SDI in learning and development: what it means and how to use it

I have found SDI (Strengths Deployment Inventory) to be a really valuable tool in leadership development, despite my being a skeptical curmudgeon about most of these workplace psychometric tools.

What convinced me was partly personal - I felt it offered valuable insight into my own self (not a pretty sight) - but also because of the impact I've seen it have within the training room. I've used it mainly for leadership development, so that's my main experience, and I've seen many people (not everyone) find it really useful in not only raising self-awareness, but more importantly giving them a roadmap for strengths development that remains true to their authentic self.

In the podcast Simon Gallon talks through the basic theory and its wider application within L&D, in particular in teambuilding and leadership development activities.

It's another long one, but it's good stuff.

Simon Gallon is the Managing Director of PSP UK (Personal Strengths Publishing) and a member of PSP Inc.’s Board of Directors and is an expert in the application of all SDI (Strengths Deployment Inventory) related products and services. (TSDI® and Core Strengths®)

The TSDI® (TotalSDI) suite of tools is based on Relationship Awareness Theory, a unique approach to learning and development which focuses on the reasons why people behave in the ways they do. Through this expertise Simon has helped people across the world understand and apply their core strengths to make a difference to both their professional and personal relationships. By improving relationships between people, performance can be elevated on an individual, team and organisational level.

Simon’s skills as a facilitator, speaker and consultant have been honed over 20+ years of working with individuals at Partner level of major financial institutions, Senior Leaders in the Armed Forces, Managers and Leaders from a wide variety of organisations and cultures, Sales personnel and young people embarking on their next steps into further education.

His innovations as owner and manager of PSP’s largest, and most well-established distributor have led to the creation or improvement of many SDI-related products and services, such as: facilitator certification training programmes, feedback and expectations assessments, and many tools, tips, and techniques to improve overall SDI facilitation and organisational implementation. His areas of expertise are in interpersonal communication, teamwork, appreciative enquiry, conflict management and leadership development.