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Strengths On Fire

Strengths On Fire

By: Bill Dippel and Sarah Collins
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 Strengths on Fire is where dynamic strengths coaching meets real, relatable conversations. Hosted by Bill, a Gen X with a wealth of experience, and Sarah Collins, an elder millennial with fresh perspectives, we bring together our shared CliftonStrengths—WOO, Activator, Developer, and Harmony—to ignite engaging and entertaining discussions. Whether we’re laughing, learning, or diving deep into our guests’ top 10 strengths, we’re here to show you how to turn strengths into your secret weapon at work and in life. Expect professional development with a twist—because growth should be fun!© 2025 Bill Dippel and Sarah Collins Career Success Economics Personal Development Personal Success
Episodes
  • What If You Hate Your Strengths? with Jen Werner

    What If You Hate Your Strengths? with Jen Werner
    Jun 17 2025

    Ever looked at your CliftonStrengths results and thought, “Ugh, I don’t like these?” You’re not alone.

    In this honest and energizing episode, Sarah Collins and Bill Dippel sit down with special guest Jen Werner to explore what it really takes to embrace your strengths—especially when they don’t show up the way you expected. Jen shares her personal journey from resisting her strengths to recognizing their power, and the trio dives into the messy, beautiful work of self-awareness, coaching, and growth.You’ll hear real talk about what it’s like to dislike your results, why individualization matters, and how your strengths shape (and sometimes strain) your personal and professional relationships. Whether you’re a coach, a team leader, or someone still figuring out how to own what makes you unique, this episode will leave you feeling seen—and maybe even a little more proud of your quirks.


    🔥 7 Main Takeaways

    1. Strengths culture doesn’t happen by accident.
    2. Ambassadors and in-house coaches are game-changers.
    3. You can’t outsource culture. Bringing in a coach is powerful, but without internal commitment and leadership modeling, strengths won’t transform your team.
    4. Skeptics aren’t the problem—silence is.
    5. Professional development needs consistency.
    6. Curiosity is your secret weapon. When team dynamics get sticky, leading with curiosity over criticism builds trust and opens doors.
    7. One-size-fits-all doesn’t work. Strengths-based development is most effective when it’s tailored to the team’s culture, goals, and internal rhythms.


    💥 Sound Bites

    1. “You can’t call it culture after one workshop.”
    2. “Awareness is the spark. Application is the fire.”
    3. “Ambassadors make the magic last.”
    4. “If your team’s growth is outsourced, it’s not sustainable.”
    5. “The goal isn’t to make everyone a coach—it’s to make coaching normal.”
    6. “A good ambassador doesn’t have all the answers—they ask better questions.”
    7. “Curiosity creates culture. Criticism shuts it down.”
    8. “Skeptics can actually sharpen the system—if you let them talk.”
    9. “One workshop is a start, not a solution.”
    10. “Strengths work isn’t a checklist—it’s a commitment.”
    11. “Don’t expect culture change if no one’s following up.”
    12. “If we’re not building muscle, we’re just giving pep talks.”
    13. “Leaders don’t need to be the loudest—they need to be the most consistent.”
    14. “A coaching culture means strengths live in the day-to-day, not just the kickoff.”
    15. “If you want strengths to stick, give the work to the people—not just the facilitator.”

    Bill's Top 10 CliftonStrengths

    1) Individualization

    2) Developer

    3) Activator

    4) Woo

    5) Restorative

    6) Empathy

    7) Harmony

    8) Connectedness

    9) Relator

    10) Learner

    Sarah's Top 10 CliftonStrengths

    1) Positivity

    2) Woo

    3) Communication

    4) Harmony

    5) Activator

    6) Developer

    7) Input

    8) Individualization

    9) Responsibility

    10) Arranger

    Official Strengths On Fire Website: https://strengthsonfire.transistor.fm

    GET MORE FROM BILL AND SARAH:
    Bill's info:
    https://billdippel.com/
    https://www.linkedin.com/in/williamdippel/
    https://www.instagram.com/billdippelcoach/

    Sarah's info:
    https://www.wearecollinsco.com/
    https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahcoachcollins/
    https://www.instagram.com/sarahcoachcollins/
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    57 mins
  • If Strengths Are So Powerful, Why Do So Many Teams Still Struggle?

