LIVE session
replay
Empowering educators to joyfully fulfill their God-given calling
How Everyone Thrives When We Embrace Our Strengths
with Bethany von Steinbergs of Flourish Consulting LLC
What if the key to a thriving, joyful learning environment was already within you? In this engaging session, Bethany von Steinbergs introduces Gallup’s StrengthsSpotting™ model—a powerful tool designed to help educators and school leaders identify and nurture their innate talents, as well as those they teach and lead. Through insightful discussion, interactive moments, and actionable strategies, you'll learn how to cultivate a strengths-based culture that energizes teaching, supports student growth, and strengthens your entire school community.
The session was recorded live at 11:00am EST on Saturday, October 18. Please click the button below to jump in the WebinarJam room and watch the replay:
The Discussion Room was open for 30 minutes after this session to discuss what we learned. Click here to check out Discussion Room options for future live sessions.
Resources
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About Bethany von Steinbergs
Bethany von Steinbergs is the founder of Flourish Consulting LLC, a boutique consulting firm dedicated to engaging and developing talent within organizations. Bethany is a captivating and passionate communicator, a gifted facilitator, and a champion of Strengths development. Throughout her 20+ year professional career, which spans education, cross-cultural service, student affairs, organizational leadership, and consulting nationally and internationally, Bethany has witnessed, first hand, the transformational impact of an asset-based approach to developing people and teams.
Bethany builds relational connections by asking informed questions, mindfully listening, and intentional speaking into identity. She has 24 years of experience using the CliftonStrengths® tool as a means for understanding and engaging human potential.
Bethany holds an undergraduate degree in Education from Bethel University and a Master of Arts degree in Missional Leadership from Northwest University. She lives on 16 acres in Zumbrota, Minnesota with her husband, three sons and many farm animals, including yak and goats.
Bethany's CliftonStrengths® are Activator, Communication, Responsibility, WOO & Achiever.
Connect with Bethany:
We want to thank our sponsor....
Gracelyn University
Gracelyn University is an accredited online university that equips aspiring educators to answer God’s call, without stepping away from their classroom or community. We offer affordable, fully online bachelor’s and master’s degree programs designed for working adults in public, private, and faith-based schools. Whether it’s a paraprofessional in a public district, a teaching assistant at a Christian school, or a second-career educator in training, Gracelyn helps people earn their degree and certification while continuing to serve.
Every course is taught from a biblical worldview, integrating academic rigor with spiritual purpose. If someone you know has a heart for students and the potential to be a great teacher, we’d love to support them.
Free Resource from Gracelyn University
Not all master’s programs are the same. Differences in cost, structure, support, and long-term impact can make a big impact on your decision. If you are a teacher who wants to step into leadership while staying true to your values and your career, this guide will help you compare your options clearly.
This free resource provides a side-by-side comparison of four online master’s programs, including Gracelyn University, WGU, SNHU, and Liberty. You will see how each program handles tuition, course pacing, mentorship, certification, and more.
The guide is designed to help you choose a program that fits your goals and equips you to create meaningful change in your classroom, school, or district.
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Share your biggest takeaway below.
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*Comments may be used as testimonials.
I’ve been doing strength-finder with my staff for a number of years, and have encouraged them in their teaching in this way. However, I love the practical strategies shared to unlock the strengths in our students. Too many times we try to put kids(teachers) in a box. I also loved that Bethany continuously brought it back to a Biblical perspective and relying on the power of the Holy Spirit. Wonderful session.
Thank you for this much-needed seminar. Didn’t know I needed it! I want to share the info with other members of my family, and I want to start changing the way I view my students and how I speak to them in the classroom tomorrow. Very powerful message. Thank you so much!
I won thr prize during this session, but lost the email I was supposed to respond to. Can someone send that to me please!
Wow! So amazing. Focus on what is right with myself, my kids, my husband, my students, my colleagues, etc. Such a powerful mindset move. Help me, Lord. I want to be a spotter of unique talents. Thank you!
I love the idea of finding what’s right about someone. Also, I have alarms on my phone because I get so caught up in teaching that I forget all of the other stuff I’m supposed to do.
I have so many alarms – thank you that I’m not the only one!
Knowing that a child’s identity at 3yo is what they’ll be at 23 (or was it 26?) is the same – yikes. That puts the pressure on us to train them into their potential – recognizing their strengths is crucial. Especially the ones that tend to grate on our nerves.
I had never heard of the Clifton Strengths assessment before. I really appreciated everything she was sharing about looking for our own strengths and the strengths of others.
I was not familiar with Clifton Strengths, and I will definitely look up that site; nevertheless, the encouragement to ask “What is right with that person?” to help students and peers discover their strengths and lean into them, and create opportunities to develop their strengths was fabulous.
Drawing the best out of people first requires us to find the best in ourselves first. “Uncover their greatest potential… from the cradle to the cubicle to the casket.”
