practical tips for coaching individuals with high Deliberative - highlighting how this often misunderstood strength can be a team's most thoughtful and vigilant contributor.

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Chad Ahern on LinkedIn How to Be a Good Teammate to me: [email protected] Learn more about 34 Strong

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Curious about how leaders with influencing strengths motivate their teams? This conversation with Brent O'Bannon will show you how to refine your leadership influence!

Brent, Master Certified Coach and CEO of Strengths Champion Solutions, talks about the Influencing domain of CliftonStrengths framework.

With captivating analogies, such as dog sledding to explain the power of leadership domains, this conversation offers a unique and actionable perspective for coaches and leaders alike**.

Additional Resources: Connect with Brandon on LinkedIn

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Trust in the workplace is powerful and impactful.

Host Brandon Miller sits down with Bill Dippel, a seasoned strengths coach with an innate talent for building meaningful relationships in the workplace. Dippel, who heads a team of four staff coaches, emphasizes the profound impact of trust, authenticity, and strategic relationship management on team effectiveness and individual performance.

Get insights on gauging the mood of the room and adjusting strategies based on the level of relational "gooeyness."

Tune in as Bill and Brandon unravel the complexities of relationship dynamics, the power of harmony in team settings, and the vital interplay of trust and performance.

Additional Resources: Connect with Bill Dippel on LinkedIn  Connect with Brandon on LinkedIn How to Be a Good Teammate to me: [email protected] Learn more about 34 Strong

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In this episode, host Brandon Miller dives deep into the CliftonStrength of Competition with guest Sarah Robinson, CEO of FRESH Concepts and one of the first seven Gallup-certified strengths coaches.

Sarah shares her personal journey with the Competition strength, highlighting her challenges and victories. She offers insights into coaching competitive individuals, especially women, and how to channel competition toward personal and professional growth.

Whether you're coaching, leading, or reflecting on your own strengths, this episode is packed with practical advice and wisdom for competitors at heart.

Additional Resources: Connect with Brandon on LinkedIn

Connect with Sarah Robinson on LinkedIn How to Be a Good Teammate to me: [email protected] Learn more about 34 Strong

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