The Strength Space Magazine By Ali Palmer

THE
STRENGTHS
SPACE
MAGAZINE
Cultivating
a Culture
of Wellbeing
How To Design A Better Day
- FREE ‘Follow The Sun’ Chart
My Wellbeing Wake Up Call
Playing To Our Strengths
Invitation to Work With Me
ALI PALMER, FOUNDER
- The Strengths Space
thestrengthsspace.com

WHAT’S INSIDE?
04
08
14
About Me
My Wellbeing Wake Up Call
Cultivating a Culture of
Wellbeing
16 Playing to Our Strengths
24
26
Invitation to Work With Me
How to Design a Better
Day? Follow the Sun
28 Partnerships
30 Quotes
23 Follow the Sun chart
WELCOME
to my
MAGAZINE
When the fireworks lit up the night sky on
New Year’s Eve in the magical surrounds of a tiny
village in the French Alps, I sensed 2020 was going
to be a special year for me. The start of a decade
to dare greatly and the chance to contribute my
something good to the world.
People have always been my passion. I am a connector.
I am energised by sharing stories, weaving the
threads of our shared humanity and making good
things happen together.
As the founder of The Strengths Space, welcome to
the place where we can do just that!
As you the peruse the pages of my first magazine,
I hope you find inspiration for yourself or someone
you know.
20 My Projects Small rock cairns are
My thanks and appreciation go to the
following local businesses who kindly
provided their venues as fun locations
for my photoshoot with Liz Homer.
Liz Homer Photography
www.lizhomerphotography.com
Clandestino Roasters
www.clandestino.com.au
Eclectic Style
www.eclecticstyle.com.au
Noosa Pots and Plants
www. noosapotsandplants.com.au
Larder & Baked
www.larderandbaked.com.au
The Strengths Space Magazine by Ali Palmer is
owned and published electronically by Ali Palmer.
Copyright 2020 Ali Palmer. All rights reserved. No
part of this electronic or printed magazine may
be reproduced without the written consent of Ali
Palmer. Requests for permission should be directed
to: Ali Palmer at ali@thestrengthsspace.com.
Look forward to connecting.
Ali Palmer
+61 405 117 389
ali@thestrengthsspace.com
linkedin.com/in/alipalmer
thestrengthsspace.com
thestrengthsspace
a way of marking the
right path when the
hiking trail ahead is
unclear. I built this one
in a beautiful spot as a
way of honouring my
lovely dad who passed
away recently.
2

I AM...
vimeo.com/390402828
a cultivator of kindness
a strengths finder
CURIOUS
a primer of positivity
a grower of good things
a passionate educator
CREATIVE
PLAYFUL
a seeker of new and better ways
a collaborator
a lover of coffee, cafes, community
and connection
a designer of learning
A STRENGTHS COACH
AN ENABLER
A CONNECTOR
A PIONEER…
OF POSITIVE
PATHWAYS
...Something Good
3

About
Me
Ali Palmer
linkedin.com/in/alipalmer
What Inspires Me?
I am inspired by many things but the awe
and wonder of nature never fails to move
me. I fell in love with the magnificence
of the mountains when I first hiked in
Yosemite National Park. Spending days
surrounded by majestic peaks provides
great experiential learning, most notably;
the best view comes after the hardest
climb. This life lesson has taught me
about the importance of perseverance and
celebrating small wins along the way.
How did you begin your career?
unlimitedbeautifulquestions.com
I began my career as a teacher in a challenging
but highly rewarding community education
high-school setting. I learnt very quickly that
cultivating positive relationships are paramount
in the teaching / learning process. I was really
intentional about creating a positive learning
environment and providing students with a
strong sense of belonging and connectedness.
4

When did you become interested in
working with Strengths?
I discovered the power of looking for the good
and uncovering the strengths of the many
young people I worked with. It made such a
difference to their confidence and engagement
when I started from what they could do
rather than from what they couldn’t do. It’s
incredibly motivating for all of us, young and
old alike, when we take part in strengths-based
conversations.
When did you become interested in
Wellbeing?
Even as a young teacher, I was aware that for
students to be ready, willing and able to learn
they need to feel safe. They need to feel well
to do well. Although I didn’t understand
much about the science of wellbeing at that
time, I knew first hand that when students felt
psychologically safe they were more willing to
take risks in their learning; what we now refer to
as having a growth mindset.
How did you become interested in the
science of Wellbeing?
One of my top strengths is love of learning. I’ve
always been interested in not only learning about
the science under-pinning concepts, but practical
ways in which the science can be brought to life.
Studying for my Diploma of Positive Psychology
& Wellbeing was a game changer, both personally
and professionally. I knew that I wanted to find
a way to enable others to benefit from this newly
evolving science too.
What led to the creation of The
Strengths Space?
In 2017 I had the opportunity to complete
six months of study with the Neuroleadership
Institute in New York. I found the neuroscience
fascinating and wanted to weave this content
alongside my knowledge and skills in both
positive psychology and strength-based
approaches. The Strengths Space has provided me
with a place from which to share this content and
make a positive difference to individuals, teams,
organisations and communities.
5

