How to Identify and Use Character Strengths

I recommended this FREE tool for years to my MBA students at the Stanford Business School given how useful I found it and how consistently students confirmed it had also been helpful to them. When current executive clients feel “stuck” I often recommend it to gather data that might point to paths that can help them get “unstuck” – since feeling stuck is often a function of incongruence between what we value and where we are spending our time and energy. I decided to take the survey again, before posting about it since it has been over a decade since I first took it. The results remain wonderfully (and not surprisingly) consistent. My top signature strengths are 1) love/humanity 2) perspective/wisdom 3) social intelligence/humanity, 4) leadership/justice, and 5) honesty/courage. This clarifies why it so important to me to have close relations with others in which sharing and caring are reciprocated, why I am so happy when providing counsel and have ways of looking at the world that make sense to both me and others, love the part of my job that depends heavily on understanding what makes people tick, love leading (and teaching about leadership) and so value speaking the truth. The VIA Character Personality Assessment is a scientific instrument measuring our strengths, and it’s widely used in academic, corporate, and other settings (Peterson & Seligman, 2004). VIA stands for Values in Action. It is free and takes roughly 20 minutes to complete. Check it out and LMK what you learned! https://lnkd.in/gWi2Zt6b

Do you know what you're good at and what makes you, you? If you are early in your career, here’s how to find and use your strengths to make the right career decisions. After years of reflecting on this and talking to others, I’ve realized that the moment you start focusing on your strengths, you feel less confused about your career path 😌 , more confident about the value you bring to the table 💪, and ultimately, are better positioned for success. 🚀 So here are some tips and questions to help you unlock your superpowers. Use them and let me know if they help you discover what’s unique about you. 1️⃣ What are some past experiences and hobbies where you lost track of time and excelled effortlessly? Those skills and qualities can translate to professional strengths. 2️⃣ What projects, internships, or online courses have you tried and enjoyed? New things can uncover hidden talents and strengths you weren't aware of. 3️⃣ What do people often praise you for? These compliments might point to your hidden strengths. 4️⃣ What are some challenging tasks you can attempt outside your comfort zone that can reveal dormant strengths or areas for growth? 5️⃣ Finally, you can spark self-reflection by talking to a wise friend/coach or taking a personality test. What you uncover may surprise you! Remember, strengths can be found in personal / professional settings. Translating them is key. You may have many strengths, and their importance may vary depending on the context. They are also dynamic and can be developed throughout your life. Don’t lose heart if it takes some self exploration and learning to figure out! Own it. Build your career and brand around it. ✨ If this isn't quite answering your question, tell me your scenario below and I’ll try to respond with something helpful. 💬

While looking for new strength assessment tools to support a client interested in finding a more fulfilling job, I came across the (free) VIA Character Strengths Survey. I hadn't seen it before and didn't take the time to read what it was about before jumping quickly into the actual survey to test it out. 10 minutes later, I received a copy with my results listing "love" as my # 1 strength. What? "Love"? My mind didn't like it. It sounded fluffy. I thought I was going to get a list of "real" strengths like strategic thinking, analytical skills, or project management. But I then read about the methodology and intention behind this survey: it's meant to uncover *character* strengths, the positive parts of our personalities that impact how we think, feel, and behave, not just a list of our top skills.  25 million people have taken the assessment, and, according to the researchers, "workers who use four or more of their signature strengths at work, have more positive work experiences and report seeing their work as part of their life calling." And while we don't often use the word "love" at work (a topic for another conversation), it absolutely makes sense that it's at the top of my list, and "Love of learning" my # 2, is currently guiding my next big project in a very specific way. As a self-awareness "nerd," I have to say I actually enjoyed reading the report. All the data points we can gather can be significant when it comes to the ongoing process of getting to know ourselves better. If you have 10 minutes and an interest in seeing your own results, check out the free survey at: https://lnkd.in/gz82qrig (and feel free to DM me if you'd like to share any insights from your report). Also, if you have other strength assessment tool recommendations, let me know, please 🤓 .