Develop leaders, teams, and organizations by building on what people do best
CliftonStrengths® helps individuals and organizations understand and apply their natural talents to improve performance, engagement, and leadership effectiveness. Inspired Engagement brings more than 25 years of experience helping leaders, teams, and institutions turn strengths awareness into meaningful, sustained change.
What CliftonStrengths Is and Why It Matters
CliftonStrengths® is a research-based assessment and development framework created by Gallup to help people identify and develop their natural patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving. Rather than focusing on fixing weaknesses, CliftonStrengths provides a common language for understanding what people do best and how those talents can be intentionally developed and applied.
When used well, CliftonStrengths goes beyond individual insight. It becomes a practical tool for improving leadership effectiveness, strengthening teams, and building healthier organizational cultures.
How CliftonStrengths Is Used in Practice
Inspired Engagement works with clients to apply CliftonStrengths in ways that are practical, relevant, and aligned with real-world demands.
Individual Coaching
Supports personal growth, clarity, confidence, and effectiveness by helping individuals understand and apply their strengths in work and life.
Managers and Leaders
Helps leaders leverage their strengths to lead more effectively, build trust, communicate clearly, and support the development of others.
Teams
Creates a shared language that improves collaboration, reduces friction, and helps teams better understand how to work together.
Organizations and Culture
Supports the development of strengths-based cultures that reinforce engagement, accountability, and sustainable performance.
For teams working to strengthen trust and accountability, we also offer the Five Behaviors® experience.
Why CliftonStrengths with Inspired Engagement
CliftonStrengths is most effective when it is integrated into the broader context of leadership, culture, and organizational systems. Inspired Engagement brings depth, perspective, and experience that go well beyond administering an assessment.
More than 25 years of experience using CliftonStrengths in individual coaching, team development, and organizational leadership
Certified Gallup Strengths Coach with early involvement in Gallup’s Higher Education Strengths Advisory group
Extensive experience working with executive teams, boards, and senior leaders
Integration with complementary frameworks including Everything DiSC®, The Five Behaviors®, Interest-Based Dialogue, and Appreciative Inquiry
A focus on longitudinal work that supports real behavior change—not one-time workshops
Example of Our Work
Gateway Technical College partnered with Inspired Engagement to transform CliftonStrengths from isolated use into a sustainable, college-wide strengths culture. Through a multi-year initiative grounded in Appreciative Inquiry, leadership alignment, and custom CliftonStrengths curriculum, employees developed a shared language for collaboration, leadership, and engagement. Strengths became embedded in everyday conversations, team practices, and leadership development—and later expanded to students through the First Year Experience. Even after a presidential transition, the strengths culture continues today, demonstrating lasting impact beyond any single leader or initiative
CliftonStrengths Assessents and Offerings
CliftonStrengths assessments provide insight into an individual’s unique pattern of talents. Inspired Engagement works with clients to select the right assessment and apply the results in ways that support meaningful development for individuals, leaders, teams, and organizations.
CliftonStrengths® Top 5
Identifies an individual’s top five talent themes and provides a strong foundation for personal development, coaching, and strengths-based conversations.
CliftonStrengths® 34
Provides a complete profile of all 34 talent themes, offering deeper insight for leaders, coaches, and individuals seeking a more comprehensive understanding of their strengths.
CliftonStrengths® for Managers
Designed to help managers apply strengths-based leadership practices that support engagement, development, and performance across their teams.
CliftonStrengths® for Leaders
Focuses on how leaders use their strengths to set direction, build alignment, and create conditions for others to succeed.
Who CliftonStrengths® Is For
CliftonStrengths work is most effective for individuals and organizations committed to intentional development, meaningful dialogue, and sustained change.
HR and Organizational Development Professionals
CliftonStrengths supports HR and OD leaders who are responsible for developing people, strengthening teams, and aligning leadership practices with organizational culture. when strengths are integrated with broader development and change initiatives rather than treated as a standalone tool.
Senior Leaders and Executives
CliftonStrengths is well suited for senior leaders who want to better understand how their strengths shape their leadership, decision-making, and impact on others. Leaders often use this work to lead more authentically, build trust, and create conditions where people and teams can perform at their best.
Managers
Managers use CliftonStrengths to improve communication, build stronger relationships, and support the development of their team members. This work helps managers move beyond one-size-fits-all approaches and lead in ways that recognize and leverage individual differences.
Individuals
CliftonStrengths is also valuable for individuals seeking greater self-awareness, confidence, and clarity in how they show up at work and in life. Coaching and development conversations focus on understanding natural talents and applying them intentionally to real-world challenges and goals.
How We Typically Engage
CliftonStrengths work with Inspired Engagement is tailored to the needs, context, and goals of each client. While every engagement is different, most follow a thoughtful, phased approach designed to support meaningful development and sustained change.
Step 1 – Clarify Purpose and Context
We begin by listening. We learn about your history, your goals, and the pain points that are getting in the way of the culture you want.
Step 2 – Select and Administer the Right Assessment
Based on the purpose of the work, we identify the most appropriate CliftonStrengths assessment and ensure participants understand what the assessment is and is not designed to do.
Step 3 – Make Meaning of the Results
Assessment results are explored through coaching conversations, facilitated sessions, or workshops that help individuals and groups understand their strengths and how they show up in real situations.
Step 4 – Apply Strengths in Practice
The focus shifts from insight to application. Participants explore how to intentionally apply their strengths to leadership challenges, decision-making, collaboration, and everyday work.
Step 5 – Reinforce and Sustain Development
When appropriate, we support ongoing development through follow-up conversations, additional facilitation, or integration with complementary leadership and team frameworks to reinforce learning over time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about CliftonStrengths and how this work is used.
Is CliftonStrengths® a personality test?
No. CliftonStrengths is a development-focused assessment that identifies patterns of talent; how people naturally think, feel, and behave. It is designed to support growth and application, not to label or categorize people.
Do I need to know which CliftonStrengths assessment to choose before we talk?
Not at all. Part of the initial conversation is clarifying goals and context so we can determine which assessment, or combination of tools, will be most helpful.
Can CliftonStrengths be used with teams and organizations?
Yes. While CliftonStrengths is often used for individual development, it is also very effective with leadership teams, intact teams, and organizations when integrated into broader development and culture initiatives.
Is CliftonStrengths appropriate for leadership development?
Yes. Many leaders use CliftonStrengths to better understand how their strengths shape their leadership style, decision-making, and impact on others. The work is especially effective when paired with coaching and facilitated dialogue.
Is CliftonStrengths used for hiring or selection?
No. CliftonStrengths is not designed or validated for hiring or selection decisions. It is a development tool and should be used to support growth, learning, and performance not evaluation or screening.
What does a typical engagement look like?
Every engagement is tailored, but most begin with a conversation to clarify goals, followed by assessment, coaching or facilitation, and practical application. Some clients engage in a single initiative, while others choose ongoing support over time.
Let's Talk About What Would Be Most Helpful
If you’re considering CliftonStrengths work and want to explore whether it’s the right fit for your goals, I invite you to schedule a conversation. We’ll talk about your context, priorities, and what meaningful development could look like for you or your organization.
Prefer email? Contact me directly at [email protected]