I
began my career
as a Physical
Education Teacher
with high-school
students. I taught a wide range
of sports as well as a health
education curriculum. I was
responsible for developing
and reviewing new and
existing programs across year
levels, including after-school
activities, competitive sports
and residential trips. Some
of my favourite memories
include taking disadvantaged
students on a surfing holiday.
I know it was life-changing
for some of them. This phase
of my career offered an
excellent opportunity to hone
my strengths in planning and
organising, as well as empathy,
patience and adaptability.
6

As my teaching career progressed I
took on leadership roles in pastoral
care. I developed a whole-school
curriculum to cater for the social,
emotional and wellbeing needs
of students. I loved breaking new
ground and the challenge to pioneer
new ways of doing things. This
included training teaching and
non-teaching staff and ensuring
high-quality implementation. I feel
proud that this curriculum was
highly commended and recognised
as excellence in teaching and
learning by the UK Government
Inspectorate.
I have always been extremely
self-motivated and when I was
offered the opportunity to lead
and coordinate an adult education
program, I jumped at the chance. I
like to set myself stretch goals and
am not afraid to step outside my
comfort zone … even though it can
be scary at times. This community
engagement project helped me to
learn to listen to individual voices
and cultivate the right conditions for
everyone to grow. Understanding,
responding to and empowering
these adult learners really added to
my repertoire of skills. It helped
me to recognize and value the
rich experiences and perspectives
that each learner brings. In my
current role as a facilitator and
coach, I endeavour to create a space
where people feel comfortable and
confident to contribute this wisdom.
Following this, I spent a number of
years working with students with
moderate learning difficulties;
many of whom also had challenging
behaviours. I expended many long
hours acquiring a deeper level of
knowledge so that I might better
address their needs and support
their families and care-givers. I
developed a great appreciation for
the uniqueness of each learner and
how powerful it is to work with their
strengths. I became very interested
in the design of learning … not just
the content but the way in which
it’s taught. I also experimented with
the physical space and learnt how
important this can be for motivation
and engagement. Much of this rich
experience is evident and relevant
in the way I design professional
learning packages today.
I then took a very brave decision to
step beyond my role as a teacher and
leader in just one school. I wanted
to find a way to pursue my passion
for wellbeing and to create greater
impact. I wanted to enable others
to feel better and do better in all
areas of their life. I wanted to weave
my growing knowledge of positive
psychology, neuroscience and
strength-based approaches to design
learning experiences that would
make a lasting difference. I wanted
to be able to reach out and respond
to individuals and organisations and
assist them to leverage their strengths
and elevate their performance. n
For more information about my recent projects with clients,
please visit my LinkedIn page: linkedin.com/in/alipalmer
7

My Wellbeing
WAKE-UP
2017 marked a seismic shift in my life.
I had spent the previous few years following
my passion as a Wellbeing Consultant.
At least that’s what I thought. But the
demands of this job coupled with other
stressors in my life at the time were not
serving me well. Too much work. Too much
time away from family and friends. Anxiety
about job security. Frequent headaches.
Sleepless nights. Debilitating pain in both
shoulders. A chronic Achilles injury. Weight
loss. Close relationships left untended. Very
little playtime. And … most foolishly of all,
neglecting the one person who I had shared
my life and love with for so long. The
messages were loud and clear but somehow,
I wasn’t receiving them.
Slowly and insidiously the pressure was
building deep inside. I was too caught up
trying to make it all work and live up to
unrealistic expectations; most of them
mine. Something was surely going to give
but I just didn’t see it
coming. And then it
did.
On 7 May my heart
went into overdrive.
Revving at over 240
beats per minutes, my
body was in a state
of serious distress for
several hours. I was scared. Clearly, it had
plans for me. If I wasn’t going to slow
down, it was going to slow me down. I had
my first, and hopefully only, emergency
CALL
ride to the hospital. The paramedics were amazing
… gentle, kind, and providers of a psychological
safety blanket that I so desperately needed. As they
wheeled me out in the hour before dawn, I recall
the sweet earthiness of the paperbark trees. Two
kookaburras settled on a post just an arms-length
away and began their distinctive cheeky call. As
a lover of nature, and someone with a mostly
optimistic explanatory style, I chose to see this as a
sign that all would be well.
In the days that followed, I found myself in a
cardiac unit, wired up for constant surveillance
as the medical experts investigated. The verdict:
supraventricular tachycardia, most likely brought
on by an overload of emotional distress. On the
day previous to my big
procedure I was alarmed
to discover that I would
not be sedated. I would,
in fact, have the best
seat in the house as the
cardiac surgeon and
his team worked their
wonder. I decided to dial
up my strength of curiosity as an evidence-based
way of combatting my anxious feelings. I also
chose to view the procedure as an opportunity
to experience a sense of awe and appreciate
excellence in real-time; both science-backed ways
8

of creating positive affect. This would ensure
my internal state was swimming with feelgood
neurotransmitters and, according to the
research, boost my immune system and increase
the healing process.
My studies in positive psychology had also taught
me about decision
fatigue. I was relieved
to know I was first
up on the following
morning’s schedule.
But then I wasn’t. I
spent the day being
bumped further
and further down
the list. Finally, it
was my turn. It was
7pm. I had pulled the
proverbial short straw.
I knew all about cognitive capacity draining
quickly and how it needs frequent refuelling to
be at its best. I also knew that by the evening
the surgeon and his team were more likely to be
running low. I couldn’t take that chance. I found
myself asking … ‘So Ali, what are you going to do
to boost their fuel levels?” The four big energisers
include sleep, food, sex/exercise and experiencing
and expressing positive emotions.
9
Photo sources: TanteTati on Pixabay • Creative Vix on Pexels

