Four Tools for Strengths-Based Coaching
As a strengths-based coach or Strengthspreneur® , you know the power of the data in understanding talents, personality, values, and tendencies can provide in coaching clients. You know that all of this data can help you build trust, improve client success, and see potential pitfalls. Knowing your own strengths and weaknesses, values and personality tendencies can also help you navigate pitfalls in your business, and shore up weaknesses by finding a support network to hold you accountable.
Gallup CliftonStrengths
The Gallup CliftonStrengths assessment is the first tool in your toolbox. The assessment defines 34 talent themes. Your top five are known as your signature strengths and are where you will operate from subconsciously. The top ten are known as your dominant strengths, those that “show up” naturally, frequently, and with the most force.
Finally, 10-29 strengths are known as the supporting, & your bottom 5 are called lesser themes – which are non-pattern strengths. You may see these occasionally; but, they will never dominate your behaviors. However, understanding them all is important to understanding and bringing out the best in people.
VIA
We understand that values drive our talents, behaviors and decisions as well. VIA the institute on Values In Action, offers a free and paid assessment that identifies your core values also called character strengths. By identifying your unique set of values, you create a framework that guides every decision, relationship, and priority for your life. Zest, Wisdom, & Courage are my core values & are examples of the 24 evidenced based universal values.
Again, by understanding what drives someone’s values, you can gain clarity that will provide relevant, meaningful coaching for them. Add a values-based assessment to your toolbelt.
Builder Profile 10
BP10, a builder profile assessment by Gallup, helps you understand how you are wired as an entrepreneur. Knowing your ranking of the top 10 entrepreneurial talents will guide you in building entrepreneurial excellence.
First, the BP10 will increase your entrepreneurial self-awareness, as well as recognize opportunities for growth in building your venture.
Second, it will help you identify the talents of those on your team and activating on your innovative ideas.
Although building a coaching business depends on you, there are supporting roles, and perhaps junior coaches, that you’ll add to your team. Knowing everyone’s builder profile will show you whether they have the talent make up for that role and whether their talents are missing on your team.
Standout 2.0
The fourth strengths-based tool to add to the toolbelt of your coaching business is Standout 2.0. This assessment by Marcus Buckingham, measures one’s top 2 strengths roles in work. This will help you be more clear on how you Standout in the workplace.
Standout 2.0 says they help you “turn talent into performance”. This research-based approach assesses your client’s strengths and helps identify their edge, going one step deeper than the CliftonStrengths assessment and enabling them to climb the career ladder and become the high-performing executive they know they are.
Closing
When you combine these four powerful, insightful assessments, you’ll have all the tools you need to raise your performance. And, you’ll have a deep understanding of your employees, co-workers, and family. This will allow you to see where you can help them reach their potential, and who you need to introduce them to who can mentor them, shoring up their areas of weakness. Combine these four instruments to navigate your team at work and home. If you’d like to take any of these assessments, contact me to schedule a call to discuss the next step.
