Strength Cards

After completing this activity trainees/ learners will get a better understanding of themselves and their strengths.

This exercise is an individual exercise, a strength training for one’s own personal development. A way to get to know yourself! If you are a group and want to have each other’s support, you can do the exercise individually and then get together and tell each other what you have found out.

Spread out strength cards on a table. If you don’t have strength cards, there is a list of strengths here:

1. What strengths would you describe as having?
2. What strengths do you think others would describe you as having?
3. Do you want to be clearer about showing your strengths in front of others?
4. Which strength is your strongest today?
5. Is there any strength you want to tone down?
6. Which strength are you the proudest of?
7. Sort the strengths into three groups: The strengths that you already use well. The strengths you wish you had more of. The strengths that you want to tone down, start using in a more balanced way.
8. Make a plan on how to proceed. If you want, you can use the headings: What should I continue with? What should I start with? What should I stop with?
9. A success factor for achieving one’s goals in personal development and behavioral change is to involve someone else. Maybe you want to ask a friend, your boss or a colleague for help?

Feedback on Strengths

• A strength is a combination of three things: talent, knowledge and skill. It is with our strengths that we contribute positively to our work group and organisation. When we perform at our best, it is with the help of our strengths. A group becomes strong when it knows and uses its strengths! In this exercise, we practice scouting for each other’s strengths and how they contribute to our success at work.
• Do as follows: Divide the participants into small groups. Each one takes a moment to think about what strengths each of the others in the small group has. Write down three strengths for each person. When everyone has finished thinking, take turns in the small group to tell about the strengths you see in each other and explain what made you see them and what the strengths bring to the work group.
  
• For example: ” One strength you have is that you are helpful, because you are always there giving a helping hand when needed. It’s great for our work group because the work feels easier when we help each other.”
• To visualise the strengths of the group, you can write them down on a sheet of paper, which is then put up on the wall. When all the groups have set up their sheets, you have a whole wall full of strengths! Feel free to take a photo to document!

• Why do you think it is important to know your own strengths?
• Why do you think it is important to be able to communicate your strengths?