HHHmmmm, what’s a girl to do? I ran through
my options: 1) Ask if it would be possible to defer
my procedure until the morning … yeah, I could
see how well that might go down! 2) Provide a
tasty platter of cheese, dips and olives for the
team … no, that wasn’t going to work in a highly
sanitized environment. 3) Offer sexual favours
… possible, but highly inappropriate! 4) Find a
way to increase their positive emotions. Eureka!
I set out with an intentional plan to make them
laugh. And I did. As they prepped the operating
theatre and their patient, a ripple of positivity
spread throughout. I had done my bit. Time to
sit back and enjoy the show and marvel at their
magnificence. And for that, I will always be truly
grateful.
Emotional distress was
certainly plentiful at that
period in my life. I was
concerned about my dad’s
progressing dementia and
the increasing demands it
was putting on my mum
who was caring for him
at home. I tried as best as I could to support my
mum emotionally, but being on the other side of
the world proved challenging. In an effort to stay
connected, I made frequent trips back to the UK;
always fearful that my dad might not remember
me.
I was also supporting a dear friend battling with
a life-threatening diagnosis and still reeling from
the associated trauma of another close friend’s
marriage break-up. Previous experiences told
me, there was going to be the inevitable fall out
within our friendship group. I felt really sad and a
profound sense of loss.
And to tip my allostatic load still further, we were
also recovering from a renovation nightmare.
For over a year my home office looked out onto
a building site, a trail of destruction in its wake.
It was a constant reminder that we had been
let down badly and would be dealing with the
financial setback for several years. I felt deeply
hurt and truly devastated by the breach of trust.
Our life in paradise was far from idyllic.
These were without doubt emotionally
turbulent times. The compounding effects
placed a huge strain on my ability to cope.
Adrenalin and cortisol were constantly
flooding my body with little or no time for
recovery. I learnt a hard lesson. My emotions
couldn’t be ignored or downplayed. They
were playing out inside of me in very
real ways, on both a physiological and
psychological level. I felt increasingly down
and emotionally vulnerable. My usual happygo-lucky,
zest-for-life personality had gone
into hiding.
In the weeks that
followed, I had several
procedures to find and
fix the short circuit in
my heart. One pivotal
moment stands out. I
was trying to work out
how to take a shower
whilst attached to all the
monitoring devices when I caught sight of
myself in the mirror. It was confronting. In
an attempt to lighten the moment and stem
the flow of tears, I turned to fully face myself
in the mirror and said out loud, “Wellbeing
consultant, what **** wellbeing consultant!”
I laughed a compassionate laugh. That
moment was a game-changer.
The forced ‘time out’ in a hospital room was
a blessing in disguise. It was the respite my
body was craving. I needed to slow down
and allow time for rest and recovery. This
space gave me time to reflect on the life I
had been living and the choices I could make
moving forward. After much soul searching,
and some long and tearful discussions I
knew things needed to change. If I wanted to
continue working within the wellbeing space
(which I REALLY did) I needed to do things
differently. I needed to be authentic. I needed
to walk my talk. I needed to begin again.
10

And so began
the journey to
REDESIGN
MY LIFE.
In the words of Dr Zeus, I knew “my
mountain was waiting” … I just needed to
“get on my way.” I began by resigning from
my job as a senior consultant in a sought-after
company. It meant letting go, albeit reluctantly,
to parts of my identity wrapped up in status
and what it means to be successful. This was
a particularly hard decision to make. I dialled
up my strengths of courage, curiosity and
optimism as I stepped out into the unknown.
First, I set out to attend to the basics.
Prioritizing my sleep. Daily doses of nature
and exercise; mostly swimming and walking.
Drinking more water. Eating more fruit
and green vegetables. Regular connections
with family and friends. Time nurturing my
relationship. Giving myself permission to feel,
and acknowledge the good, the bad and the
ugly. And administering frequent intentional
acts of self-compassion and kindness.
As the weeks turned into months, I felt
stronger and more resilient. I thought long and
hard about what was important to me in this
next phase of my life. I crafted a new sense of
purpose and got clear about which path I was
going to take to my mountain.
11
Photo sources:
Erkan Utu on Pexels • Matthew Sleeper on Unsplash