Two takeaways that stuck: (1) Growth is linked to feedback. Feedback can be praise and critiques. If you are not receiving feedback then you don’t have opportunities to grow. (2) What would happen if we studied what was right with people versus what’s wrong with people?– Donald O. Clifton
My biggest takeaway was during the “after party”. Bethany was so genuine and encouraging. I appreciated the paradigm shift in our thinking to look at what we say is “too much or not enough” and think that is a strength. ie. “I’m too type a–>I like to be orderly.” It seems simple but I know many people who need to hear this.
This session prompts me to remember ‘living fearlessly’ by Jamie Winship. God calls me who I am. I have never heard of a strengths test assessment, am looking forward to learning mine. Even though I probably know several of them already.
Thank you for your Biblical encouragment to remind us of Focus on what is Right!!!
My biggest takeaway is that we need to focus on what is right about the kids and not what is wrong. This can be a big motivator. I need to do this more this year.
I love the idea of asking students “What was a strong moment that you had?” I’m an English teacher and a Bible teacher, so I can easily tie a question like that into a journal prompt for them.
Also, in my Bible class, we were JUST learning about Moses & the Burning Bush and how he came up with all sorts of excuses for why he couldn’t do God’s calling. I’m going to try to create a journal prompt for my students to get them to relate to this and to consider what ways God can use them too.
Thanks for the mindset switch. The idea to see the strengths over the weakness. Maybe the disruptive student has a hidden strength. Think I’m going to start looking for that as a way to redirect.
Great session. Learning to re-frame how we think about our students and ourselves.
This was thought-provoking. I don’t agree with the focus being on our strengths, because they have been given to us from God–He should be the focus. I think it’s good to know where we are naturally talented and to build off those strenghts, but there is nothing inherently good in us (Rom. 7:18), so it’s not about what’s right with us. I think the question could be better worded, “What has God gifted me with, and how does He want to use me for His glory?” All the focus should be on Him and what He’s doing (Col. 2:8-10).
One takeaway that really stood out to me that I want to implement in my classroom is noticing, pointing out, and encouraging my students in the strengths God has given them. Teaching in a public school, I’m limited on how I approach this with them. However, it’s revolutionary for me to come at it with the perspective that God has given each of my kids talents, even though they don’t know Him, and I have the privilege of getting to help them discover those and point them to Jesus just in the way I love them and patiently help them grow.
I love the idea of finding strengths in my colleagues and then focusing on strengths in our students together , being “strength spotters”!
I was reminded that God has uniquely designed and equipped each of us with purpose and intention (Strengths). We are His workmanship—fearfully and wonderfully made—and called to use our gifts (Strengths) to serve others and glorify Him. This session encouraged me to lean fully into that calling with confidence and gratitude.
I want to pursue looking for others’ strengths, especially my students. I am an intervention specialist, and I am usually focused on areas of need. Very informative and enjoyable!!
Great content and resources. I’m excited to take the Strengths Assessment and have my staff take it as well. My greatest take away is that it’s a mind shift – it’s intentional. Thank you! Great session!
My biggest takeaway is how to look for the strength in ourselves and others. 1) What are we drawn to? 2) What do we pick up on quickly? 3)Looking for those things we get excited about doing again and again. 4) What do we lose track of time doing?
Thank you for this session.
I loved learning about the Clifton Strengths Assessment and can’t wait to do and use in my teaching!
I had not heard of the Clifton Strengths tests before. I will need to take it.
It is very difficult for me to self-reflect accurately. I tend to be rather hard on myself and see only the negative. I think I see positive in others a lot, but not in myself.
This session was one that I want to share with others, particularly some of our faculty members. Thank you.
I’m very similar, so I can relate!
Engaging their strengths — such a great way to navigate interactions with my colleagues and my students!
This was my first session of the conference. It is an inspiring way to start!
Making sure I am finding my strengths so I can better serve the kids I am working with or even other staff.
I love, LOVE the idea of strength spotting! I took so many notes!
I did too!
This helps me frame my thoughts for leading teachers and students. It is so helpful to be able to pair with hard conversations for people too.
Bethany reminded us to focus on what’s right and look out for strengths in ourselves, our coworkers, and our students. She gave us tools to use to do that. Such a practical session that also refocused me. It was timely for me this week. Thank you!
Great Session
Looking for what’s right in those we encounter and building on those strengths.
This idea of seeing what is right with students is so powerful. As HS teachers, we focus so heavily on where they went wrong to help them improve. But how often do they hear about what is right with them?? I am going to run with this!!
Starting with our reflection and prayer about our own strengths will help us to better develope the strengths of each our students. I’m so excited to tap into their strengths as well as my own.
Being able to learn about Strengths Spotting and how to help my 1st graders to find their talents is so wonderful! I am so excited to help them know, own, show, and grow in their identity.