Positive psychology in coaching

When did you last think about your strengths and how you could put them to good use?

It is surprising how many of us spend time worrying about what we can’t do instead of being positive about what we can do, acknowledging our strengths and working out how to use them to our best advantage.

We all have many strengths that play a part in our day-to-day lives, but we don’t always realise that they can also be used in completely different ways.

So often, clients say, “I know I will never be able to do that.” But when they are given the space to reflect and identify their strengths, they can begin working out how to use them in different situations.

As a starting point, this might mean being able to voice an opinion in a meeting for the first time. This can then lead to a different mindset that is open to new challenges rather than fearful of change.

Consider the strengths involved in managing a household, for example, and how they might compare with those needed to supervise or manage a small team in a business. Recognising these transferable strengths may help shift your thinking from “I don’t think I can do that” to “I can do that.”

Using positive psychology in coaching can help clients ‘open the box’ and explore their many talents, strengths and opportunities.