As my playful nature came out of hibernation, I
posted inspiring and humorous quotes around the
house to keep me pointed in the right direction.
And I celebrated the small markers along the way.
We’ll need both courage and
vulnerability as we abandon the safety
of our ideological bunkers and head off
into the wilderness.
~ Brené Brown
I coached myself using the tools I had so often
shared with others. I reconnected with my values
and looked for ways to play to my rich array
of strengths. I indulged in my love of learning.
I downloaded and uploaded and googled and
shared. I connected new ideas and planted seeds
of possibility. Little by little, the idea for The
Strengths Space emerged.
Everything that slows us down and
forces patience, everything that sets
us back into the slow circles of nature,
is a help. ~ May Sarton
This process was invaluable. As I recalibrated, I
could feel myself becoming re-energized. I found a
renewed sense of hope about a brighter future
and ways in which I could contribute to a better
world. I reimagined how I could do this in a way
that enabled me to make a positive difference
to others whilst honouring my own wellbeing
and loving my gorgeous guy. We have crafted an
intentional plan to prioritize our relationship.
We’ve spent time sharing ideas about when we
are at our best and we’ve made a commitment to
cultivate the conditions that will enable this to
happen more. We have made conscious choices
to weave wellbeing type activities into our days,
weeks and weekends. We plan short breaks and
annual holidays but leave space for variety and
spontaneity. When we feel we need some ‘us
time’, we politely decline social events and don’t
feel guilty about it. We reminisce often about our
amazing travels, the memories we have shared and
the ones we still hope to make. Our love of hiking,
camping and being in the mountains has been and
continues to be part of our magic formula.
It’s ok to stop, pivot, reset, change,
evolve, reboot, do a 180, choose a
different path, reimagine. Begin again. ~
Kylie Lewis
How we spend
our days is,
of course,
how we spend
our lives.
~ Annie Dillard
12

So where am I now?
The Strengths Space is growing. My
website launched recently and although I
can already see how it could be improved,
I feel proud that I have stepped into the
arena and dared greatly. I’ve set up an
Instagram account and become a growth
mindset thinker around all things techy!
I am energised by the opportunity to
design daily and share with others. I
am also reaching out to those who can
complement my skill set, allowing me
more time to play to my strengths and
do the things I love. When I show up as
this better version of myself I know the
positive impact it has on those around me.
I want The Strengths Space to be a place
where I can share content to strengthen
individuals, teams, organisations and
communities. I want it to be grounded
in the sciences of positive psychology,
neuroscience and strengths-based
approaches. I want it to offer tips and
tools, processes and practices, and words
of wisdom that will enable people to
feel better and do better. I want it to
encourage and support collaboration,
where like-minded individuals and
organisations can work together for
the collective good. Most of all, I want
it to inspire people to make small but
consistent positive changes, that will
lead to having better days and living more
fulfilling and productive lives. I want The
Strengths Space to grow strong and create a
lasting impact.
When I look in the mirror now, I see a
bright future looking back at me. I have
an overwhelming sense of gratitude
to the team that fixed me up and the
community who held me up during
those tough times. You are too many
to mention but you know who you
are. Thank you from the bottom of my
heart. n
thestrengthsspace.com
13

Cultivating
a Culture
of Wellbeing
Wellbeing is our ability to feel good and
function well as we ride the rollercoaster
of life. When we feel physically, mentally
and socially well, we are likely to have
more energy, feel more motivated and
be more willing to contribute positively
to our workplaces and relationships.
Although the concept has been around for
some time, it’s become much more than
fruit, fitness and flu shots. Nowadays we
are constantly bombarded by information
and advice. It often feels overwhelming.
In this short article I’m going to share 3
simple ways to get started.
1
PrimING
Positivity
“Positivity
transforms us
for the better. By
opening our hearts
and minds positive
emotions allow us to
discover and build
new skills, new ties,
new knowledge and
a new way
of being.”
Barbara Fredrickson
Positivity – Groundbreaking Research To Release
Your Inner Optimist and Thrive
Take a moment to think about the way you show
up when you’re in a positive mood. Chances
are, you are more approachable, open-minded,
motivated, solution-focused and determined.
You seem to be able to handle the stressors more
calmly and bounce back from any set-backs. And
other people like being around you.
In a positive mood, your brain performs
significantly better than in a negative, neutral
or stressed out state. Research tells us that your
intelligence rises, your creativity rises and your
energy rises. Experiencing positive emotions
causes dopamine to flood into your system. This
not only makes you happier but turbo charges the
brain’s ability to learn and perform well.
Try finding intentional ways, at work, at home
or at play, to tap into positive emotions. Here are
some you might like to consider:
Joy / Gratitude / Serenity / Interest / Hope /
Pride / Amusement / Inspiration / Awe / Love
Photo source: Belle Co on Pexels
14

