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Talents, Teams & Tacos with Kathy Kersten

Bite-sized insights on building high-performing teams, unlocking natural talents, and occasionally celebrating the brilliance of a well-made taco. 🌮

Strengths for Couples
Featured Post

Strengths for Couples | Live Webinar Feb 26 at 6:30pm

Why Strengths for Couples? Because “Why Are You Like This?” Deserves a Better Answer. If you’ve ever looked at your partner and thought, “I love you… but WHY do you do it that way?” Congratulations. You’re exactly who this webinar is for. On February 26 at 6:30pm, I’m hosting a 60-minute Strengths for Couples webinar with two of my favorite humans: Jennifer Soos, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, and her husband Ron Soos, a Gallup Certified Strengths Coach. Yes... a therapist and a...

Hi Reader, Welcome to the new subscribers. I'm really glad you're here. In this issue: Aim at What's Strong, Not at What's Wrong Open Enrollment Learning Experiences Introducing Strengths for Couples... FINALLY! If you're new to CliftonStrengths (or even if you've known your Top 5 for years), here’s one of the most important things to understand: Strengths are not just what you’re good at.They’re how you naturally think, feel, and behave when you’re at your best. That distinction matters,...

The Top 5 of 2025

Hi Reader, In this issue: 2025's Top 5 Strengths Open Enrollment Learning Experiences Smash Burger + Taco = Kid Favorite Last year, more than 2.2 million people took the CliftonStrengths assessment. Holy Moly Guacamole. What surprised me most? The top CliftonStrengths themes of last year were: Relator. Achiever. Developer. Learner. Empathy. WAIT...What??? EMPATHY? Let’s unpack what this Top 5 signals to leaders. Relator: Trust is STILL the Currency Even after years of disruption, remote work,...

Strengths at the Company Holiday Party...

Hi Reader, Company holiday parties are one of my favorite places to watch strengths in the wild. I'm the kind of party-goer that loves group games (like White Elephant), so I can really witness people's strengths in action!! Here is a light-hearted look at how each CliftonStrength might celebrate at the company celebration this year. Have fun spotting your themes! 🎁 Achiever: “I’m here, but only for a bit... I've got a lot of other stuff to do.”Activator: “Let’s get this party started! Why...

Hi Reader, Last week, I spent a half-day coaching a Go-To-Market team currently in the "norming" stage of their team development. One of the main themes that surfaced from our time together was this: "We all want more feedback." And yet, several team members openly expressed their struggle to give constructive feedback to peers and direct reports. Often, the struggle could be a strength getting in the way. Harmony - "I want to protect the relationship." Developer - "I hesitate to point out...

Be Known for Giving Generous Feedback Edition

Hi Reader, If you are like many of my clients, you are gearing up for everyone's favorite time of year: Hunting Season. Holidays. Performance Reviews! (YES!) Being a Learner + Maximizer, I've spent 10,000 hours studying the art and science of delivering feedback. "Feedback is a gift." is a helpful microscript I picked up during my years at Rackspace. But here's the unfortunate truth: Most feedback conversations are rushed, vague, or worse, skipped. UGH! Here's my coaching to you: Be known as...

Hi Reader, I hope your October if off to a strong start, Strengths Fans! As we kick off Q4, I'm curious... what's on your leadership mind? Will you share your thoughts in my poll? Your answer will help shape the content of my next newsletter. What's your biggest leadership priority before year-end? Building Team Trust Improving Team Performance Aligning on Goals/Strategy Recognizing and Celebrating Team Wins OCTOBER COURSES NOW AVAILABLE Each of the workshops below is designed to help you...

Leadership Insights with Extra Guac

Hi Reader, Happy October!! I'm kicking off something new this month... My very own newsletter, straight to my favorite clients. If you geek out on strengths, want to build unstoppable teams and never say no to tacos, this one's for you. 🌮 In this issue: • Talent Coaching Tip: Leveraging LEARNER • Understanding Your Team’s Center of Gravity • October Courses Now Open! • Taco ’bout the Coolest T-shirt… • Teams on the Big Screen This newsletter is a dream in the making and my goal is for it to...