Unlocking Our Strengths
At VPCS, strategic growth has always meant more than simply expanding our project portfolio. This means investing in our team’s development so we can show up stronger for the communities we serve. That’s why we recently set aside time at an all-hands gathering to learn more about our team members’ individual strengths and explore new opportunities to apply those distinct talents to our collective success.
In preparation for this companywide team-building event, every VPCS team member completed the CliftonStrengths® assessment, which identifies a person’s top talents out of 34 unique themes. These themes fall into four key domains: Strategic Thinking, Relationship Building, Executing and Influencing. The goal of the assessment was to help each of us identify and leverage our talents to enhance performance and collaboration. It was an opportunity for us to shine a light on what we all naturally do best.
Understanding our individual strengths gives us the ability to lean into what we’re good at while also appreciating what others bring to the table. That kind of self-awareness fuels better teamwork. When we know where we excel and when to call upon a colleague whose strengths complement our own, we become more effective and more unified in working toward shared goals.
Not surprisingly, a few themes emerged repeatedly across the VPCS team.
- One of the most common was Relator, a theme associated with people who work best in environments where close collaboration and mutual respect are cultivated. This made perfect sense to us. At VPCS, we place a premium on connection; that relational strength is clearly a hallmark of our culture.
- Themes such as Achiever, Positivity and Arranger also appeared frequently.
- Even the rarest theme of all, Self-Assurance, showed up in the top five for several teammates, highlighting the strong variety of strengths across our company.
After exploring our strengths, we put them to the test in a fun and unconventional way: an escape room challenge. Each group included representation across the full range of CliftonStrengths themes, which gave everyone a chance to rely on one another’s natural skills. We’re proud to report that every team made it out of their escape room with time to spare. It was no small feat, but not surprising for a group of professionals who proactively anticipate challenges daily.
The day was filled with laughter, collaboration and a deeper appreciation for one another. More importantly, it reinforced something we already knew: we’re strongest when we embrace what makes each of us unique. That mindset is at the core of The Van Pelt Way and helps us live up to our commitment to do whatever it takes—for our clients, for our communities and for one another.
July 21, 2025