2
CreatING
Connections
“Our need to
connect with other
people is even more
fundamental and
basic than our need
for food and shelter.”
Matthew Lieberman (2013)
Social – Why Our Brains Are
Wired To Connect
We are profoundly social creatures. When we feel
we belong, our brain feels good. The reward system
is activated and we are able to respond clearly and
calmly. This means we are happy to collaborate,
to share ideas, to question and to seek out new
possibilities. When there is a strong sense of
connectedness, we achieve more both individually
and collectively.
On the other hand, when we feel excluded, rejected
or lonely, our socially sensitive brain goes on the
defense. In an attempt to protect us, the threat
system is activated and we move into survival mode.
Our brain is awash with adrenalin and cortisol as
we prepare to fight, flee or freeze. Precious resources
get directed away from our more measured way of
behaving and we become highly reactive. In this
state, we often say and do things that we later regret.
If you want to develop and maintain positive
relationships, and grow high-functioning teams,
look for ways to build connections little and often.
3
SEEing
Strengths
“By becoming a
strengthspotter, at
home and at work,
you can take the
opportunity to give
positive feedback.”
Alex Linley and Trudy Bateman
(2018)
The Strengths Profile Book –
Finding What You Can Do +
Love To Do And Why It Matters
As human beings we have a natural tendency to
focus on what’s not working. This negativity bias
plays out in all of us. It’s one way in which the
brain tries to ensure our safety. The brain wants us
to see potential dangers easily so we can take steps
to avoid them. And it will come as no surprise that
this response dials up a few notches when we are
tired, hungry or worried.
If we understand and accept that it’s normal for
bad to feel stronger than good then we can begin
to take intentional steps to look for the good more
often. When we choose to tune into the strengths
in the person, task or situation, we are more likely
to notice them. Once we identify what’s working
well, we can share in strengths-based conversations
and it becomes a win-win for everyone.
15

PLAYING TO
OUR
STRENGTHS
When we work from our strengths, it makes our goals
easier to achieve, it lowers our levels of stress, and it
improves our wellbeing. ~ Michelle McQuaid
I
don’t know about you, but when I
feel more engaged, more energized and
happier, I seem to have a much better day.
I have a skip in my step and a hell yeah
kind of attitude. I power through my to do list
and feel the thrill of getting things done. I seem
to be more open-minded, more determined and
more helpful. It doesn’t just FEEL good, it allows
me to DO good. My up-beat vibes seem to rub
off on those around me and, in turn, this positive
emotional contagion ripples throughout their
networks. It seems that when we have better days,
the benefits extend far beyond just ourselves.
When we have better days, we are building better
lives.
“Strengths are
patterns of thinking,
feeling, or behaving
that, when exercised,
will excite, engage,
and energize you,
and allow you to
perform at your
optimum level.”
So what can we do to have better days more
often? The answer … to play to our strengths.
Alex Linley, a leading expert in this field, suggests
playing to our strengths is the smallest thing we
can do to make the biggest difference
Linley, A., Willars, J., & Biswas-Diener, R. (2010).
The strengths book: What you can do, love to do, and find
hard to do - and why it matters. Coventry, UK: CAPP Press.
Photo source: MI PHAM on Unsplash
16

A strength is something
you are good at and enjoy
doing. It feels energising
and exciting to be in that
space.
Three of my top strengths are Appreciation of
Beauty and Excellence, Curiosity and Creativity. I
am very aware of my surroundings and often catch
myself stopping to take a closer look at something
interesting or quirky. My camera is always close
at hand. Whether it’s a walk in nature or a stroll
through city streets, I am drawn to colour and
design. Pops of sunshine yellow and fresh vibrant
greens are two of my favourites. When I play to
these strengths I feel the energizing effects. I’ve
learnt how to cultivate an instant burst of energy
by purposefully dialing up these strengths.
Choosing to create my Instagram posts as an early
morning ritual, is one way I can ensure my day
gets off to a good start. When you know your
strengths, you can find intentional ways to apply
them daily and reap the benefits.
So how do you discover
your strengths?
One simple way to uncover your strengths is to
start noticing where you most easily place your
attention. Your strengths reflect your passions
and interests. They are the things that you look
forward to doing, become completely absorbed by
and, afterwards, leave you feeling invigorated. Try
tuning in more consciously to these experiences
and noting any common themes. These will offer
strong indications to your rich array of strengths.
When I started noticing what really energised
me, I realised just how much it involved relating
to other people. This discovery has guided me to
focus my career development around coaching
and facilitating. I truly feel at my best when I am
engaging with people and enabling them to bring
out the best in themselves and those around them.
17
Photo sources: Andre Furtado on Pexels
Vinícius Vieira Fotografia on Pexels • Sharon McCutcheon on Pexels

Gratitude is an
elevating emotion.
It’s hard to feel
resentment or
anger when you
are in this state.
A more formal approach is to take an individual
strengths assessment. A great place to start is the
free VIA Survey created by the VIA Institute on
Character. https://www.viacharacter.org/
Completed by millions of people across the
world and used by a growing number of
organisations, this online assessment takes less
than fifteen minutes to complete. It provides
practical suggestions about ways to use your
signature strengths (the top ones) as well as how
to grow and develop your lesser strengths. The
VIA Institute’s extensive research suggests that
when we play to our strengths, we will deal more
effectively with life’s challenges, work more
successfully towards our goals and feel more
fulfilled both in our personal and professional
lives.
One of my top signature strengths is Gratitude.
Once I became aware of this I realised just how
much it plays out in my thoughts, feelings and
day-to-day actions. Gratitude is an elevating
emotion. It’s hard to feel resentment or anger
when you are in this state. It opens the door to
so many other positive emotions. The practice
of gratitude has been linked with a broad range
of benefits including: improved relationships,
mental and physical health, goal achievement
and an optimistic outlook on life. Playing to
this strength is easy when things are going well.
I have challenged myself to use it more when
life throws its curve balls at me. Getting stuck
in traffic is almost never fun and almost always
inconvenient but … when I take a mindful
moment to consider the things I am grateful
for, I always feel calmer and less agitated by the
situation.
If you are interested in a more work-related
focus on discovering your strengths, you could
try Strengths Profile.
https://www.strengthsprofile.com/
Created by Alex Linley and his team at the
Centre for Applied Positive Psychology, this
Photo source: Ian Stauffer on Unsplash
18

