Character Strengths

CATEGORY: PERSONAL

Why:

When we know our strengths, we gain self-esteem and the confidence to address our challenges.

Warm-Up:

For the person to your right (or next on the list online), could you name at least one strength you see in them?

Exploration:

You may know some of your weaknesses—but how well do you know your strengths? Often our success comes from building on our strengths. Knowing your strengths gives you confidence, the courage to face challenges, and ideas for how to create powerful teams which include a diversity of strengths. Take a look at the list of 24 Character Strengths as defined by the VIA Institute, and see if you can identify your three top strengths. Or, work in partners and identify for each other. Make sure to share with the group and ask for their feedback.

Additional Resources:

VIA Institute's Character Strengths information can be found here: https://www.viacharacter.org/character-strengths

Students can take a Character Strengths quiz, or review the strengths and decide for themselves which they (or friends) have.

Many students (and adults) find it easier to identify others' strengths than their own. If students are having trouble identifying their own strengths, or appear to know one or two but be missing obvious ones, then working through peer feedback may be a better route.