1. Capitalizing on Strengths
Lesson: Capitalizing on Strengths
Method: Informal Lecture
Time: 30 minutes (Lecture); 15 minutes (Activity)
References:
Character Strengths Matter
1. Peterson, C., & Seligman, M. E. P. (2004). Character strengths and virtues: A handbook and classification. New York: Oxford University Press and Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
2. Proctor, C., Maltby, J., & Linley, P. A. (2009) Strengths use as a predictor of well-being and health-related quality of life. Journal of Happiness Studies, 10, 583–630.
3. Seligman, M. E. P., Steen, T. A., Park, N., & Peterson, C. (2005). Positive psychology progress: Empirical validation of interventions. American Psychologist, 60,
Aids/Handouts:
1. PowerPoint Presentation
2. RTA/FTAC Participant Guide
3. VIA Character Strengths Profile either printed or on an electronic device
Lesson Strategy:
Begin your lesson with an attention/motivation step . A strong attention step should have your participants “curious” or “eager” to hear what you have to say. Here is where you show or explain the benefits/value of the skill (without teaching the entire lesson).
You may choose to share the personal example you crafted in MRTC here in its entirety or in abbreviated format (think, “movie trailer”).
The module requires participants to complete a survey. Instructions to participants are below:
Please use the link below to access the survey.
Once you have registered please select the "I want to take the VIA 120 *" and begin the survey. The survey consists of 120 questions. At the end of the survey you will need to complete a demographic data collection. There are only a couple required data points. After the data collection you will see three options for receiving your rankings. Please select Option 3: Free VIA Me! Character Strengths Profile. A top-down ranking of character strengths with brief description.
Once on the VIA Character Strengths Profile page please scroll to the bottom and select "Show All Results".

2. Overview Goal/When Core Content Student Activities Skill Review
Values in Action Survey
Benefits
New Ways
Student Activities
Skill Review
MRT Instructions:
Provide a brief preview of the main points for this lesson. Try not to read each item as if you’re reading a laundry list.
An appropriate example for introducing “Capitalizing on Strengths” would be, “We’ll start the lesson by discussing the survey you took before the course—the Values In Action Survey. Then, we’ll talk about why knowing and using your strengths is so important.”
Ask the participants if they have any question so far, then proceed to the next slide.

3. Goal/When Goal When Identify Your Strengths
Find Opportunities To Use Your Strengths
Spot Strengths In Others
When
Facing a Challenge
On a Regular Basis
Your team wants to learn more about one another
MRT Instructions:
MP 1: Goal/When
Read the goal of the skill, adding a little depth (personalization) if not previously accomplished during the attention/motivation step.
2. Read the when of the skill.
As we’ll see, using your strengths on a regular basis is important for positive outcomes
There are times when we are facing a challenge and/or an adversity that using our signature strengths that can help us react more productively.

4. Core Content Values in Action Survey
Signature Strengths
Bottom Strengths ≠ Weakness
“Being The Best You”
MRT Instructions:
MP 2: Core Content, Values in Action Survey
1. We often focus too much on our weaknesses or areas for development. The Values in Action Survey was developed by Chris Petersen and Martin Seligman to provide people with a better understanding of their strengths.
The Values in Action survey provides a rank ordered list of your 24 strengths and provides a brief description of characteristics that define each of the strengths.
Signature Strengths are the top strengths that are the strongest and most natural. Signature strengths are those that you feel ownership over, celebrate using, and exercise frequently. Many people report feeling a sense of authenticity and excitement when using their signature strengths.
2. Bottom Strengths are NOT weakness
The 24 strengths are ranked in order based off how you (the student) answered the questions on the survey. The strengths are broken into three categories: Signature, Middle and Lesser
Signature: (as stated above) is one that comes most natural and are the strongest
Middle: situational, you use them to help accomplish specific tasks when needed, or sometimes to regulate or balance your signature.
Lesser: least naturally occurring. Strengths that appear lower on your list are not necessarily weaknesses, rather they are just less dominant strengths for you. You may still value the strengths that are lower on your list, but they may not represent the way you engage in a task.
3. Being the Best You
We all have all 24 strengths but how they are arranged hierarchically makes you "you."

5. Core Content Character Strengths
Appreciation of Beauty & Excellence
Bravery
Creativity
Curiosity
Fairness
Forgiveness
Gratitude
Honesty
Hope
Humility
Humor
Judgment
Kindness
Leadership
Love
Love of Learning
Perseverance
Perspective
Prudence
Self-Regulation
Social Intelligence
Spirituality
Teamwork
Zest
MRT Instructions:
MP 2: Core Content, Values in Action Survey
The 24 Character Strengths are ranked based off how the survey taker answered the questions.
Some people may feel there is a mismatch between one of their signature strengths and what the value. If this happens, make sure they look beyond their personal definition of the strength, and read the VIA description of the strength. The VIA was developed using data from multiple cultures, so the definitions may differ from your definition.
Example: The VIA’s definition of Leadership is very consensus-based, meaning that those with a high leadership strength could be working towards hearing all voices and leading a group to a decision, but that may differ from a traditional military-based or corporate view of leadership.

