Everyone has strengths and knowing there are things you can do, and do well is motivating. This self awareness increases confidence and floods us with positive emotions, especially if our strengths are affirmed by others we respect. The more positive we are, the more we are open to new knowledge and learning. This is the essence of Barbara Fredrikson’s Broaden and Build Theory.
A strength is something we are good at and that energizes us. According to Petersen and Seligman we possess all 24 strengths, we can over do and under do them. For example, a strength of Curiosity could range from disinterest, to curiosity or overdoing it by being a bit nosey! Ryan Niemec from VIA Institute on Character says that under use of strengths is a much bigger deal than over use, as it signifies wasted motivation, energy and fulfillment. You might like to complete the VIA strengths survey. It’s a great way to build self-awareness and a fantastic conversation starter.
Alex Linley describes Realized Strengths as those we know and own, the ones we are using. Unrealized Strengths, those we are not using. Learned Behaviours, what we have learned to do but drains us and Weaknesses. I prefer to think of weaknesses as opportunities, those things that you don’t do well and they drain you. Optimizing our collective strengths enables us to achieve greatness. Think of the teams or partnerships you’ve experienced that have enabled extraordinary outcomes. Were you all the same or did you bring different strengths to the process? Life might be easier in the very short term if we were the same and agreed all the time, but no one would grow.
Once you have awareness of your strengths it’s possible to explore how and when to use them. Even more importantly it enables us to look at what we don’t do well, and to use the strengths we have, to grow our lesser strengths. What if the world were a little less focused on dwelling on what went wrong, and more on what went well? The most positive and productive aspects, our strengths, could then be transferred to the challenging areas of our life, enabling great achievements.
An organization might have many innovative ideas but never be able to deliver them to market. Perhaps they would benefit if they partnered their strength of innovation with teamwork, and brought in others to help them develop a process from design to delivery. These collective strengths would increase the outcome markedly. It all sounds quite easy don't you think? Next time I’ll explore practical ways to use strengths to add value to learning, leadership and daily life.
