Notice More, Achieve More: The Case for Strengths-Based Leadership

Imagine if there was a quick, free, simple and feel-good way to build performance, energy, confidence and momentum in your team....

Well, turns out there is.

Do you know that people who say they use their strengths every day at work are:

• 8% more productive

• 15% less likely to quit their job

• More likely to strongly agree that they like what they do each day

• 6 x more likely to be engaged at work

• 3 x more likely to have an excellent quality of life

“𝘌𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘺𝘦𝘦𝘴 𝘞𝘩𝘰 𝘜𝘴𝘦 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘵𝘩𝘴 𝘖𝘶𝘵𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮 𝘛𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘞𝘩𝘰 𝘋𝘰𝘯'𝘵” Gallup 2015

In simple terms, this is noticing what your people do well and letting them know. However to be impactful, it needs to go further than ‘well done, that was great!’

The key is to get specific about exactly what is was they did well, and why it mattered i.e. ‘the way you did X, resulted in Y’.

If people aren't aware of how their natural style, abilities and efforts count, they're not likely to repeat or amplify them. Most tend to assume that 'everyone can do that'.

So, notice what people do well and tell them often. Don't wait for your next 1-1 - informally and instantaneously is the go.

If you want to take it further, do a strengths assessment with your team. This is a great way to reveal unknown strengths and build an environment that collectively notices and celebrates each other’s strengths in action.

It might be just the tonic you need as well..

How you notice and celebrate strengths?

P.S. This does not mean that you ignore what isn't working! Course correction and addressing poor performance/behaviour is vital.