6. Core Content Benefits Greater psychological well-being
Using strengths is associated with a range of positive outcomes:
Greater psychological well-being
Better able to manage stress
Lower depression
MRT Instructions:
MP 2: Core Content, Benefits
1. Using strengths is associated with a range of positive outcomes. Researchers have found that individuals who use strengths:
Have greater psychological well-being (Govindji & Linley, 2007; Minhas, 2010)
Experience less stress and more positive emotions (Linley, et al, 2010; Wood et al, 2011)
Lower depression (Seligman et al, 2005)

7. Core Content Benefits Using strengths in your job:
Increases engagement
Increases job satisfaction
Improves performance
Leaders who emphasize strengths:
Increased team members’ performance by 36% (those who emphasized weakness decrease performance by 27%)
MRT Instructions:
MP 2: Core Content, Benefits
1. Research has demonstrated that people who use their strengths at work are:
More engaged (Harter, Schmidt, & Hayes, 2002)
More satisfied (Peterson, Stephens, Par, Lee, & Seligman, 2009)
Lower turnover (Stefanyszyn, 2007)
2. Individuals with managers who emphasized performance strengths increased in performance by 36%, compared to managers who emphasized performance weaknesses, when performance decreased 27% (Corporate Leadership Council, 2002)

8. Core Content Strength Regulation
MRT Instructions:
MP 2: Core Content, Strength Regulation
Strength regulation is understanding when and how to use your strengths. Are there times when you can overplay your strengths?
For example, if you have the strength of Humor, can you overplay by putting your foot in your mouth?
If you have the strength of Kindness, can you be overly kind and be a doormat?
If you have the strength of persistence, can you be more likely to experience burnout?
Provide an example of overplaying your strengths: A Senior NCO has the strength of leadership. He is working with a newly promoted Lt. who is often hesitant to make a decision. The Senior NCO often steps up to make the decision and provide guidance, and the Lt is grateful for that leadership. However, the Senior NCO may be overplaying that strength if he does not allow the Lt to develop his own decision-making.
Be aware of the situational requirements when using your strengths, and don’t forget to Check Your Playbook: what is most important right now?
Think about 1 or 2 of your Signature Strengths. How might they be overplayed? Or Underplayed?
Discuss with a partner an example of how you might have overplayed or underplayed one of your Strengths
Strengths Underplayed
Strengths Overplayed
Situational Requirements
What is most important right now?

9. Student Activity Strength Spotting
Write down a time when you had an accomplishment at work or home.
Share each story with your partner (but don’t share your Signature Strengths)
Partners: What strengths do you see the person exhibiting?
MRT Instructions:
Have the students write down a time when you had an achievement at work or home.
Share each story with your partner (but don’t share your Signature Strengths yet).
Then have the partners try to figure out what Strengths are.
Debrief:
This activity helps the students get use to talking about strengths instead of focusing on deficits or area s for improvement.
An important aspect of this activity is to get use to naming the strengths of others, not whether or not the strengths the student names matches the strengths of the other person. Clarify that sometimes, there is a mismatch between the participants and their partners’ perception. The strengths that are identified in others can often be the strengths we have ourselves, so we are often more inclined to identify our own strengths when we see them being used.

10. Core Content Find New Ways
When facing a new challenge or problem
Use a growth mindset
Explore ways to develop and use your strengths
MRT Instructions:
MP 2: Core Content, New Ways
Just identifying strengths is not enough. If people believe that the strengths are stable, they may not invest effort into using the strengths and finding new opportunities to use them (Dweck, 2006; Smiley & Dweck, 1994).
Instead, it is important to have a growth mindset and find new ways to use your strengths so they continue to develop. Be open to new opportunities.
Find ways (new and old) to develop and use your Strengths
On the Resilience eim page (SharePoint) there is a document with ideas and suggestions to develop and expand your strengths.

11. Student Activity Find New Ways
Think about a new way to use one of your Signature Strengths.
Develop a plan to use the Strength.
Share your plan with a partner
MRT Instructions:
In this activity, ask participants to find a new way to use their Signature Strengths.
If participants are struggling, ask them to think about a strength they use at work, but may not be using at home (and vice versa). Are there opportunities to try a new hobby or activity? Remind them to use a growth mindset to explore new options.
Debrief
Was it difficult coming up with new ways to use Signature Strengths?
What was helpful about making a specific plan to use your Strengths?

12. Capitalizing on Strengths
Skill Review
Capitalizing on Strengths
Goal
To identify your strengths, spot strengths in others, and find opportunities to use your strengths.
When
You are facing a challenge
On a regular basis
How
Know your Signature Strengths
Identify how others are using strengths
Find new ways to develop and use your Signature Strengths

13. Capitalizing on Strengths