94 Appreciative Inquiry for Collaborative Solutions ...

Strength-Based Coaching Worksheet

Lead-In Statement
Coaching is about improvement, going to the next level, achiev-
ing aspirations, identifying ways to live to one’s fullest capacity
and potential. A dominant traditional model of coaching has
been to find out what’s wrong in order to eliminate weaknesses,
fix the ‘‘problem,’’ and even draw attention to past failures.
Strengths-based coaching comes from the worldview that in
every system (human and otherwise) there are also many things
that already work right. Our coaching model starts with what is
working well—our natural strengths, talents, and preferences.
We recognize there are choice points. We focus on what con-
sumes us. Said another way: ‘‘Where the attention goes, the
energy flows.’’ As leaders, colleagues, parents, and educators,
is it not our responsibility to encourage the development of
others in life—nurturing ways to help them live in the fullest
and most satisfying ways possible and strengthen their existing
talents? Pertinent to the concept of strengths-based coaching is
David Cooperrider’s reference to a conversation he had with
the late management guru, Peter Drucker, who said: ‘‘The task
of leadership is to create an alignment of strengths, making our
weaknesses irrelevant.’’

Focus 1—Introduction to Identifying Strengths

‘‘When I dare to be powerful, Paired Interview
to use my strength in the
service of my vision, then it 1. We go through highs and lows in all aspects of our lives.
becomes less and less Thinking back on the last six to twelve months, reflect on a
important whether I am ‘‘high-point’’ moment—a time that is memorable and stands
afraid.’’ out when you felt most engaged or challenged, or gained an
Andre de Lorde (1871–1933) important insight about your strengths or talents.

• Please share the story.

• What was the situation?

Appreciative Inquiry for Collaborative Solutions: 21 Strength-Based Workshops. Copyright © 2010 by John
Wiley & Sons, Inc. Reproduced by permission of Pfeiffer, an Imprint of Wiley. www.pfeiffer.com

Strength-Based Coaching Worksheet page 1

• Who else was involved?
• What were you doing?

• What happened that made you more aware of your
strengths?

• How did it make you feel?

2. Let’s imagine we have a conversation with three people who
know you well and asked them to share the three best qual-
ities they see in you. What do you imagine they would say?

3. What’s the evidence that they would mention those specific
best qualities?

4. From your story and the qualities others have identified as
your strengths, what are you conscious of when you are
working to your strengths?

• Mentally?

• Emotionally?
• Spiritually?

• Physically?

Focus 2—Acknowledging Your Strengths

‘‘Every time you don’t follow Interview Pairs Combine to Form Groups of Four or Six
your inner guidance, you
feel a loss of energy, loss of 5. In your small groups, interviewers share highlights of their
power, a sense of spiritual interview partners’ stories of personal strengths
deadness.’’
• As you listen respectfully, focus on the common themes
Shakti Gawain related to identifying strengths.

6. What does that say about the talent in this group? Take
all your collective experiences and produce an individual
statement that captures the essence of what working to your
strengths does for you individually and how it feels.

• Read your statements to each other and share insights.

Appreciative Inquiry for Collaborative Solutions: 21 Strength-Based Workshops. Copyright © 2010 by John
Wiley & Sons, Inc. Reproduced by permission of Pfeiffer, an Imprint of Wiley. www.pfeiffer.com

Strength-Based Coaching Worksheet page 2

‘‘The deepest craving of Focus 3—Coaching to Strengths
human nature is the need to
be appreciated.’’ Paired Coaching—Take Turns Coaching Each Other, with the
Following Prompts/Questions
William James
(1842–1910) 7. Choose one of your strengths and remember a time when
you lived up to that strength. What happened? How did
working to that strength impact your perception of time,
productivity, and work satisfaction?

8. As you continuously seek to develop yourself, how will you
generate your own inspiration?

• Which strengths will you develop further?

• How will you amplify your existing strengths?

• What possibilities can you imagine when you amplify
your strengths?

• What excites you about this type of coaching?

Focus 4—Developing Your Strength as a Coach

Individual Reflection and Group Debriefing

9. If an objective of strength-based coaching is to support and
develop yourself alongside your colleagues, what will you
focus on and what can you do to assist others to identify and
work to their strengths?

• How will you use your strengths to develop others?

• Select a colleague, team, or family member. Identify a
number of that person’s strengths. Determine what you
will say and do to make the person aware of his or her
strengths and encourage him or her to further develop
those strengths.

Appreciative Inquiry for Collaborative Solutions: 21 Strength-Based Workshops. Copyright © 2010 by John
Wiley & Sons, Inc. Reproduced by permission of Pfeiffer, an Imprint of Wiley. www.pfeiffer.com

Strength-Based Coaching Worksheet page 3