I discovered the world of Strengths more than 15 years ago and I was fascinated from the first moment. I had always thought, contrary to general thinking, that it is much smarter to discover your strengths and enhance them than to identify your weaknesses and try to correct them. This intuitive thinking was the central axis of STRENGTHS-BASED PSYCHOLOGY. From that moment on, I got hooked on this movement and began to study and apply these concepts in my training and consulting. In 2018, I became certified as a STRENGTHS COACH BY GALLUP.
But what are strengths? In simple terms, they are skills or personal traits that allow us to excel in certain areas of our life and work. Identifying and applying our strengths can lead to greater well-being, satisfaction, and success.
Gallup, the famous research and analysis company, has identified 34 strengths that are common among people. While we all have a unique combination of strengths, applying them daily can be a real challenge. I share with you 10 DAILY PRACTICES RECOMMENDED BY GALLUP THAT CAN HELP YOU APPLY YOUR STRENGTHS AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THEM:
- IDENTIFY YOUR STRENGTHS: If you haven’t identified your strengths yet, take Gallup’s CliftonStrengths test to discover them.
- RECOGNIZE YOUR STRENGTHS DAILY: Write your strengths on a sticky note and place them on your desk or mirror to remind yourself of them daily.
- FIND WAYS TO APPLY YOUR STRENGTHS: Find ways to apply your strengths in your daily work or extracurricular activities.
- COMMUNICATE YOUR STRENGTHS: Talk to friends, family, and colleagues about your strengths and how they have helped you in your life.
- LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN AND GROW: Look for opportunities to learn and improve your strengths through courses, workshops, and mentors.
- KEEP A STRENGTHS JOURNAL: Keep a journal in which you write how you applied your strengths in your daily life.
- SET GOALS BASED ON YOUR STRENGTHS: Define goals based on your strengths and work towards them.
- SEEK FEEDBACK: Seek feedback on how you are applying your strengths and how you can improve. Having a certified strengths coach to accompany you in the process can be of great help.
- PRACTICE GRATITUDE: Be grateful for your strengths and how they have helped you in your life and work.
- HELP OTHERS IDENTIFY THEIR STRENGTHS: Share your experiences and knowledge about strengths with others to help them identify theirs.
Applying your strengths daily can improve your life in many ways. Whether at work, in your personal relationships, or in your hobbies, strengths can be the key to success and personal satisfaction. Start applying these daily practices today to discover how your strengths can make a difference.
I end with a quote from Donald O. Clifton, American psychologist, former president of Gallup, creator of the Clifton Strengths test, and recognized as the Father of Strengths-based Psychology: “What leaders have in common is that each really knows their strengths, has developed their strengths, and can call on the right strength at the right time”.
