strengths Tag Archive

What We’re Missing About The Science Of Strengths on ICF

June 26, 2014• Life

batteries-energy

Almost ten years ago, I learned my strengths.

It was life-changing.

Before I learned about what I now call “a strengths approach to life,” I believed I was supposed to be all things to all people. I thought that if I wasn’t good at everything, the solution was to study more and work harder in the areas of my deficiencies. I tried very hard to be a more well-rounded person in life and a more well-rounded leader at work.

When I learned about another approach—namely, the perspective that applied positive psychology provides—I felt dramatically liberated. In an instant, it was like a weight lifted off my shoulders; the simple knowledge that NO ONE is good at everything was profoundly meaningful. It set me free.

And then it didn’t.

As I dove deeper into the strengths approach, I discovered a hole—a gap in my new shiny armor…

WHAT’S ‘ENERGY INTELLIGENCE?’ READ THE REST AT ICF!

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Advice for My Daughter: Ask Questions

September 3, 2013• Legacy, Life

Today I’m launching an idea that I’m hoping will become a recurring column here called Advice For My Daughter, outlining the most important things I’ve learned (and continue to learn) about life on this strange planet. I hope you enjoy it as well! -Josh

j-and-e

Dear daughter,

One of the most important things you can do in life is to ask questions.

And ask a LOT of them.

Many people don’t do this because they’re afraid of looking dumb. What they don’t realize, though, is that everyone is dumb.

Now, everyone is smart, too.

The problem is, most times we forget that ‘smart’ and ‘dumb’ are different for everyone. What’s easy for you might be really hard for me. What drains your energy might be one of my favorite things. This is just how the world is, but many people don’t see it, or have somehow forgotten about it.

A wise guy named Albert Einstein once said:

“Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”

You may be a fish or you may be a monkey, we don’t know yet. Everybody is wired a little differently, designed for different things. What we do know is that whatever you are, we will encourage you to be more of that.

Appreciate the gifts and talents of others, but never think you have to be exactly like them.

All you need is to be exactly like you.

Your mom and I will also urge you to understand and respect the other “animals” around you — and to be brave about asking them questions. Especially if you’re a fish, don’t ever be afraid of asking about trees.

Don’t be afraid to ask anything, really.

Ever.

P.S. A side benefit of this is that most of the people around you will be glad you spoke up, because they were scared to — even though they were wondering the same thing you were.

P.P.S. While we’re on animals, please ignore that whole “curiosity killed the cat” business. That crap was just made up by silly people afraid of adventure.

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The Magic Of Strengths-Based Coaching

March 8, 2013• Leadership

I had the pleasure of presenting a virtual class entitled “The Magic of Strengths-Based Coaching” to the ICF (International Coach Federation) a couple weeks ago. Over 140 coaches attended from around the world!

Here was the gist of the class:

Research shows that the most effective leaders in the world share one surprising trait: they know their strengths and they work “in” them almost all the time. By attending this session, you will discover a fresh perspective to share with the clients you work with, and learn why a focus on “what’s right with people” is surprisingly counter-intuitive and also, perhaps, the most important insight you can provide someone who desires to live an exceptional life.

Coaches will deepen and stretch their knowledge of several ICF core coaching competencies, including:

  • How to create greater personal awareness for coaching clients, particularly in the areas of enduring personality strengths and natural sources of energy
  • How to design better action plans for coaching clients by aligning individual goals with unique personal motivators and, therefore, achieving more success
  • How to manage progress and accountability for coaching clients by integrating action plans with personal strengths, thereby developing greater resilience to meet objectives

If you missed it, you can listen to the recording here. While you listen, I recommend opening the visual presentation here, and following along with it as you listen to the recording. I give cues throughout to make it very simple.

ICF-LA does great stuff like this all the time (and the host, Paul, is seriously one of the most wonderful people you’ll ever meet). If you’d like to register for one of their upcoming teleclasses, just go here.

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