online assessment gives you a unique profile
revealing your strengths, learned behaviours
and weaknesses based around 60 work-related
strengths. It provides a detailed report with
suggestions for ways to harness your strengths,
unlock your potential and minimize the impact
of the things you don’t like or don’t do well.
As with most surveys, reports and assessments,
it can be helpful to have more knowledge and
become more self-aware but unless you do
something with the information, it is unlikely
to make much of a difference. Once you have
discovered your strengths, the next step is
finding ways to use them effectively. Learning
how to play to your strengths is key. This means
not overplaying or underplaying them, but
rather “using the right strength, to the right
amount, in the right way, and at the right time.”
(Linley, A. (2008) Average to A+ - Realising
Strengths In Yourself And Others)
Choosing to have a
strengths-based
conversation can be a
powerful way to gain
a deeper understanding of
your potential and provide
practical ways to navigate
towards a strengths
oriventated future. n
Interested to learn more? Let’s have a
conversation. Please email me at:
ali@thestrengthsspace.com
CHOOSING A
STRENGTHS-
FOCUSED
FUTURE
There is increasing evidence to suggest
that discovering, developing and
applying our strengths at the right
time and in the right context, can have
powerful benefits. Listed below are 10
reasons why we should all be playing to
our strengths more.
People who use their strengths more:
1. Are happier.
2. Experience less stress.
3. Feel healthier and have more energy.
4. Feel more satisfied with their lives.
5. Are more confident.
6. Experience faster growth and
development.
7. Are more creative and agile at work.
8. Experience more satisfaction and
meaning in their work.
9. Are more engaged in their work.
10. Experience improved team
performance and greater success.
Want to get started on exploring
your Strengths? To find out more,
contact me at:
ali@thestrengthsspace.com
19

MY PROJECTS
POSITIVE
IMPACT
PROJECTS
On the following pages you’ll find examples of the projects I have
undertaken to meet the needs of individuals, teams and organisations.
If these spark your curiosity about ways I might support you, or someone
you know, please feel welcome to contact me: ali@thestrengthsspace.com
Implementing Positive Education:
This project has been part of an on-going
partnership over several years. It has included
regular input to senior leadership strategy meetings
and the design and delivery of professional learning
packages focusing on:
• Cultivating a Culture of Wellbeing
• The Science of Learning
• Interactive Classroom Strategies
• Presentations to parents
• Strengths-based coaching for senior leaders
In addition, I created a Positive Leadership package
and facilitated this as a series of twilight sessions
for school leaders focusing on:
• Positive Climate
• Positive Relationships
• Positive Communication
• Positive Meaning
Karen Lunn – Head of Senior Year Students
– Good Shepherd Lutheran College
“Ali has been an integral part of our school’s journey to implement Positive Education. Her vibrant
energy, wonderful sense of humour and down-to-earth approach mean that she is able to relate very
well to her audience, and they in turn warm to her very quickly.”
Photo source: Fabio Comparelli on Unsplash
20

Whole-School and Community Wellbeing:
This project has evolved over several years. Highquality
connections, strength-based conversations
and growth-oriented mindsets have contributed to
cultivating a culture where wellbeing matters. It
has included an explicit focus on:
• Training all staff in Circle Solutions – a social
emotional learning framework foundational to
the pastoral care and wellbeing program
• Exploring and developing strengths in
Leadership Team
• Growing positive and productive teams
• Exploring strengths-based approaches with
staff (teaching and non-teaching)
*Circle Solutions is a process created by Dr
Sue Roffey for building positive and inclusive
classrooms and developing social emotional
competencies.
Tim Smetham – Assistant Head of Junior School
– Somerville House
“Ali engages people through her energy and expertise in the areas of positive psychology, neuroscience
and strengths-based approaches. Her presentations are highly interactive using a combination of practical
activities, reflection and group discussions. Ali takes time to understand your unique needs and context
and adapts learning to match the needs of participants.”
Strengths in Leadership Teams:
This project provided an opportunity for
the school’s leadership team to discover,
explore, appreciate and leverage individual
and collective strengths.
Kelly Edgar – Principal
– North Arm State Schools
The process included 1:1 coaching sessions,
team discussions and the provision
of resources to keep strengths-based
conversations on the weekly agenda.
“Ali was extremely professional, knowledgeable, energetic and committed to helping us to bring
out the best in ourselves and each other. She has gone above and beyond to supply us with practical
strategies and resources to ensure the learning becomes embedded into our daily practice.”
MY PROJECTS
21
Photo source: Elijah Hail on Unsplash

