Warwickshire (UK), September 2014 - The Learning Live conference is often associated with the latest learning technologies, but one exhibitor this year was advocating a positively low-tech alternative. Business psychologists Work Positive was showcasing their new "At my best®" strengths cards at this year's event, where they explained why this physical product can be even more impactful than online assessments.
Since launching earlier this summer, the At my best® cards have received impressive reviews from coaches and learning professionals. Early users have found them to be a powerful way to stimulate thought and promote high-quality conversations around strengths, for both individuals and groups.
"We know people find it difficult to articulate their strengths. Our vocabulary for describing our weaknesses seems infinite, but for most of us it is more challenging to find words to describe strengths. We wanted to develop a tool that gave people a language to enable them to have better-quality conversations around what they do best", explains director Michele Deeks.
"A key part of people being at their best relates to them taking ownership for their own performance and wellbeing. One of the challenges we find with tools that produce reports, such as online strengths assessments, is that they can provide a barrier to people taking personal responsibility."
The At my best® tool consists of a set of 48 cards, each with a single word on one side, depicting a strength, and a thought-provoking photograph on the other. It is different to other tools in that individuals are left to define the strengths in their own terms, which users have found to be highly valuable.
Director Martin Galpin says, "We’ve had amazing feedback from facilitators and coaches, who tell us they love using the cards and that they’ve had a real impact on their clients. We are already seeing a lot of interest from L&D managers, who are looking to incorporate an appreciative approach into their programmes".
