Frequently Asked Questions
What is strengths-based development?
Research in the field of Strengths Psychology, confirms that the greatest opportunity for success lies in building on your natural talents – not in fixing your weaknesses. Our greatest talents – the ways in which we naturally think, feel and behave – represent our innate power and potential. When these talents are identified and we tap into this source of personal power, we are more engaged, efficient and productive, acting with greater confidence and direction, while feeling an enhanced sense of overall well-being.
What makes strengths-based development different form conventional forms of development?
The conventional approach to personal development starts with the assumption that we simply maintain our strengths and place our greater emphasis on fixing weaknesses. The general plan is two-fold: 1) Identify areas of improvement or opportunity and 2) Develop an improvement plan. This approach is one most people are very familiar as they write their annual performance review plan. The problem is that it is based on a few misguided notions: 1) Most behaviors can be learned and 2) If we fix our weaknesses we will attain success. Conventional development also assumes that the best in a role display the same talents. Research has proven these beliefs are false.
The strengths-based approach to personal development focuses on a person’s strengths and manages around weakness. A strength is the ability to consistently produce a positive outcome through near-perfect performance in a specific task. To finish with a strength, one must start with talent. The general plan is two-fold: 1) Identify talents and 2) Develop talents into strengths. This model recognizes that only some behaviors can be learned (acquired skills and knowledge). Research confirms fixing weaknesses only prevents failure, while building upon strengths leads to success.
What is a talent? How is a talent different from a skill or knowledge?
A talent is a natural way of thinking, feeling, or behaving. The greater intensity of the talent, the greater the power, and the greater a person’s opportunity for success. The basic difference between talents versus skills and knowledge is that talents are innate, and skills and knowledge are acquired through formal or informal training. A skill is the basic ability to move through the fundamental steps of a task. Knowledge refers to what a person learns and acquires through formal or information education. Strength-based coaching acknowledges that it is the unique combination of talent, knowledge and skills that contributes to overall performance excellence.
What is a the tool that Forte Advisers uses to identify talent?
The Gallup Organization created the strengths-based development approach and launched the Clifton Strengths-Finder assessment, leading millions of people worldwide to discover their talents. The StrengthsFinder statistically validated tool is an online assessment that reveals a person’s unique talents. By analyzing a person’s instinctive reactions to 177 sets of paired statements, the assessment provides essential information about a person’s talents, how they consistently think, feel and behave.The StrengthsFinder measures the presence of talent in 34 general themes that decades of research have shown are directly related to an individual’s potential for success. Like a fingerprint, the talent theme sequence is unique to each individual. The odds of someone having the same talent profile, in the same intensity and order, is 1 in 33 million.
Who does Forte Advisers work with?
Because everyone has a unique talent profile, anyone over the age of 16 can benefit. Strengths-based coaching can be applied to individuals and teams in a variety of roles and settings – including employees, executive teams, students, private individuals, couples and families. Our services are ideal for anyone seeking an individualized approach to personal development and growth as well as for groups who want to enhance collaboration, productivity and performance.
What makes Forte Advisers different from other executive coaching services?
Though Forte Advisers provides coaching to executives, our point of difference is in our methodology and approach. It starts with the individual talent profile to identify, leverage and deploy talent toward specific objectives. Coaching is customized to the individual’s statistically validated areas of excellence, building on strengths to reach performance goals. Research in the field of Strengths Psychology confirms the best in a role most often use different behaviors to achieve outstanding results.
Another point of difference is we recognize that it is a multi-dimensional person, not a role, who comes to work. Understanding the thoughts, feelings and behaviors that predict success creates a more holistic, authentic and meaningful coaching relationship, allowing the executive to bring their best to work, home and community.
When is the best time to seek Forte Advisers counsel for myself or my team?
Any time is the right time to ignite individual or team talent. Anyone benefits from learning where their potential for excellence lies. This information allows any person to confidently live into their full potential: individually and in partnership with others. Research shows that people who know their talents and can use them are six times as likely to be engaged in their jobs and three times as likely to report having an excellent quality of life.In addition, people who use their strengths every day show significantly greater productivity than those who do not.
Where is Forte based and are your sessions virtual or in-person?
Forte Advisers is based in Phoenix, Arizona and works with clients throughout North America. Forte Advisers works to customize the coaching plan to best fit the needs of the client. Sessions with 1 – 3 participants can be accomplished virtually. If the client prefers, individual or collaborative talent consultations can be held in person. We recommend that team talent meetings are held in person for maximum engagement, interaction and impact.