1. Learner®

From my years of coaching, I know that the Learner strength isn’t the same for everyone. Some people learn through travel and experiences, while others learn best through more formal academic pursuits. I’m the latter. 

Books, classes, certificates, degrees - those are the learning opportunities I love the most. In 2020 I earned a Doctorate of Strategic Leadership Degree (DSL), with a focus on adult learning and development. In my younger years, I earned a Bachelor’s in Elementary Education, with a Minor in History, then a Master’s in Educational Leadership and Administration. 

My education certificates include Elementary Education, Middle School Mathematics, and K-12 Principal Certification.  Since leaving formal education, I’ve become a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach, Senior Certified Professional with the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM-SCP), and a Certified 360 Assessment Facilitator with Center for Creative Leadership. 

Despite all of that, I still daydream about more degrees and certificates! I usually have at least three books going at the same time, and have a long list of reading recommendations that I treasure from clients, friends, and family on the notes app of my phone. 

Hobbies are the same. My favorites are the ones that have a never ending supply of knowledge associated with them. Ecological gardening (all the plants, the insects, the Latin names) and fly fishing (all the fish, the flies, the bodies of water) are my main pursuits these days. For me, the best hobbies are the ones I know will take me a lifetime to master.

2. Intellection®

I often start my coaching sessions with clients by saying, “I’ve been thinking about you, and what we talked about last time.” And it's true. I think about my clients all the time. Their challenges, breakthroughs, and feedback drive me to focus my learning on topics that will be helpful for their growth. Reflecting on their unique experiences and individual goals adds value to my coaching, and more often than not results in me earning “trusted advisor” status.

3. Input®

Nothing gives me greater joy than being able to match just the right book, resource, or nugget of truth with the challenge that a client or friend is facing. It's one thing to hoard information. It's another to be able to pull out just the right thing that will help the right person at just the right time. That’s what I love best about my Input strength!

4. Connectedness®

If we’re working together, it's because I care about what you care about. Helping you achieve your mission is what drives me and fulfills me. The older I get, the more the saying, “I touch the future - I teach” has come to life for me. Seeing former students making an impact in the world is deeply moving. In the same way, I love seeing the positive results of helping mission-driven leaders, teams, and organizations operate more effectively. It's an aspect of my work that is both incredibly humbling and motivating.

5. Responsibility®

Volunteerism and community service are responsibilities that are central to my life. I serve on the board of my local library, am a member of the Ecological Landscape Alliance’s education committee, and support the non-profit organization Plant With Purpose. As everyone who volunteers knows, opportunities to provide practical support to causes that I care deeply about always feels like gaining more than I give.