Inspiring Growth Through Strengths at ISU

Idaho State University is empowering student interns to discover and develop their unique talents through the CliftonStrengths® workshops offered on campus.

Idaho State University is empowering student interns to discover and develop their unique talents through the CliftonStrengths® workshops offered on campus. These workshops are designed to help participants identify their top strengths and learn strategies to turn them into professional and personal success.

Hannah Jensen, a public relations major in her sophomore year, and Vic Thomas, a marketing and history major in her junior year, are among the students benefiting from this program. Jensen works on promotions for ISU’s School of Performing Arts, where her responsibilities include putting together performance playbills and tracking ticket information. Thomas’s role focuses on social media management, community outreach, and house management for ISU performances. Both students say the workshops have given them valuable insights into their strengths and how to apply them in their future careers.

“Learning about my strengths is a great motivator to help me continue to cultivate them professionally,” Jensen says. “I learned how much I value working with other people and the mutual benefits of that, and I hope to use these strengths to help others!”

The CliftonStrengths® workshops, offered through ISU’s Human Resources Department, provide participants with insights into their top five strengths, strategies for growth, and tools for building collaborative, strengths-based teams. Clay Smith, HR Training Coordinator at ISU, highlights the importance of these skills in today’s professional world.

“In the current hiring landscape, employers value emotional intelligence and self-awareness more than ever before,” Smith says. “The more our students and CPIs are able to gain knowledge of their strengths, especially early in life, the better. The payoff in their personal and professional lives will be astounding!”

According to Smith, over 1,300 ISU employees, including Career Path Interns, have taken the CliftonStrengths® assessment. Every fall, ASISU officers participate in an introductory session as a team-building exercise, and workshops are also available to faculty and staff.

“This experience was not only incredibly fun but also gave me insight into how to utilize who I am,” Thomas says. “All strengths can be multiplied tenfold and create awesome leaders and communicators!”

For information about training opportunities please visit https://www.isu.edu/hr/employee-tools/training/strengthsfinder/ or contact training@isu.edu.