Transforming Talents into Strengths with Dr. Ryan Crittenden

Transforming Talents into Strengths with Dr. Ryan Crittenden

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Welcome back to the Daily Mastermind, George Wright III with your daily dose of inspiration, motivation, and education.

And I'm joined in the podcast Virtual Studio with Ryan Crittenden. Ryan, how are you doing?

I'm doing great. I'm so glad to be here today with you, George.

Yeah, I'm excited because you're in a field and industry that I have a passion for—leadership, coaching, and development. Let me introduce you properly. For those of you who don’t know, Ryan is the founder of Excel Coaching and Development.

He holds a PhD in industrial and organizational psychology, is an Army veteran, a CliftonStrengths certified coach, a John Maxwell-certified coach, and the author of the book Becoming the Compass. With over 15 years of leadership experience working with executives and teams, Ryan is clearly a mission-driven leader. I’m really glad we could coordinate this.

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Ryan's Background and Army Experience

Yeah, I'm happy to share. A lot started shifting for me in 2009. I had a moment of reflection before turning 21 and realized I needed a change, so I joined the Army thinking it would be my 20-year career. In 2010, I went through basic training and was stationed at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs.

But I quickly realized—it just wasn’t for me. I joke that while some do 20 years, I was done after 20 minutes. Still, I did the best I could and learned a lot during my time. When I left, I really started reflecting on what made the bad times hard and the good times great—and leadership always made the difference.

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Discovering Leadership and Coaching

After leaving the Army, I got connected with the John Maxwell Team for public speaking and leadership training. At first, I saw coaching as something extra, almost irrelevant—but during certification, I fell in love with the coaching process. I began using it in leadership roles I held and saw tangible changes in both myself and my team.

Then I hit burnout. I had a boss who, I believe, felt threatened by my growing success, and that created a toxic environment. I moved back to my hometown in Montana but felt defeated. However, when I returned to Colorado, I reconnected with people who were launching a strengths-based coaching company.

They wanted people to grow in their strengths and experience joy at work. Hearing that gave me goosebumps—it was everything I’d been searching for. I offered to join them in any capacity, even if just as the janitor. They invited me to talk more about my coaching and leadership experience, and I got to experience firsthand how powerful strengths-based coaching could be. It helped me rediscover my value and contributions, even when others didn’t recognize them.

I love that. You mentioned something powerful—“leaders make the difference.” And that resonates across all organizations. Your story is a great reminder that coaching isn’t just a buzzword—it’s transformative.

What would you say distinguishes coaching from other forms of guidance like mentoring or consulting, especially for business owners and entrepreneurs in our audience?

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Defining Coaching and Related Terms

Yeah, great question. There are four key terms people often confuse:

• Mentoring: A mentor is typically older and more experienced, someone who gives advice based on what they’ve done.
• Consulting: A consultant brings in industry-specific expertise and provides strategies.
• Therapy: This is for healing the past. A licensed therapist helps you deal with historical issues so you can move forward.
• Coaching: A coach, especially following International Coach Federation standards like I do, doesn’t provide direct strategies. Instead, they guide you through a process that helps you uncover your own solutions. The client sets the goal and owns the result.

That’s a fantastic distinction. I think a lot of entrepreneurs get confused thinking a coach is someone who gives advice. But really, it’s about unlocking what’s already inside you, right? So based on that model, how do you help people who are doing well but want to reach the next level?

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Strengths-Based Coaching Approach

Yeah. The clients I work with who see the greatest results—whether they’re individual contributors or team leaders—all go through what I call Strengths Foundations. That starts with the Clifton Strengths Assessment, which identifies 34 areas of talent.

We focus on:

• Signature talents – who you are 24/7
• Supporting talents – skills you can perform
• Non-pattern talents – traits that don’t naturally align with you

Can you explain what CliftonStrengths actually is for those who haven’t heard of it?

Sure. It helps people understand where their natural talents lie. Talent is the raw material; strength is the developed version. For example, my top talent is “Futuristic”—casting vision and seeing possibilities. I always did that instinctively, but I didn’t know how to communicate it until I saw it defined.

That’s huge. A lot of people think they know their strengths, but they haven’t defined them clearly. If you can’t define it, how can you grow it, right?

Exactly. And it’s important to note the difference: talents are your natural patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving. Strengths are when you’ve refined those talents to perform a task consistently with near-perfect results.

Got it. So someone may have a talent, but until they develop it, it’s not a strength. Do people naturally know what to work on, or is that part of your role?

Part of coaching is helping them gain clarity. A lot of people don’t know what’s truly in their wheelhouse until they get feedback from a trusted source. The ranking from the assessment helps—your top traits have the “most drops in the bucket,” and the bottom ones have none. It’s important to understand both what you are—and what you are not.

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The Maturity of Strengths

That’s such a helpful insight. Can you explain more about being “mature” or “immature” in your strengths?

Sure. When you’re immature in your strengths, it’s all about you. When you’re mature, it’s about “we”—you use your strengths to serve others and allow others to pour into you too. That kind of maturity takes self-awareness and intention.

Yes, and self-awareness can be incredibly difficult. It reminds me of how many business owners I know adopt their identity from others—like their boss or their environment—and then wonder why they’re unfulfilled.

