Summary of MAKERS Masterclass: Lead From Strength with Joanna Barsh

In the MAKERS Masterclass led by Joanna Barsh, key wellness strategies, self-care techniques, and productivity tips were shared to help individuals lead from their strengths. Here’s a summary of the main points discussed:

Key Wellness Strategies and Self-Care Techniques:

Getting Present: Engage in a "check-in" at the start of meetings or gatherings to foster awareness and connection. This involves:
- Asking participants how they are feeling.
- Encouraging each person to share their thoughts without interruption.
Mindfulness and Meditation: Incorporate mindfulness practices, such as breathing exercises, to calm the mind and enhance focus. A guided meditation was suggested to reflect on personal strengths and past achievements.
Iceberg Concept: Understand that much of who we are lies beneath the surface. The visible part (behavior) is only 12%, while feelings, beliefs, and identity are deeper, requiring introspection to uncover.
Storytelling: Share personal stories of challenges and accomplishments to build confidence and connect with others. This helps in recognizing and articulating one's strengths.

Productivity Tips:

Strength Identification: Utilize assessments like the VIA Character Strengths survey to identify personal strengths. Knowing your strengths can guide decision-making and leadership style.
Daily Intentions: Start each day by setting an intention for what you want to achieve, both personally and professionally.
Focus on Strengths: Shift discussions from problems to what is working well. This approach fosters a positive environment and encourages innovative solutions.
Collaborative Strength Discovery: Encourage team members to share their strengths, creating a diverse pool of talents that can be leveraged for better outcomes.

Action Preparation:

Challenge Reflection: Identify a significant work or personal challenge, visualize overcoming it, and write down the story of success to reinforce confidence.
Check-Out Process: At the end of meetings or sessions, reflect on feelings and discoveries made during the discussion to solidify learning and growth.

Presenters/Sources:

Joanna Barsh
Tracy Marks Bernstein
Cecilia (guest participant)

This masterclass emphasized the importance of self-awareness, mindfulness, and the power of strengths in leadership and personal development.

Notable Quotes

— 03:02 — « Dog treats are the greatest invention ever. »

— 04:28 — « This is a safe space and no matter what you do or not do, what you say or not say, it's all right. »

— 22:25 — « It took a ton of work to get this done. It was a huge creative risk and everybody was scared of it. »

— 23:21 — « Strengths build on strengths and we get to solutions we did not think were possible. »

— 46:00 — « It's one thing to sit in a class like we're doing right now and it's another thing to take it forward into the world. »