What are strengths and how can you realise them?
Realising our strengths is the single thing that can make the most difference to our performance, growth potential and fulfilment. This guide explains why, dispels common myths about strengths and highlights ways to apply them.
Our strengths are the natural and authentic resources that allow us to perform at our best. They are the things we do well and love doing, the capacities that propel us to be exceptional.
Strengths are defined by Alex Linley, a leading positive psychologist and strengths expert, as a “pre-existing capacity for a particular way of behaving, thinking, or feeling that is authentic and energising to the user, and enables optimal functioning, development and performance”. When we tap into our strengths we feel a sense of ownership, authenticity, vitality and invigoration. We feel motivated to act according to these strengths and yearn for ways to express them.
Simply put, strengths energise us, enabling us to be at our best.
Alex Linley, author of Average to A+
Our strengths give us energy and guide us in the direction of fulfilling our potential and reaching our ultimate performance. Instead of focusing on improving weaknesses and toiling unproductively to excel, realising our strengths is the most sustaining path to peak performance. The key lies in becoming aware of where our core and emerging strengths really lie, developing a language to identify them, and choosing how to use them to become our best and most authentic selves.
In the words of Alex Linley: “using our strengths is the smallest thing we can do to make the biggest difference” in our work and lives.
Why strengths?
Realising your strengths makes you more energised, satisfied and engaged. You work faster and more effectively. This leads to better outcomes for your business and more fulfilment for you.
Strengths benefits for individuals
Many studies link strengths use with higher levels of wellbeing. For example, renowned positive psychologist Martin Seligman and his colleagues found that when people used their strengths in a new and different way every day they were happier and less depressed. Other studies predict that the more a person uses their strengths, the less stressed they become over time.
Greater confidence, self-esteem and vitality are also evident the more people use their strengths. They get a greater buzz out of what they do and feel more competent. Research also shows that when people use their strengths in striving towards goals they are more likely to attain them. If those goals involve developing themselves, particularly their strengths, they are more effective and successful.
Strengths benefits for organisations
The opportunity to do what you do best each day is a core predictor of workplace engagement, which in turn predicts a range of business outcomes including financial performance, according to Gallup researcher Jim Harter and his colleagues. They predicted 38% higher productivity in teams and 44% higher customer loyalty and employee retention.
When Aviva recruited customer service staff for their strengths, working with Cappfinity, the British insurer experienced 39% reduction in cost per hire, 54% reduced call answer delays and 50% less turnover in the first year. Job fit plays a role. When people are tasked with doing what they love and recognised for it, there is less reason to leave. The reduced stress associated with strengths use also saves on lost time.
Investing in strengths
The power of strengths to propel peak performance is striking. A global study by the Corporate Leadership Council of almost 20,000 people across multiple organisations and industries found that when people were encouraged by their manager to focus on their strengths, their performance went up a massive 36%. When they focussed on weaknesses, performance dropped by 27%.
Consider the bottom line impact to your business of focusing on your strengths. Multiply that if you manage a team or organisation.
Simply adopting a strengths focus makes a significant difference. Look for what people are doing well rather than what they do poorly. Focus on leveraging their strengths not improving weaknesses.
The unique purpose of organisations is to make strength productive…one cannot build on weakness. To achieve results, one has to use all the available strengths… These strengths are the true opportunities.
Peter Drucker, The Effective Executive
Ways to apply strengths
Realising strengths can help you become a better leader, work well with teams and plan a fulfilling career. It helps business owners define their competitive advantage and set themselves up for success. It gives organisations powerful ways to achieve strategic goals, manage performance, select talent and recruit people.
Leadership
When you understand yourself better and tap into your strengths you can develop an authentic leadership style and personal brand that allows you to perform at your personal and professional best. Be aware of the strengths that have enabled you to be successful so far. Are these the ones that will get you to the next level or help you manage your current leadership challenge? Environments and circumstances change.
Teamwork
Each person brings a unique set of strengths to a team. Realising and appreciating them increases understanding and collaboration. When you know your own and team-mates’ strengths, you can leverage them to achieve objectives faster together. Take time to find out team member’s strengths. Talk about what each person does best and share stories about successes they have achieved using their strengths. Be realistic about weaknesses too. We all have them.
Career
Discovering the strengths that energise you, recognising those you tend to overuse, and identifying behaviours that cause you stress, allows you to choose a career path that can see you optimising your potential and enjoying your work as never before. With this knowledge you can plan the direction you want to take. You can better identify and attract opportunities that fit your strengths.
Personal resilience
Strengths are a resource that can help you overcome challenges. If you are facing major obstacles or setbacks such as facilitating change in the face of extreme resistance at work, being demoted from a senior to a lesser role, or recovering from the loss of workmates, loved ones or job, your strengths can help you persist and recover. Find support to make sense of challenging life transitions, and use your strengths as a building block for creating the life you want.
Startups
If you are starting a business or in the early stages of designing your unique offer, knowing your core strengths and integrating this into your business model and brand sets you up for success. What strengths are you known for already? What sets you apart? What can customers rely on you to deliver exceptionally well? This is particularly critical if you provide personal or professional services or are the face of your brand.
Small business
As we’ve seen, focussing on your strengths enables you to do what you do best. This is important for small business owners who juggle many hats while keeping their business afloat and growing. Be clear where your strengths really lie and make sure you spend most of your time there. Choose business partners who complement your strengths and cover your gaps. Invest in service providers who have the strengths and experience to manage core tasks you don’t do well.
Organisational performance
The highest performing companies prioritise managing the performance of their people. Just as importantly, a high proportion of employees (87% according to a Cappfinity study) think the best managers manage according to individual needs. A strengths-based approach addresses both needs and empowers managers and their teams with positive pathways to high performance. Teach managers to spot people’s strengths and give positive specific feedback in performance appraisals and everyday conversations.
Recruitment
Research now shows that recruiting for strengths rather than competencies is more effective in hiring talent that is engaged, resilient, productive and effective. Onboarding new talent selected for strengths is 50% faster than the competency-based model.
When you know what strengths are required to be most productive in a role, use targeted questions, strengths-spotting techniques and strengths assessment during the hiring process for the best talent choice.
My strengths assessment tools
I am a certified Strengths Profile practitioner, accredited by Cappfinity, UK, and the Langley Group.
Strengths Profile is a leading evidence-based strengths assessment and development tool designed to unlock the performance potential of individuals, teams and organisations. Built from a decade of theoretical and empirical research, it demonstrates highly valid results.
By measuring 3 dimensions of energy, performance and use, and differentiating strengths, weaknesses and learned behaviours, Strengths Profile gives an in-depth perspective on people’s real capabilities and growth potential. More dynamic and situational than traditional strengths tests, it is considered an important development in applied positive psychology.
I also use VIA inventory, a values-based strengths assessment. It’s available for free.
Contact me if you would like a strengths assessment or strengths-based coaching package.