Strengths-based coaching
Strengths-Based Approach
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What is a strengths-based approach?
A strengths-based approach in coaching is a research-based approach, informed by researchers in neuroscience, positive psychology and appreciative inquiry. It is a conversation held between the coach and the coachee, with the focus on identifying the coachee’s strengths and exploring how using their strengths more consciously can bring energy and generate incentive, build confidence and self-assurance, overcome challenges, solve problems and adapt the use of their strengths under certain circumstances, with the intended outcome to achieve a set goal.
A strengths-based approach is founded on the principle that positive attributes exist within each individual and that these can be built upon, to unlock human potential. Identifying and focusing on people’s strengths as positive individual traits is more effective and beneficial than focusing on weaknesses.
Research has found that recognising and making use of our personal strengths is associated to a number of positive outcomes, such as:
- increased self-knowledge
- greater self-esteem
- vitality
- positive affect (experiences of positive moods such as joy, interest, and alertness)
- personal development
- improved performance
- lower perceived stress
A strengths-based approach in coaching seeks to:
- gain insight into one’s innate resources
- raise awareness of one’s strengths
- explore how one expresses their strengths
- facilitate an understanding of which behaviours draw upon one’s strengths appropriately
- apply one’s strengths consciously towards a specified goal
- improve one’s performance
- develop the skills to maintain a strengths-based mindset
The strengths-based approach has been studied over the past two decades, and research has found that:
- working with personal strengths creates the potential for personal, academic and professional success.
- over 80% of those who were coached in strengths reported having accomplished their goal(s) in three months compared to 60% of people who had worked on other models and approaches (Burke & Passmore, 2019).
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Why the need for a strengths-based approach in coaching adolescents and emerging adults?
Our education system focuses mainly on what students lack. The understanding is that something is wrong and there is a specific solution which the young person needs to overcome. Fixed in this “deficit” way of thinking, we spend our time focusing on what we are not doing rather than exploring and celebrating what we are doing (and doing quite well). This deficit mindset fails to see the innate strengths of young people and prevents them from realizing their full potential.
Research has evidenced that coaching creates purpose, facilitates goal-setting, raises levels of engagement and hope in students (Burke & Passmore, 2019) while it improves to have a positive impact on senior high school students’ motivation and goal-setting (Campbell & Gardner, 2005).
At rrCoaching, we employ a strengths-based coaching approach to:
- raise awareness of your unique character-strengths profile
- explore how your character strengths can bring you closer to your goals
- engage in actions, interventions and behaviours to achieve your goals
Burke, J. & Passmore, J. (2019). Strengths Based Coaching—A Positive Psychology Intervention. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-20583-6_21
Campbell, M.A., & Gardner, S. (2005). A pilot study to assess the effects of life coaching with Year 12 students. In M. Cavanagh, A, Grant, and T. Kemp (Eds.), Evidence-based coaching. (pp. 159-169). Brisbane: Australian Academic Press. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/27464504_A_pilot_study_to_assess_the_effects_of_life_coaching_with_Year_12_students.
30 years of experience in education
with adolescents & young adults.
info@rrcoaching.gr
