Sporting Strengths ‒ How Can You And Your Team Be Your Best SELF?
Written by: Trudy Bateman, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
We are thrilled to see an exciting line-up of sporting events over the next few months, starting with Wimbledon, following on through to the Commonwealth Games, and the kick-off of the World Cup later this year.
As the stars take their positions, we consider which strengths they’ll be using on their way to sporting victory and how they can perform as their Best SELF.
How to be your Best SELF
As Director of Strengths Profile, I talk a lot about individuals being their Best SELF. Being our Best SELF becomes possible when we first know our unique and amazing strengths but also focus on using them regularly in our daily life.
Strengths are the things we are naturally good at and enjoy, so when we use them, we not only do a great job, but we are being our most authentic self too. When we do a great job, people tell us and so our confidence grows, helping us to be our Best SELF.
Top realised strengths for sporting talent may include Legacy, because you want to create something that will outlast you, and many of the Motivation strengths, i.e. Competitive to spur on your drive to win. You will also need the strengths of Bounceback and Resilience so you can pick yourself up in the moment and can return from any setback quicker and go on to even greater success. Finally, Self-belief and Persistence will be a great addition for lasting confidence building.
Supporting others to be their Best SELF
The easiest and most positive way to support a team member’s performance is to ensure they are applying their strengths, which in turn increases engagement.
Understand each other’s strengths and how they can be used to achieve the end goal. Are there things that one person is good at and another not so good? How can these strengths complement or even hinder others? Be aware of your own strengths and how others might help to fill the gaps. You wouldn’t put David Beckham in goal, because that’s not what he’s good at or known for, but in the right position he could easily win the game. What team members of yours are perhaps in the wrong position?
Bring out strengths activities in the team. Think about ideas to apply strengths that your team would most enjoy. Use this as a way to get to know each other through your strengths and your challenges. Perhaps consider sharing the key realised strengths that you want to use less and the unrealised strengths that you’d love to use more.
Be authentic. One of the most important tips for applying a strengths-based approach is to be authentic. Whether you have different strengths to the rest of your team or similar, whether you find positive feedback enjoyable or difficult, be open and honest to build trust and ALL be your Best SELF in the team.
You can find out more about your own strengths by using our Expert Profile to uncover a wider range of strengths for deeper self-reflection and to encourage positive change.
If you’re a manager looking for new ways to unlock your team’s potential, you can find out more by using our Team Manager Profile to identify the top two realised and unrealised strengths for each individual. You’ll also receive advice on managing learned behaviours and weaknesses within your team.
Trudy Bateman, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Trudy Bateman is an expert in strengths and their applications. As Director of Strengths Profile, Trudy works with coaches, organisations and universities to help them understand the strengths of their people, so they can develop them – ensuring not just a successful career, but one they love. Having led the team responsible for the implementation of successful product strategy and delivery of strengths-based assessments for over 13 years, Trudy has delivered thousands of strengths solutions through coaching, facilitating and consulting, including the accreditation of over 3,000 Strengths Profile practitioners. She is a key speaker, author of The Strengths Profile Book and resident expert in strengths.
