Focusing on Strengths Builds Strong Teams
Strong teams are built by recognizing and leveraging the unique strengths of each individual. Throughout my career, I’ve used CliftonStrengths assessment as a framework for understanding how people contribute, collaborate, and lead. It has shaped both my own leadership style and the way I build high-performing, mission-driven teams.
The assessment results provide a person’s top 5 talents or strengths. These can be used to build collaborative, people-focused teams. When people understand each other’s strengths, they can shape their working groups to emphasize their talents and ultimately build stronger teams.
Amanda’s Strengths
- Strategic
- Communication
- Connectedness
- Learner
- Woo
Strategic
Amanda naturally sees patterns, relationships, and opportunities that help organizations solve complex problems and navigate change. She synthesizes information from diverse sources, identifies emerging patterns, and develops practical strategies that align communications with organizational priorities. For tasks and projects, she maps out possible scenarios and pivot points to develop dynamic plans. This strength has been particularly valuable in leading organizational branding initiatives, crisis communications, digital transformation projects, and complex stakeholder engagement efforts.
Communication
As a strategic communication leader, Amanda translates complex ideas into clear, compelling messages that build understanding, inspire action, and strengthen trust. She’s a storyteller at heart and enjoys breaking down complex ideas into clear, accessible communications. Throughout her career, she has helped executive leaders, public agencies, and mission-driven organizations communicate with clarity during both everyday operations and high-profile initiatives. Her enthusiasm and gift for engagement are an asset to any team.
Connectedness
Amanda believes meaningful relationships are the foundation of strong organizations and thriving communities. This is demonstrated through her commitment to public service both in her career and her community involvement. You may find her volunteering to advocate door-to-door for a transit millage or picking up litter in her neighborhood. She naturally brings people together around shared goals and helps build consensus among diverse groups. It inspires people to join her and helps bring diverse groups together. Her empathetic lens provides her with a deep understanding of how people’s daily actions impact others.
Learner
An insatiable learner, Amanda always has questions and isn’t shy about asking them. You will find Amanda constantly pondering how and why things are the way they are. Amanda enjoys quickly mastering unfamiliar subjects by identifying subject matter experts, asking thoughtful questions, and synthesizing complex information into practical strategies. She rapidly develops subject matter expertise, allowing her to contribute effectively across complex policy, infrastructure, environmental, and organizational initiatives.
Winning Others Over
Amanda naturally builds rapport, establishes trust quickly, and enjoys connecting with people from diverse backgrounds. Early in her career working in hospitality, Amanda developed the ability to build genuine relationships with people from all walks of life. Those experiences continue to shape how she approaches community engagement, stakeholder relationships, and collaborative leadership today. Whether meeting with elected officials, community members, business leaders, or project partners, Amanda enjoys understanding what motivates people and finding common ground that leads to productive collaboration.
Leading through Strengths
Together, these strengths shape how I approach leadership. They enable me to develop thoughtful strategies, communicate with clarity, build meaningful relationships, continuously learn, and bring people together around shared goals. Whether leading organizational change, managing complex communications, or supporting mission-driven organizations, these strengths provide the foundation for my work.