When I first got my Gallup Strengths, I didn’t think about them as a tool to support my wellbeing, but as I got to know them, I understood how they apply beyond work to all areas of my life.
Your Strengths are a tool to leading yourself in all areas with intention, care, and awareness.
Gallup’s research identifies five essential elements of wellbeing: Career, Social, Physical, Financial, and Community.
As I reflect on my journey as a coach, leader, and human being, I can see how each of my Top 5 Strengths (Learner, Achiever, Harmony, Input, and Positivity) has supported these areas of my life, and what I’ve learned to look out for along the way.
As you read, I invite you to reflect on how your own Strengths influence each area of wellbeing.
Learner: Growth Is My Oxygen
My Learner is the reason I light up when I’m in a classroom, reading a new book, or diving into fresh ideas. It fuels the wellbeing I feel in my career, and it fills me with purpose. It keeps me inspired, and hopeful about the future.
As a leader, my Learner helps me model curiosity and continuous improvement, fueling a genuine appreciation for feedback and moments of change.
What to watch out for: Sometimes, my Learner makes me feel like I don’t yet know enough to act. I’ve hesitated to say yes to opportunities, thinking I needed more training or preparation. That hesitation has, at times, slowed my momentum and career growth. I’ve learned that growth and action can go hand in hand, and that I often learn best by doing.
Achiever: The Engine Behind My Drive
My Achiever gives me energy through momentum.
I love setting goals and moving toward them. Whether it’s tackling a project or squeezing in a workout, my Achiever is constantly looking for progress.
It’s been a major contributor to my career and physical wellbeing, giving me both motivation and stamina.
In leadership, this Strength allows me to set the pace and lead by example. I pride myself on being consistent, committed, and motivated to deliver results.
What to watch out for: The flip side of the Achiever is overdrive. There was a time I believed that “working harder” was always the answer, and sometimes that meant I sacrificed rest, relationships, or just allowing myself to be in the present.
It became important to me to redefine success to include recovery time, not just what gets checked off the list.
Harmony: Seeking Peace, Building Trust
Harmony has shaped the way I relate to others for as long as I can remember.
I value connection, calm, and emotional safety. I’ve built lifelong friendships and nurturing partnerships that have deeply supported my social wellbeing. On teams, my Harmony helps create psychological safety and clarity through consensus.
As a leader, I have learned to listen well in order to diffuse unnecessary conflict. Over time I sharpened the ways in which I guide others toward shared understanding. Harmony allows me to hold space where people feel respected and valued.
What to watch out for: Harmony, when out of balance, may avoid uncomfortable conversations, which can backfire. I’ve missed moments to speak up because I didn’t want to stir the waters or deal with disagreements.
But I’ve learned Harmony doesn’t mean avoiding conflict, it means using my voice to help make progress on points of agreement and not let myself or others stay stuck.
Input: Gathering What’s Helpful and Necessary
I’m endlessly curious and love to collect insights, resources, and ideas, enabling informed decisions.
This Strength contributes to my financial wellbeing. It keeps me deeply engaged in researching information to make smart buying decisions so I can stay on top of managing my money and prepare for my inevitable retirement.
Input allows me to be a resource for others as well. I often serve as the person who says, “Here’s something that might help,” whether it’s a quote, a podcast, a powerful question or a special limited- time offer.
What to watch out for: When left unchecked, Input can become overwhelming. When overused, I have found myself thinking more is better. I can have a tendency to lose focus by ‘going down rabbit holes” when searching the web. It’s easy for me to collect and save more than I can use but I’ve learned that divestment and discernment are two worthwhile practices for me. Just because something seems interesting in the moment doesn’t mean it’s necessary to save or archive it for later. Clearing out the space in my home and office every 3-4 months has made a huge difference in reducing excess and keeping Input at its best.
Positivity: A Light That Lifts
Positivity is my natural lens on the world.
I see the good, believe in what’s possible, and bring energy to people and situations. It’s what fuels my emotional state and community wellbeing.
In leadership, Positivity helps me build a strong culture and team morale. I genuinely believe in people’s potential and in the brighter path ahead. That energy is contagious and can be uplifting for any community.
What to watch out for: Sometimes, I jump into encouragement too quickly, when what’s really needed is deep listening or empathy.
I’ve had to learn that holding space for sadness, fear, or frustration doesn’t diminish my light; it deepens it. Real Positivity offers hope and light in the darkness.
The Bigger Picture: Strengths + Wellbeing
What I’ve come to understand is this: Strengths are powerful tools for leadership, but they’re also your personalized resources to access deeper levels of wellbeing. Your Strengths help you understand what energizes you, what drains you, and how to recalibrate in the moment. When used with awareness and intention, they help us lead and live from a place of alignment and wholeness in all areas of your life.
If you’re feeling stuck, stretched, or out of balance, I invite you to pause and look inward. Ask yourself: How are my Strengths supporting my wellbeing? How might they be getting in the way?
What would change if you consistently led with YOUR Strengths?
