Take Charge of Your Talent Program
Enjoy a productive and rewarding program for you to take charge of your talent. As we demonstrate, peak performance comes with people who have a hopeful frame of mind, view obstacles as opportunities, and find ways to translate their talent into tangible benefits for themselves and others. In that light, if you have any fears about the program (“Will this work for me?” “Will I look good?” “Where will it all lead?”), we encourage you to look at the hopeful flip side (“I’m interested in exploring some new ways of looking at things.” “I’d like to stretch and learn.” “Let’s see where we can go together.”).
All materials and information for the program appear here or are linked from this landing page. So, you can return here to find what you need.
Preparation prior to Key #1: Power Up Your Talent Story, 10:30 a.m., Thursday, May 20
There are a few things for each of you to do before our first session “Key #1: Power Up Your Talent Story” at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, May 20, so that you get the most out of the session.
- Complete the pre-program survey by May 13 so that I can compile the results. The survey should take less than 5 minutes to complete. Your candid responses will remain anonymous and help you get more out of the first session.
- Download your personal copy of the Take Charge of Your Talent Participant Guide and read pages 2-11 and be thinking about the questions in the Talent Catalyst Conversation (but you don’t need to have the answers filled out). We’ll be discussing Talent Catalyst Conversations in the webinar. When you practice this key, you’ll be in the role of the Hero in one Conversation and a Talent Catalyst for someone else in another Conversation. Note: The Guide will be your resource as you develop the next chapter in your talent story. The Guide is in an interactive PDF format. Please bring a hard copy or have the PDF available for each of the sessions.
- Recommended: read the first 55 pages of the book “Take Charge of Your Talent. These pages provide background and insights for Key #1: Power Up Your Talent Story.
Want to see an example of a complete Talent Catalyst Conversation? Watch this 39-minute video of a live, unrehearsed, Talent Catalyst Conversation. See how a Conversation unfolds to provide fresh perspectives and actionable ideas. This session features an executive assistant and Public Information Officer for a local government agency with Don Maruska as her Talent Catalyst.
“What are your hopes?” This blog post will help you think about yours.
Materials and Recordings from Session 1 May 20, 2021
PDF of presentation materials, Recording of session
Preparation prior to Key #2: Accelerate through Obstacles, 10:30 a.m. EDT, Tuesday, June 22
- Complete your Talent Catalyst Conversation for yourself and serve as a Talent Catalyst for someone else. Do this by May 27 so that you have time to do the remaining preparation before our next session on June 17.
- Start taking action on the items from your Talent Catalyst Conversation and observe the obstacles you encounter
- Read Key #2 in your Participant Guide (pages 12-20).
- Recommended: read Key #2 in book (pages 56-112).
- Watch related videos (optional):
“Drive” by Daniel Pink
http://www.ted.com/talks/dan_pink_on_motivation.html
“Mindset” by Carol Dweck
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTsF2TaEaJA
Materials and Recording from Session 2 June 22, 2021
PDF of presentation materials, Recording of session
Preparation prior to Key #3: Multiply the Payoffs for Yourself and Others, 10:30 a.m. EDT, Thursday, July 22
- Focus on ways to make your talent tangible and valuable to yourself and others — Key #3
- Review pages 21-24 of Participant Guide
- Recommended: read pages 114-146 in book
- Super talent builders: send an email to Don@DonMaruska.com to receive a complimentary expanded brand exercise
Materials and Recording from Session 3, July 22, 2021