    If Strengths Are So Powerful, Why Do So Many Teams Still Struggle?
    Jun 10 2025
    You believe in strengths. You’ve done the workshops. You’re bought in.So… why does your team still hit roadblocks?In this episode, Sarah Collins and Bill Dippel tackle the messy middle of strengths-based development—the part where good intentions meet real-world team dynamics. They dig into bold truths about why teams struggle even when they’ve embraced CliftonStrengths, and what it actually takes to turn awareness into sustained culture change.You’ll hear insights on why one-off workshops don’t stick, how to empower internal champions (aka strengths ambassadors), and what to do when you’ve got skeptics in the room. Whether you’re a leader, coach, or team member trying to get buy-in and build momentum, this episode offers practical strategies to keep the strengths conversation alive—and make it matter. Because knowing your strengths is great. Living them out with your team? That’s where the magic—and the hard work—really begins.🔥 7 Takeaways Knowing your strengths doesn’t magically make you a high-performing team. Strengths awareness is just step one—application, trust, and communication are where the real transformation happens.Teams struggle when strengths stay siloed. Without regular conversations and shared understanding, individual strengths don’t add up to collective success.Assuming good intent is powerful—but it needs structure. Saying “assume the best” isn’t enough without healthy conflict habits and clear expectations.Strengths can clash when left unchecked. What energizes one person might drain or frustrate another—and that’s where dialogue (not judgment) is key.Trust takes time—and intention. Strengths work creates language and self-awareness, but psychological safety is what makes people speak up, lean in, and collaborate deeply.Feedback is essential. If your team avoids it, you’ll plateau. Strengths help people give and receive feedback with more grace and specificity.You can’t just give everyone a report and call it culture. A strengths-based team is built through ongoing conversations, curiosity, and shared responsibility.💥 Sound Bites“Strengths aren’t magic—they’re tools. And tools only work when you use them.”“If you stop at the Top 5 report, you’re stopping at awareness—not impact.”“It’s not about having strengths—it’s about sharing strengths.”“Teams break down when we admire each other’s strengths, but never talk about what we need.”“Assuming good intent only works if we’re also doing the work of building trust.”“If you don’t understand how your strength feels to someone else, you’ll keep creating friction.”“A strength overdone isn’t a superpower—it’s a blind spot.”“You can’t be a high-performing team without psychological safety—period.”“Feedback isn’t a threat—it’s a gift when it’s strengths-based.”“You’ve got your strengths. Cool. Now what?”“Strengths don’t remove tension—they give us a better way to work through it.”“It’s not about fixing people—it’s about finding the best in them together.”“Just because you’re energized doesn’t mean you’re easy to work with.”“We need to normalize strengths conversations like we normalize status updates.”“Your team doesn’t need another offsite—they need honest, curious conversations.”Bill's Top 10 CliftonStrengths 1) Individualization2) Developer3) Activator4) Woo5) Restorative6) Empathy7) Harmony8) Connectedness9) Relator10) Learner Sarah's Top 10 CliftonStrengths 1) Positivity2) Woo3) Communication4) Harmony5) Activator6) Developer7) Input8) Individualization9) Responsibility10) Arranger Official Strengths On Fire Website: https://strengthsonfire.transistor.fm GET MORE FROM BILL AND SARAH:Bill's info: https://billdippel.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/williamdippel/https://www.instagram.com/billdippelcoach/Sarah's info:https://www.wearecollinsco.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahcoachcollins/https://www.instagram.com/sarahcoachcollins/
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    58 mins
  • Is The Strengths Movement Helping People-Or Letting Them Off The Hook?

    Is The Strengths Movement Helping People-Or Letting Them Off The Hook?
    Jun 3 2025
    Season 2 is here—and we’re starting with a spark. In this kickoff episode, Strengths on Fire hosts Sarah Collins and Bill Dippel take you behind the scenes of what worked (and what didn’t) in Season 1, and unveil an all-new format packed with bold questions, real talk, and more audience interaction than ever. The big question on the table: Is the strengths movement helping people grow—or giving them a free pass to opt out? You’ll hear honest stories about coaching clients, marriage dynamics, team challenges, and even awkward feedback moments—all through the lens of CliftonStrengths. Along the way, you’ll learn how to call people in instead of letting them off the hook, how to use your strengths to handle tough tasks (even if they’re at the bottom of your list), and why great leaders turn criticism into recognition. Whether you’re a coach, leader, or someone just trying to figure out how to grow without burning out, this episode will challenge you, entertain you, and get you thinking deeper about how strengths really show up at work and in life🎯 Main TakeawaysThe strengths philosophy can be misinterpreted as a permission slip to avoid uncomfortable tasks—but that’s not the intent.Great coaching is about helping people use their strengths to do hard things, not avoid them.Different strengths can achieve the same outcomes when used creatively and intentionally.Just because a theme is in your bottom 5 doesn’t mean you can’t succeed in that area—it just means you’ll get there differently.Managers and leaders must understand strengths deeply to avoid enabling unproductive behavior.Feedback and growth go hand-in-hand, and sometimes our strengths (like harmony) can prevent us from seeking necessary critique.New podcast segments like “Fireworks” and “Dumpster Fires” offer real-life wins and struggles that make strengths more relatable and human.🔥 Sound Bites“We’re not letting people off the hook—we’re showing them how to hook in differently.”“You can get the same outcome in the world through different strengths.”“Just because something is at the bottom of your list doesn’t mean you can’t do it—it means you won’t do it the same way as someone else.”“Strengths used irresponsibly can turn into excuses.”“Deliberative isn’t a hall pass to never make a decision—it’s a signal to manage decision-making intentionally.”“We’re not just here to hear stories; we’re here to debate what actually matters.”“That command and self-assurance combo? It gets sh*t done—but it can intimidate a whole room if you’re not careful.”“Your top strengths are your best tools, but they still require sharpening.”“We’re not just here for dumpster fires—welcome to the fireworks.”“When someone says ‘that’s not my strength’ as a stop sign, they’re misusing the tool.”“Letting people hide behind their bottom strengths is a disservice to growth.”“I’m not good at strategizing—but I’ve learned how to get strategic through my strengths.”“This isn’t about coddling people—it’s about calling them forward through what’s right with them.”“Sometimes you don’t need to change the task, you need to change your approach to the task.”“Our job as coaches isn’t to let people stay comfortable—it’s to help them show up better.”Bill's Top 10 CliftonStrengths 1) Individualization2) Developer3) Activator4) Woo5) Restorative6) Empathy7) Harmony8) Connectedness9) Relator10) Learner Sarah's Top 10 CliftonStrengths 1) Positivity2) Woo3) Communication4) Harmony5) Activator6) Developer7) Input8) Individualization9) Responsibility10) Arranger Official Strengths On Fire Website: https://strengthsonfire.transistor.fm GET MORE FROM BILL AND SARAH:Bill's info: https://billdippel.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/williamdippel/https://www.instagram.com/billdippelcoach/Sarah's info:https://www.wearecollinsco.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahcoachcollins/https://www.instagram.com/sarahcoachcollins/
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    1 hr and 15 mins
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