Friday 24 July 2009

Strengths and 'Narcissism'

Advocates of strengths approach in coaching have long had to deal with criticisms levelled at its ‘Pollyanna’ nature. Much of this questioning has been legitimate but has missed the point that the approach does not ignore weaknesses, rather it asks people to acknowledge them and manage them. New criticisms suggest that focussing on strengths in children can lead to a ‘narcissism’ which leads to a confidence which lacks substance.

In this article, author and Coach Chris Trout reminds us that spending time to accurately identify your strengths is the key to building confidence and resilience that will stand up under challenge.