MY PROJECTS
Growing Positive and Productive Teams:
This project involved the design and delivery
of a professional learning package
focusing on stronger collaboration between
staff members; a key area in relation to the
National Quality Framework for excellence
in Early Learning Education.
I created three tailored coaching sessions
emphasizing the importance of:
Tracey Ellaway – Service Leader
– Immanuel Early Learning Centre
• high-quality connections
• managing emotions
• appreciating and valuing strengths
I visited the centre several times over a
three-month period to conduct 1:1 coaching
sessions and provide follow-up ideas and
suggestions.
“Ali’s dynamic, engaging and thought-provoking style has enabled me to continue to grow a
strengths-based team and positive work culture. She offered practical strategies to embed the learning
and cultivate daily habits. Since embarking on this journey together, there have been significant
benefits to our organisation.”
Cultivating a Culture of Wellbeing:
This project has been grown and nurtured
over a five-year period. During this time,
I have worked closely with the senior
leadership team to develop content and
initiatives to support the growth of wholeschool
and community wellbeing.
This has included:
• whole-school professional learning days
for all staff
• termly twilight learning sessions for
teaching staff
• termly day-time learning sessions for
teaching assistants and support staff
• presentations to parents
The content has focused on:
• Exploring the PERMAH Wellbeing
framework
• Implementing elements of PERMAH
• Embedding essential ingredients for a
healthy mind
• Understanding how the brain works
and applying strategies underpinned by
neuroscience to design better days and
build better lives
Anton Prinsloo – Principal
– St Paul’s Lutheran Primary School
“Ali has been working with our school for over five years. We engaged Ali to assist us to incorporate
an explicit focus on whole-school and community wellbeing. She has a very personable, relaxed and
interactive presentation style. We would highly recommend bringing Ali on board if you want to cultivate
a culture of wellbeing at your place.”
22

Individual Strengths Coaching:
These 1:1 coaching sessions offered an opportunity for my client to discover, explore and apply her
strengths at work, at home and at play.
Ali Fowler – Founder, Educator & Author
In Service of Something Good
“Ali Palmer is an extraordinary woman who brings the joy with her wherever she goes. She enabled me
to see how I could play to my strengths more in both my personal and professional life. She is passionate
about bringing leaders and teams together and assisting them to bring out the best in each other.”
Wellbeing Consultant for Independent Schools Queensland:
During this ten-year collaboration, I led several projects focusing on:
• Staff Wellbeing – with 30+ schools
• Supporting Principals’ Wellbeing
• Coaching School Leadership Teams
• Supporting Indigenous Students Transitioning
to Boarding School
• Circle Solutions training*
• Social Emotional Learning for Students
• Drug, Alcohol & Resilience Education
The Staff Wellbeing Project was a
highlight. I felt privileged and proud
to enable so many schools to learn,
share and grow together to create more
flourishing learning communities.
*Circle Solutions is a process created by Dr Sue Roffey
for building positive and inclusive classrooms and
developing social emotional competencies
Jenene Rosser - Executive Manager (Curriculum and Assessment)
– Independent Schools Queensland
“Ali is one of the most accomplished presenters I have ever witnessed. Her warmth, quick wit,
friendly easy-going personality draws people to her. She has great ability to charm even the
‘toughest’ of audiences. The staff wellbeing work that Ali pioneered from 2012 is still being talked
about in the sector today. Ali’s work is deeply embedded in strong academic research but brought
to life with practical applications.”
MY PROJECTS
23
Photo source: Fabio Comparelli on Unsplash

Invitation
TO WORK
WITH ME
I love what I do and I want you to love it too.
My passion is to help people feel better and
do better. I work with: individuals, teams and
organisations.
I want to share tips and tools, processes and
practices, and words of wisdom that will make
a positive difference in your life and the lives of
the people you care about.
I want to listen to your story, understand your
context, appreciate your values and share in
your vision. I want to co-create learning that
is right for you, your people and your place. I
want to craft content that is flexible, changeresponsive
and backed by science.
I want to energise you, excite you and empower
you to make small but consistent changes that
will lead to lasting impact. I want to help you to
design better days and build better lives.
My Why
To enable people to have better
days and build more fulfilling
and productive lives.
My How
By crafting and sharing content
about the science of wellbeing.
My What
Designing and delivering learning
packages for individuals, teams,
organisations and communities.
24

Spark You Up
This introductory coaching package (3 x
1-hour sessions) will help you to rediscover
what you love to do and why it matters.
Identify and explore your rich array of
strengths and learn to make the most of them
at home, at work and at play. Re-connect
with your values and find ways to bring
them to life in all that you do. Uncover your
purpose and explore ways to lead a more fulfilling
and productive life.
The Spark You Up Program can be experienced
in a face-to-face setting or as a virtual option
depending on your location and preference.
Investment: Starts At $299
Growing Positive and Productive Teams
Are you a leader of a team? Do you want to
find ways to help your team be at their best?
Do you want to create an environment where
your people feel seen, heard and appreciated?
This package of flexible learning sessions
(4 x 2 hours) will engage your team to
discover, explore and contribute their unique
individual and collective strengths. They will
explore some of the science around what makes us
humans tick and how we can use this to respond
to each other with more care and consideration.
The Growing Positive and Productive Teams
Program is delivered as face-to-face workshops.
Investment: Starts At $6,000
Cultivating Positive Work Cultures
This extended package of flexible learning
sessions (12 x 2 hours) has been designed
to support your organisation to implement
a wellbeing program that will help your
people, leaders, teams and organization
to thrive. Participants will learn about the
benefits of psychological safety, appreciative
cultures, high quality connections, positive
communication, meaningful work and
valuing strengths.
The content will provide practical solutions to
help your people better navigate and manage the
challenges of their busy lives.
Typically, this program is delivered as: 2 x whole
days / 2 x half days / 3 x 2-hour sessions but can
be customized.
The Cultivating Positive Work Cultures
Program is delivered as face-to-face workshops.
Investment: Starts At $16,000 + GST
Interested to learn more? Let’s have a conversation:
ali@thestrengthsspace.com
25

