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What’s Right With You? The Strengths Approach to People. Anita Alexander Strengthsfinder® Coach and Psychologist
Have you ever tried to become good at something that you know is a weakness for you? Maybe something like paying attention to detail, or being outgoing at parties, or doing instant mental arithmetic. How did that go? Chances are not so great. If you are like most people your efforts resulted in only small improvements and disillusioned and irritated you along the way. Now think about something that you know you are good at. Maybe the same things as those above, maybe you always finish what you start, you can get things moving, or make people feel welcome and included. Think about instances when applied that talent. How did that go? Chances are you were successful and enjoyed yourself along the way. That’s the basic idea behind the strengths approach to people.
Develop your strengths and manage around your weaknesses.
Most of us believe the opposite idea – to be successful and fulfilled you should identify, analyse and work on overcoming your weaknesses. So we apply ourselves to that task without noticing that it doesn’t work very well. Research Decades of research has shown conclusively that the strengths approach is what yields success in life – in terms of more positive outcomes, a deeper sense of
fulfillment, and significantly greater odds of achieving goals – in all areas of one’s life. This research shows that people who apply their strengths to their life are:
• 6 times more likely to be engaged in their jobs and therefore happier at work • 3 times more likely to report having an excellent quality of life
However it’s not just research that reveals the truth of this statement. All of us have examples in our own life when we have tried to excel at something for which we have little talent. It’s probable that this focus on overcoming weaknesses has led to frustration and disappointment. On the other hand focusing on using and developing one’s natural talents is likely to have led to success, progress and maybe best of all, feeling confident and happy with ourselves. How do you Manage a Weakness? So what does it mean to manage our weaknesses? It means taking an honest look at what has always been a potential problem for you, and working out how to neutralise that so it doesn’t interfere with success. Lets take a common weakness – overlooking details. Let’s say that you need to read a report and really take in the financials, and there are big negative repercussions if you don’t. Here are ways to ensure that you get this done well:
• Reduce distractions -‐ turn off everything – email, web browsers, shut the door and focus
• Go to a coffee shop with only that report in your hand • Ask a colleague who you know is great in this area, to also take a look and
discuss what they see with you • Set a timer – read for 20 minutes, take a break, and get back to it again.
The best strategy will vary according to the individual. All you need is a strategy that works for you. How do you Develop a Strength? Alternatively what does it mean to focus on and develop your strengths? Here are some examples:
• Volunteer at work for projects where you can do what you do best. If you are a great strategic thinker, get on those planning committees. If someone is needed to induct newcomers and you are naturally outgoing and warm, take on that responsibility.
• Plan your life in terms of your strengths. If you like to get things moving and being active, avoid holidays spent lying around a pool. Plan activities so that you feel you make the most of your time.
• Think about how you can use your strengths to manage difficult situations. If you don’t like networking events because you don’t find it easy to strike up conversations with people you don’t know, but you are good at following through on commitments, set yourself the goal of meeting eight people, finding out something about them, and then allow yourself to socialise out with the people you know well.
You are much more likely to be successful in these situations where you work with your natural style, than trying to turn yourself into someone you are not. How do you find what you are naturally good at? Gallup’s StrengthsFinder® (CSF) is a thoroughly validated online assessment that will uncover your talents. It came out of the pioneering work of Don Clifton, the father of strengths psychology who posed a question that would inspire his life’s work: “What will happen when we think about what is right with people rather than fixating on what is wrong with them?” The Strengthsfinder® Assessment. The results of your Strengthsfinder® Report” will give words to the areas that you excel. When we are able to name something we are much more able to focus on it, work with it, and develop it. Your coaching session will take you deeper into an understanding of your strengths and you will learn how to apply them to any situation or goal in your life. So enjoy the process, maybe for the first time you will be focusing on what is right with you, you will begin the process described in ‘Seven Habits of Highly Effective People’ of ‘making your strengths more effective and your weaknesses irrelevant’.