We get taught from a very young age to focus on improving our weaknesses. But the secret to successful, happy, and productive life is to concentrate on our strengths and innate talents.

1. Dr Tim Baker
tim@winnersatwork.com.au
www.winnersatwork.com.au
Focus on Strengths

2. Unit 1—Adopting a Growth
Mindset
Unit 2—Focus on Strengths
Unit 3—Regulating Emotions
Unit 4—Reducing Stress
Unit 5—Mastering
Mindfulness
Unit 6—Improving Self-Talk

3. What is
strength-based
psychology
Strategies to
use strengths
Overusing
strengths

5. Positive Psychology…
• Underpinned by three
beliefs:
• We ought to concentrate
on our strengths
• We ought to be interested
in pursuing the best things
in our current situation
• We ought to develop
interventions to increase
well-being & happiness at
work, not just to decrease
misery!

6. Seligman’s view of
Dominant Treatment Approaches
Psychological
wellbeing
psychological
disorders

7. What do you do improve your sense of well-being?
What has worked for you?
Page 11

8. Some practical application
• Identify your signature strengths
• Use your signature strengths in a
new way
• Express your thanks
• Being grateful
• Say ‘no’ to too many choices
• Identify & engage in flow
activities
• Practise mindfulness
• Meditation
• Random acts of kindness
• Cultivate forgiveness
• Focus on the positives

9. Gratitude activity…

10. But Beware – An overused strength can
become a liability
Sometimes (particularly when under stress) we can overuse or rely too much on our
strengths – which is why emotional intelligence must always accompany our leadership.
Some examples below…

11. Complete the Character
Strengths test
https://www.viach
aracter.org/charact
er-strengths

12. Unit 1—Adopting a Growth
Mindset
Unit 2—Focus on Strengths
Unit 3—Regulating Emotions
Unit 4—Reducing Stress
Unit 5—Mastering
Mindfulness
Unit 6—Improving Self-Talk