Comments on: How to Use Your Character Strengths

By: Hope

Hope — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 02:13:00 +0000

I did the survey and I was not surprised when I found that my character strengths were perseverance, appreciation of excellence, interest in the world, future-mindedness, and energy. But I was surprised to find that mercy, leadership, love of learning, faith, and discretion were at the bottom. Or maybe it is that because they are at the bottom that I felt they were my weaknesses. I am an architect major, so I can see how my top character strengths explain why I excel in architecture, but my bottom strengths could be bad for me, especially if I want a job with a firm. I’ll definitely look into how I can use this to my advantage.

By: Pen Pen

Pen Pen — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 19:40:00 +0000

I had a job recently that involved some actions that were FAR from my strengths. I stayed with the job for money and the idea that I would develop those non-strengths. Over the months, I became depressed because I couldn't force myself into having those qualities. I thought I was just dumb.
Then-I looked around me and saw that NOBODY there was like me. I've since left the job and I'm now working on my graduate in psychology.
Anywho-I wanted to say I agree it's important to develop ur "bottom strengths', but you can't push yourself into being something ur not---I encountered limits to that development.

By: Doug Hensch

Doug Hensch — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 18:18:00 +0000

Alexandre - Agreed. I think the research shows that working on a strength produces the greatest results. But, I often think of Carol Dweck's work with regard to mindsets and how we sometimes miss opportunities by allowing ourselves to think of something as a 'weakness' that should be avoided.

By: Alexandre

Alexandre — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 17:25:00 +0000

I am one of those that believe in getting better at what you already do well and letting others take on what you don't.
Doesn't matter if you look for your strengths or your weaknesses, as long as you can pinpoint either you are halfway to knowing yourself better and that is always good.
A coworker and I both took the survey, and although the two of us are diametrically opposed in terms of character, in both cases the survey was as spot on as possible.
Let's see how we manage to apply this findings in improving how we work and interact.

By: Doug Hensch

Doug Hensch — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 13:13:00 +0000

Great article. Very insightful. I particularly liked the idea of working on the 'bottom strengths' as some people just prefer to work on things that are a perceived weakness and they like to see progress in these areas. Also, I really liked the leading questions to find more ways to use strengths in different ways. Thanks!