Faculty Development now offering Strength Deployment Inventory sessions
Posted on March 26, 2026 by Marketing and Communications
Faculty and staff relationships improve when people understand what drives them —
and each other. The Office of Faculty Affairs and Faculty Development is now offering
facilitated team sessions using the Strength Deployment Inventory (SDI) to help make
that happen.
The SDI helps individuals identify what motivates them at their best, how their motivations change during conflict, and which strengths drive results — or become overused under stress. These insights can improve communication, strengthen teamwork, and lead to healthier, more productive workplace relationships.
Trained facilitators from the Whiddon College of Medicine will guide teams through both individual SDI profiles and a team profile, helping participants explore four key areas:
- Motivational Value System (MVS): What drives behavior — whether you're motivated by relationships, results, or order
- Conflict Sequence: How motivations shift during conflict
- Strengths Portrait: The strengths you rely on most
- Overdone Strengths Portrait: Strengths that may be overused under stress
Participants will complete the online SDI assessment prior to the session, and facilitators will lead a 1.5–2 hour team discussion focused on applying the insights to real workplace interactions. Sessions can be scheduled at a time convenient for your team.
Teams, departments, and committees interested in participating can contact Amanda Arnold at akarnold@southalabama.edu or 251-460-6823 to schedule a session. Space is limited.