Big Picture - April 2019 - 2

insight

Sharpen
Your Strengths

W

ouldn't it be amazing if we all focused on what we're really good at instead of

constantly trying to improve upon our weaknesses?
Let me take you back a few years. I remember crying - yes, crying - at my desk
before a Google Analytics meeting I was supposed to lead. The stress of not understanding any of the terminology or how to connect the millions of numbers, charts, and graphs
to the brand's performance - paired with the plethora of other editorial tasks I had on my plate - took me over
the edge. I knew I wasn't good at it. I knew I didn't like it. But I knew it had to be done. So, I continuously
invested in learning all I could about keywords, page views, organic searches, and sessions; I scheduled
one-on-ones with in-office experts; and even attended late-night Mediabistro courses. I was spending so
much time on my shortcomings (and not getting very far) and not enough time developing my strengths.
Today, I'm in a better place with GA thanks to our designated web, newsletter, and social media
analytics guru. Each month, Kelsey gathers all the important info, dissects it, and presents it, layman's
style, to me and Anya. No more pre-meeting stress cries. And our traffic, followers, and clicks have
increased dramatically under Kelsey's direction. Because she's good at it and she keeps getting better.
This gives me time and energy to fi ne-tune what I do well: writing, editing, public speaking, managing a
team, networking, brand building, etc.
This concept of strengths-based work is from StrengthsFinder 2.0, compiled by Gallup and Tom Rath.
The team of Gallup scientists' studies indicate that "people who do have the opportunity to focus on their
strengths every day are six times as likely to be engaged in their jobs." And if you, as a manager, primarily
focus on your employees' strengths, the chances of them being actively disengaged are only one percent.
As part of a team building exercise, our team read the book, took the 30-minute test, and learned our
top five talents. Then we discussed how to best work with each other's strengths and made changes to
daily tasks based on what we learned about ourselves. Out of Gallup's 34 aptitude themes, my strengths
are: communication, woo, empathy, harmony, and competition. Right up my alley.
When you and your employees tap into what you're naturally good at, job satisfaction, work performance, and team cohesion can soar. When you hone in on imperfections day in and day out, it can
quickly lead to mental exhaustion and burnout. What strengths do you and your staff members excel in
that are being underutilized? If there's a task you dread, maybe it's an opportunity for someone else in
your shop to shine. Don't let untapped talent go to waste.

bigpicture.net
EDITORIAL
Adrienne Palmer
Editor-in-Chief
adrienne.palmer@stmediagroup.com
Kelsey Johnson
Associate Editor
kelsey.johnson@stmediagroup.com
Anya Rao
Associate Editor
anya.rao@stmediagroup.com
Kathleen DeZarn
Art Director
kathy.dezarn@stmediagroup.com
Marty McGhie, Craig Miller,
Rachel Nunziata, Matt Richart
Columnists
Brian Adam, Ryan Clark, Terry Corman,
Scott Crosby, Michelle Gobert,
Kirk Green, Diana Herrera, Brian Hite,
Hayes Holzhauer, Kerry King,
Robert Kissel, Chris Laniak, Stan Lucas,
Craig Miller, Nicole Piach, Carmen Rad,
Gary Schellerer, Elaine Scrima,
Jon Sherman, Reed Silberman,
James Swanson, Mark Taylor, Luis Vivas
Editorial Advisory Board
SALES
Lou Arneberg
Senior Market Strategist
East and Midwest US, E Canada
800/654-5169
lou.arneberg@stmediagroup.com
Jim Karwowski
Senior Market Strategist
West and South US, W Canada, Europe, Asia
630/474-4038
jim.karwowski@stmediagroup.com
Karen Jones
Senior Market Strategist
GA, NC, SC, Classifieds
843/697-3802
karen.jones@stmediagroup.com
Linda Volz
Production Supervisor
linda.volz@stmediagroup.com

Murray Kasmenn
President
murray.kasmenn@stmediagroup.com

April 2019

Christine Baloga
Audience Development Director
Michael Pence
Director of Technology

BY ADRIENNE PALMER
BIG PICTURE

Editor-in-Chief

2

@Adrienne_BigPic

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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Big Picture - April 2019

https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/bp_202010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/bp_202009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/bp_202008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/bp_20200607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/bp_202005
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/bp_202004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/bp_202003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/bp_20200102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/bp_20191112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/bp_201910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/bp_201909
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/bp_201908
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/bp_20190607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/bp_201905
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/bp_201904
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/bp_201903
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/bp_20190102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/bp_20181112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/bp_201810
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/bp_201809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/bp_201808
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/bp_20180607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/bp_201805
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/bp_201804
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/bp_201803
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/bp_20180102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/bp_20171112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/bp_201710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/bp_201709
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/bp_201708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/bp_20170607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/bp_201705
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/bp_201704
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/bp_201703
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/bp_20170102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/bp_20161112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/bp_201610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/bp_201609
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/bp_201608
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/bp_20160607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/bp_201605
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/bp_201604
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/bp_201603
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/bp_20160102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/bp_20151112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/bp_201510
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/bp_201509
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/bp_201508
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/bp_20150607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/bp_201505
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/bp_201504
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/bp_201503
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/bp_20150102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/bp_201411
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/bp_201410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/bp_201409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/bp_201408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/bp_20140607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/bp_201405
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/bp_201404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/bp_201403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/bp_20140102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/bp_mediainksourcebook1314
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/bp_sourcebook1314
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/bp_201311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/bp_201310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/bp_201309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/bp_201308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/bp_201306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/bp_201305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/bp_201304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/bp_201303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/bp_20130102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/bp_20121112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/bp_201210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/bp_201209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/bp_201208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/bp_201207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/bp_201206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/bp_201205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/bp_201204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/bp_201203
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com