Exactly. That’s what led to my burnout. I was trying to be someone I wasn’t, aligning with the bottom of my strengths list just to keep a job. That kind of dissonance creates fatigue and disconnection. I was trying to be who my boss wanted me to be while maintaining my natural people-centered approach, and it was tearing me apart.

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Identity and Authentic Leadership

Let’s talk about identity. How often does that come up with your clients, and how do you help them address it?

It comes up a lot. Many clients feel like they’re not enough because they’re trying to be a future version of themselves that doesn’t align with who they are right now. I always remind them: get to know yourself better than you do right now. When you lean into your authentic identity and strengths, you start building a life that aligns with your values—and that’s where confidence comes from.

Absolutely. Confidence and self-worth come from authenticity, not from pretending to be someone else. When people carry their strengths with them into uncomfortable or unfamiliar spaces, they grow. And growth is what leads to progress.

Right. You grow outside your comfort zone, but only if you’re using your strengths. Without that alignment, you’re just exhausting yourself. I personally love presenting and communicating, but it doesn’t energize me—it drains me. So I schedule downtime afterward. Knowing yourself means you can lead without burning out.

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What Makes Ryan's Coaching Different

What do you do differently in your coaching that sets you apart from others in this crowded personal development and leadership space?

Yeah, great question. I take a systematic approach upfront to help people really identify their strengths and pinpoint what I call their “genius zones.” I combine tools like the Clifton Strengths assessment with 360-degree leadership surveys to get a holistic view of where clients are, and more importantly, where they want to go.

Once we’ve laid that foundation, we enter into a formal coaching relationship that follows the International Coach Federation standards. This means the client sets the goals, identifies what they want to work on, and then we collaborate to build awareness, clarify obstacles, and co-create actionable strategies to move forward.

It’s very goal-focused and future-oriented. I’m not just helping them reflect—I’m helping them move toward specific outcomes that matter in their business and personal life.

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Where to Start With Coaching

For those listening who are wondering if coaching is right for them—especially entrepreneurs or team leaders—where do they begin?

I say this jokingly but truthfully: if you’re wondering if you need coaching, then you probably do. That said, I don’t recommend people just take the CliftonStrengths test and leave it at that. Have a conversation with me first. Let’s talk. That way, I can help you get the most out of it and set you up for success.

The real value in coaching isn’t just in taking assessments. It’s in the guided conversations and custom strategies that follow. That’s where change happens.

Totally agree. That’s why I brought you on the show. Our audience is all about leveling up, becoming more self-aware, and growing into the best version of themselves. Sometimes you just need that outside perspective.

Yeah, and even though coaching, mentoring, and consulting are all different, I blend a little bit of each depending on the client’s needs. The key is to build a relationship where we’re working together toward their goals—and doing it in a way that feels aligned and sustainable.

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Final Advice and How to Connect

What’s one piece of advice you’d leave with business owners or professionals looking to grow?

Get to know yourself better. It sounds simple, but it’s the foundation for everything. Then—once you’ve done that—take the time to truly understand your team. If you do that, you’ll build an environment where everyone can succeed.

I love that. You can’t lead others effectively until you’ve learned to lead yourself. And once you’ve gone through that process, it becomes easier to help others do the same. It all starts with self-awareness.

Exactly. And if you’re interested in doing this work, you can reach me at xlcoaching.net. You can book a discovery call right on my calendar, and we’ll go from there.

Perfect. We’ll include the link in the show notes, along with your book—Becoming the Compass—and your bio. Thanks again for joining me, Ryan.

Thank you, George. This was great.

Here’s the bottom line. Everyone needs coaching. Everyone needs perspective. And if you’re looking to level up—to create the life you want—it starts with knowing yourself, building your strengths, and getting aligned.

So take action today. Book a call with Ryan, check out his website at xlcoaching.net, or just start journaling about your strengths. Whatever it is, don’t wait. Create the momentum.

And if you found this episode valuable, please share the show. You’ll help someone else grow and continue building our amazing community here at The Daily Mastermind.

Until next time—take care and keep building your best life.

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About George Wright III:

George Wright is a Proven, Successful Entrepreneur- and he knows how to inspire entrepreneurs, companies, and individuals to achieve Massive Results. With more than 20 years of Executive Management experience and 25 years of Direct Marketing and Sales experience, George is responsible for starting and building several successful multimillion-dollar companies. He started at a very young age to network and build his experience and knowledge of what it takes to become a driven and well-known entrepreneur. George built a multi-million-dollar seminar business, promoting some of the biggest stars and brands in the world. He has accelerated the success and cash flow in each of his ventures through his network of resources and results driven strategies. George is now dedicated to teaching and sharing his Prosperity Principles and Strategies to every Driven and Passionate Entrepreneur he meets. His mission is to Empower Entrepreneurs Globally to create Massive Change and LIVE their Ultimate Destiny.

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About Dr. Ryan Crittenden:

Ryan Crittenden, Ph.D. is the founder of XL Coaching & Development—a strengths-based coaching firm focused on empowering leaders and teams, particularly veterans, to build trust, clarity, and resilience. With a Ph.D. in Industrial and Organizational Psychology, certification as a Gallup Strengths and John Maxwell coach, and a distinguished background as an Army veteran, Ryan delivers workshops, bespoke coaching, and keynote speaking designed to overcome burnout and foster high-performing cultures.

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Guest Resources:

Website:xlcoaching.net

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/crittenden-ryan/

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