HOW TO DESIGN
A BETTER DAY?
FOLLOW
THE
SUN
EVENING
MORNING
MM
Take ten minutes to prep some nutritious
snacks for tomorrow
MM
Play some favourite tunes to feel more energised
MM
Find five minutes to recall what went well today
and why
MM
Set a bed-time alarm to make sure you get a
good night’s sleep
MM
Do something you love to switch off from the
busy day
MM
Find five minutes to get into nature before your
day gets going
MM
Commit to 1 simple action you can take to
move your body more today
MM
Take some time to intentionally choose where
you will focus your energy and attention today
MM
Decide how you want to show up in your
interactions today?
MM
Choose one of your strengths to play to today
Photo sources:
Cindy Bonfini-Hotlosz on Unsplash • Ocean Ng on Unsplash
26

ALL LIVING SYSTEMS TEND
TO MOVE TOWARDS POSITIVE
ENERGY AND AWAY FROM
NEGATIVE ENERGY.
Scientists refer to this as the heliotropic effect,
meaning to move towards a life giving source of
energy. Sunflowers are one of nature’s greatest
examples. They track the sun throughout the day
to tap into its life-giving goodness. Check out these
simple ideas to choose your own sun-orientated
behaviours to have a better day.
MID-MORNING
AFTERNOON
MM
Consider 3 things you are grateful for in your
work life / non-work life
MM
Be generous in your assumptions about the
people you interact with today
MM
Plan to take time out over lunch and if possible,
invite someone to share it with you
MM
Look for something new or different in your
environment
MM
Take a walk or the stairs to boost your energy
level
MM
Do something kind for a colleague, friend or
family member
MM
Take a moment to check off the small wins
you’ve already had today
MM
Consider 1 simple action you can take to
celebrate a small win
MM
Before leaving work, consider how you have
made a positive difference today
MM
Identify something you are looking forward to
about tomorrow / the week ahead
27

PARTNERSHIPS
THE
ORANGES
TOOLKIT
2020 is going to be an exciting year. I’ve
chosen to champion a great cause by partnering
with the Oranges Toolkit.
The ORANGES Toolkit is dedicated to
delivering evidence-based, measurable and
practical tools that build resilient and changeresponsive
workplaces. As Camp Quality’s
social enterprise, 100% of the profits go towards
supporting kids impacted by cancer in Australia.
This flagship 2-day program can be tailored to
respond to your unique challenges and deliver the
solutions you need.
Do you want to build a more resilient, changeresponsive
and agile work-force?
Is enhancing trust and collaboration in your
organisation a top priority?
Are you looking for highly engaging, interactive
and fun learning experiences for your people?
If YES, then take a look at what the ORANGES
Toolkit has to offer.
theorangestoolkit.com.au
Interested to learn more? Let’s have a conversation:
ali@thestrengthsspace.com
Photo source: fauxels on Pexels
28

29

Between stimulus and
response there is a space.
In that space is our power
to choose our response.
In our response lies our
growth and freedom.
- VIKTOR E. FRANKL
When you arise
in the morning, think
what a precious
privilege it is to be
alive, to breathe,
to think, to enjoy,
to love.
– MARCUS AURELIUS
We are all
just walking
each other
home.
– RUMI
Let us be grateful to
the people who make
us happy; they are the
charming gardeners
who make our souls
blossom.
I would love to live
like a river flows,
carried by the
surprise of its own
unfolding.
– JOHN O’DONOHUE
– MARCEL PROUST
Never doubt that
a small group of
thoughtful citizens
can change the
world; indeed, it’s
the only thing that
ever has.
– MARGARET MEAD
AUTHENTICITY is a collection
of choices that we have to make
every day. It’s about the choice
to show up and be real. The choice
to be honest. The choice to let
OUR TRUE SELVES BE SEEN.
– BRENÉ BROWN
Photo sources: Sohail Na on Pexels • Min An on Pexels • Cristofer Jeschke on Unsplash • Felipe Santana on Unsplash • Iris Lyu on Unsplash
• Miriam Espacio on Pexels • Joey Kyber on Unsplash
30

PRINTABLE
FOLLOW THE SUN
CHART
EVENING
MORNING
MID-MORNING
AFTERNOON
SUN
SAT
FRI
THU
WED
TUE
MON
Use this chart to choose your own sun-orientated behaviours for a better day
31

Designing Better Days
Building Better Lives
ALI PALMER
STRENGTHS COACHING
& WELLBEING CONSULTANT
+61 405 117 389
ali@thestrengthsspace.com
linkedin.com/in/alipalmer
thestrengthsspace.com
thestrengthsspace