Our Strengths Define Our Wellbeing Journey

So much of an individual's wellbeing journey is focused on where and what they want to improve. We think about how we can be more mindful and decide to take up journaling. We focus on improving our diet, so we decide to track our caloric intake. In many ways, we are telling ourselves that we have deficiencies and we must take action to remedy them.

What if, instead, we focused on the areas we are performing strongly in and where we have the skills to improve? Our mindset would shift dramatically from that of, "I'm not where I need to be yet", to "I'm at a great place in my life and will focus on continuing to develop". This mindset shift allows for an individual to do what they enjoy and that they are already good at, rather than trying to learn the skills to develop a new habit.

Take this in the context of our careers and the work we do everyday, focusing on our strengths over our weaknesses can have a significant impact on our total wellbeing. Traditional performance reviews touch on strengths minimally and focus on what the employee should improve in the coming year. This leaves the individual in a constant state of being focused on their weaknesses. They might question whether they have the skills and the talent to do what their role asks of them. Ultimately, this can lead to an employee who is disengaged and no longer thriving.

"When you begin to understand people's talents from a strengths-based perspective, you start to grasp what motivates them and what the need from their experiences." ~Gallup

Companies and managers have in their power to directly impact the wellbeing of their organization by helping each employee identify their strengths and offer opportunities to develop in the areas they are naturally skilled in. Employees who are using their strengths on a regular basis at work are less bored and far more likely to produce quality work. This energy derived from doing work they enjoy carries into their personal lives for overall improved wellbeing.

If you are a manager, take a moment to consider how you interact with your team. Consider your individual meetings with each employee and the language you are using in those meetings. How can you focus more on strengths to build a thriving and productive team?