Magic in the Room #13: Strength Based Leadership

June 2, 2020

What do you consider to be your leadership superpower? When you get out of bed every morning, what do you try to leverage to help you accomplish something good? These are the opening questions that Chris Province asks his fellow hosts and listeners of this episode of the Magic In The Room podcast.

 

For Luke, it’s strategy. Being strategic helps him see the intersectionality between strengths and capabilities. If it’s a product or a service they want to provide, he explains how it then becomes more about aligning the team and helping them be as effective as possible. A strategic mindset also helps Luke see where there could be different role definition or where there is something missing from the team.

 

From an early age, Hannah has shown incredible adaptability. In her early twenties, she found herself living in different countries and adapting to new life situations. The ability to observe and learn while adjusting to her new surroundings quickly became a strength that she has used naturally throughout her life. The superpower enables her to maximize every job role, team, project, or phase in her life to be the best it can be.

 

When Chris is asked the same question, he advised that it’s his ability to focus on the heart in things. He hopes that his willingness to fight for what is right, combined with his generosity, makes people want him on their side when they go into battle. By leading with heart, grit, and courage, Chris enjoys making things possible that maybe don’t look possible at the time.

 

The hosts then take the opportunity to zoom out and understand that together, their superpowers of being highly strategic and adaptable with a big heart are responsible for them having an incredibly balanced team. It also enables them to understand what they can accomplish by leveraging their collective strengths and appreciate the value of knowing each other’s superpowers. But, how can you and your team identify your superpowers?

 

Hannah recommends the Strengthsfinder 2.0 assessment by Gallup to help listeners identify their top five themes which can become strengths when you leverage them intentionally. But Luke enjoys taking things beyond the Strengthsfinder results. He is motivated by reminders and weekly coaching tips that generate an ongoing conversation about your strengths to keep it top of mind.

 

However, one of the most important things to remember is that we are all unique when it comes to understanding our strengths. Some will have realizations through journaling or mental modelling such as the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) or Strengthsfinder. For others, it will be an aggregation. Ultimately, we need to keep an open mind to what those sources might be when attempting to understand how we are showing up and the strengths that allow us to be effective.

 

If effectively leveraging your strengths is something that you would like to explore individually or for your team, the hosts of the Magic in The Room podcast would like to invite you to join their new beta platform. So, reach out to Hannah, Luke, and Chris by emailing info@purposeandperformancegroup.com and ask to join their beta group.

 

Magic in the Room #199: The Power of Mattering

By Sarah Whitfield • April 7, 2026
In this episode of Magic in the Room, Luke Freeman, Hannah Bratterud, and Chris Province dive into the concept of “mattering,” inspired by Zach Mercurio’s work, and explore why it is a foundational driver of engagement, performance, and culture in organizations. They challenge leaders to move beyond assuming people matter to actively ensuring individuals feel that they matter by being valued and by contributing value to a shared purpose. The conversation highlights how mattering differs from belonging, why it cannot be replaced by perks or efficiency, and how leadership behaviors like attention, recognition, and presence directly shape whether people feel seen, heard, and understood. Through examples ranging from workplace dynamics to broader societal trends like social disconnection, they argue that disengagement, conflict, and even poor performance are symptoms of a mattering deficit. Ultimately, they position mattering not as a soft concept, but as a measurable, actionable leadership responsibility that underpins trust, resilience, and long-term success.

Magic in the Room #198: The GUEST Experience

By Sarah Whitfield • March 3, 2026
In this episode of Magic in the Room, Luke, Hannah, and Chris explore how the concept of mattering transforms customer experience through their practical GUEST framework. Building on the idea that people thrive when they feel noticed, affirmed, and valued, they argue that exceptional service is not just about efficiency or technical competence, but about intentionally designing experiences where guests truly feel significant. They unpack the five elements of the GUEST model: Greet with empathy, Uncover needs, Express gratitude, Share names, and Teach benefits. They show how each step reinforces belonging and loyalty, whether in a 30-second interaction or a 30-year relationship. The conversation highlights the difference between service and hospitality, the power of recovery when mistakes occur, and the leadership responsibility to embed mattering into culture rather than leaving it to chance.
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