CDAA International Career Conference
Three tools to capture clients’ strengths
Presented by Dr Ann Villiers, Mental Nutritionist®
Cairns, 29 April 2011
Professional Standards: Career development theory
Overview: Productive, engaged, fulfilled people carve out roles that draw on their strengths.
This workshop will: clarify terminology (strengths, talents, traits, skills), put the case for building a
strengths-based mindset in the workplace and in life, demonstrate three tools practitioners can use to
help clients capture, clarify and confirm their strengths.
Tool 1. Strength statements
Marcus Buckingham, Go Put Your Strengths to Work, 6 powerful steps to achieve outstanding performance,
Free Press, NY, 2007
Book tools
http://tmbc.com/mb/books/go?destination=node%2F25%3Fquicktabs_5%3D2#componentTable
Learn how to capture, clarify and confirm strengths:
Capture: During the week, write down what you find yourself doing that makes you feel: Powerful,
confident, natural, smooth, on fire, high, great, authentic, that was easy, when can I do this again.
Also write down what you were doing when you feel: Drained, time going by so slowly, I can’t
concentrate, frustrated, wiped out, forced, how much longer, irritated, bored,
Clarify: Change tense from past to present: ‘I loved it when’ to ‘I feel strong when…’
Identify which aspects of the activity are critical and must be preserved if the activity is to generate in
you the same positive emotions in future weeks.
Ask 4 ‘Does it matter?’ questions:
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Does it matter why I do this activity
Does it matter who I do this activity with/to/for
Does it matter when I am doing this activity
Does it matter what this activity is about? 102
Strength statement:
I feel strong when …
I learn something new, from someone I respect, that I can use, about
communicating with people
Confirm with the strengths test: 12 items, rated 1-5, 5= strongly agree (ideal score 53+)
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Other people often tell me I have a gift for this type of activity
I often find myself volunteering for this type of activity
I pick up this type of activity quickly
I always look forward to doing this type of activity
Tool 2: Signature Strengths
Martin Seligman, Authentic Happiness, Using the new Positive Psychology to realise your potential for lasting
fulfillment, Random House Australia 2002
VIA Survey of Character Strengths, VIA Strength Survey for Children, www.authentichappiness.org
VIA Institute on Character
http://uat.viacharacter.org/VIACHARACTERPROFILE/tabid/61/language/en-US/Default.aspx
Focuses on character strengths. This tool rank orders 24 character strengths (grouped under 6 virtues)
and compares your answers to thousands of other people. The top 5 are regarded as Signature
Strengths
Characteristics of strengths:
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Is a trait, psychological characteristic seen across different situations and over time
Is valued in its own right and for its own sake
Onlookers are elevated and inspired by observing virtuous actions
Cultures support them by providing role models, institutions, stories, rituals
Ubiquitous, valued in almost every culture
Summary:
Virtue
Wisdom and
Knowledge
Courage
Humanity and Love
Justice
Temperance
Transcendence
Routes to the virtue i.e. strengths
Curiosity, Love of learning, Judgment, Ingenuity,
Social Intelligence, Perspective
Valour, Perseverance, Integrity
Kindness, Loving
Citizenship, Fairness, Leadership
Self-control, Prudence , Humility
Appreciation of beauty, Gratitude, Hope, Spirituality,
Forgiveness, Humour, Zest
Criteria that help you identify signature strengths are:
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A sense of ownership and authenticity (‘This is real for me.’)
A feeling of excitement while displaying it, particularly at first.
A sense of yearning to find ways to use it.
Invigoration rather than exhaustion while using the strength.
The creation and pursuit of personal projects that revolve around it.
Using your signature strengths every day in the main realms of life brings gratification, a sense of
satisfaction and meaning.
Tool 3: Reflected Best Self
RE Quinn, JA Dutton, GM Spreitzer, Reflected Best Self, Assignment and instructions for participants
http://www.bus.umich.edu/Positive/PDF/reflectedbest_exercise_preview.pdf
Teaching tool with instructions:
http://www.bus.umich.edu/Positive/POS-Teaching-and-Learning/ReflectedBestSelfExercise.htm
Ask 5-7 significant others – friends, family, coworkers, people who know you well and will provide
honest opinions – to share written feedback describing you at your best. Ask for specific examples, no
negative comments. Write a portrait summary: ‘When I’m at my best I …’
‘Don’t get to your grave with your song unsung.’ Cavett Robert