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, organizational change, and leadership turnover, people are still craving depth over breadth.

Relator says: “I don’t need to know everyone. I need to truly know the people I work with.”

In high-performing teams, trust is built through real conversations, shared experiences, and leaders who take time to know their people beyond job titles. Ideas for Leaders: Eat together. Celebrate together. Get out of your comfort zone together.

Achiever: Endurance Still Matters

While Achiever continues its dominance in the database, but you might be experiencing it looking a little different than it did a few years ago.

Achiever energy says: “I want to contribute. I want to make progress. I want to end the day knowing it mattered.”

What’s changed is how Achievers want to work. They’re no longer motivated by hustle. They want clarity, priorities, and a sense that their effort is aligned to something worthwhile.

The message for leaders? Honor effort, but protect focus.

Developer: Growth IS the Job

Developer in the top five is one of my favorite signals.

It tells us that people aren’t just focused on output, they’re focused on potential. They’re watching for growth in others. They’re investing in coaching, feedback, and long-term capability building.

Developer says: “People matter, and progress isn’t always fast, but it’s always worth it.”

On strong teams, development is embedded in how leaders lead, how teams collaborate, and how success is defined. Who are you developing right now?

Learner: Willingness Wins

If you’ve felt like the ground keeps shifting under your feet, I feel it, too. (Hello, AI Everything!) And Learner showing up in the top five confirms it.

Learner thrives in environments that are evolving. It asks questions, seeks context, and stays curious.

Learner tells us this: "Expertise matters. Willingness to learn matters more."

When leaders model curiosity, teams feel permission to adapt, innovate, and evolve. When leaders cling to expertise, teams play it safe.

So here's your leadership coaching question: Where am I prioritizing being right over being curious and what is that costing my team?

Empathy: Humanity Is NOT Optional

Empathy rounding out the top five surprised me and may be the clearest signal of all.

People are carrying a lot, personally and professionally. Empathy says: “I see you. I feel with you. I care how this impacts you.”

This means whether we have Empathy in our own dominant strengths or not (It's my #34), we need to lead with emotional awareness. Leading well today requires understanding that performance and well-being are deeply connected.

Ask: “How can I hold the standard and acknowledge the strain my team is under?”

For those of you leading a team in 2026, your advantage won’t come from having the best answers. It will come from how well you connect, how intentionally you develop people, and how willing you are to learn alongside them.

Be Awesome Today,

Kathy Kersten

Gallup Certified Strengths Coach

Host of Obey Your Strengths Podcast

I'm a fan(girl) of Ninjacue. Can you believe we live in an age in which someone can make a living off of "grilling" on YouTube? These are the days! I recently made his "easy smash burger taco" for my family and let's just say it was a SMASHING SUCCESS with my three kids. YUM!

Let’s make your team stronger this year.

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