20. Strength Spotting Shortcut

 

For the ‘Live Up To You’ 2020 project we post one little wellbeing idea/suggestion/technique that you and your friends are welcome to self-experiment with in your life and see how it works for you. In this article I share an easy way to remember how to spot strengths using the acronym ‘LEAVE’M WARM’. Click on the link for a Live Up ‘Strength Spotting’ template that you are welcome to print and use.

 
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LEAVE’M WARM -

What are your strengths?

‘LEAVE’M WARM’ is an acronym that can help you spot strengths in yourself and others.

L - List. The things that don’t make it to your to-do lists are often strengths.

E - Easy. Strengths often come naturally to you.

A - Attention. You focus naturally on things that play to your strengths.

V - Voice. When the tone in your voice is more animated and energised you are probably tapping into your strengths

E - Energy. Activities that are uplifting and give you a ‘buzz’. Often your body language is more expressive.

M - Motivation. When you do activities that you ‘love’ to do rather than ‘should’ do.

W - Words or Phrases. “ I love to…..” rather than “I should do…….”.

A - Authentic. Strengths feel ‘true’ to you and they reflect who you are, ‘the real you’.

R- Rapid Learning. What are the things that you pick up easily and effortlessly?

M- Memories from Childhood. The things we did when we were little often reflect what you do as you get older. What were the things you loved doing as a kid?

The ‘LEAVE’M WARM’ acronym was developed using Alex Linley’s Top 10 Strength Spotting Tips.

 

Strength Spotting

“A strength is a pre-existing capacity for a particular way of behaving, thinking or feeling that is authentic and energising to the user, and enables optimal functioning, development and performance” (Linley, 2008)

Playing to your strengths makes sense, but sometimes we don’t actually know the things that we are good at and fill us with energy. Being able to recognise your own strengths and spot strengths in others really helps with building relationships and giving feedback for improvement. It is easy to focus on weaknesses and we are literally ‘wired for it’ with our negativity bias. To counteract this tendency using deliberate ‘strength spotting’ strategies can be really effective.

Where can you go to find out about your own personal strengths?

  • VIA Character Strengths survey you can take online that will give you 24 character strengths.

  • Strengths Profile

  • Strengths Profile survey that gives you 60 strengths and organises them into a model of development that includes Realised Strengths, Unrealised Strengths, Weaknesses, Learned Behaviours.

  • Clifton Strengths this provides 34 strengths that explain the ways you most naturally think, feel and behave.

References:

 
Megan MartinComment