Coaching Tools 101: How to use the FREE Strengths Questions Worksheet

Introduction

What are your clients' unique gifts? What makes them special? Help your clients discover their strengths with this exercise!

The 25 Powerful Questions to Identify Your Strengths Tool outlined below is easy to use, and can be used in any context to brainstorm a list of your client's strengths. In addition, you'll find a homework suggestion, how to use the results of this tool in the future with your clients—and lots of tips!

Get your Free 25 Questions to Identify Strengths Tool here >>

Here are 7 Easy Steps to Identify Your Clients' Strengths

Part 1) Setting-up

With agreement from the client, set aside a session to use this worksheet.

Step 1) Calm your client!

Ask your client to take a few deep breaths, relax, and connect to themselves. You could also read a short guided meditation.

Step 2) Explain what you will do

Let the client know you're going to be asking them many different questions from different angles to help identify their strengths. I recommend you make notes for your clients as they answer your questions—at least initially—to help them go inwards and focus.

Step 3) Give them tips and frame the process

It's also helpful to let the client know that:

• • This is a brainstorming process—all answers are valid!
  • Let them know they can take their time answering.
  • They may find themselves saying the same strength words for different questions. This is a great! It means the strength shows up in many different areas of their life.
  • The idea is for them to do their best to come up with as many words and answers as they can—aiming for at least 3, but as many as 5-10, answers to each question.
  • Finally, if they have a tendency to be self-critical, remind your client not to judge themselves. They may need to temporarily "gag" or silence their inner critic during this exercise! You may also need to remind the client that it's not big-headed to explore, and understand our good and great qualities, and that knowing what we do well helps us do - and serve others - better.

Part 2) Uncovering Client Strengths

Step 4) Get started with the first "easy" question

Start by asking your clients the first question, "What are 3 strengths you can think of right away?" (remember to allow your client plenty of time/space during this process)

Step 5) Ask / Select the rest of the questions

Now go down the list of remaining questions.

• • Use your intuition, your client's answers and their energy levels to choose which, and how many, of the rest of the 25 questions you'd like to ask.
  • As your client answers the questions, make note of their answers—looking for high level achievements—and obviously any strength words.

Part 3) Wrap-up and Actions

Wrap-up this Strengths Exercise by looking for common themes and patterns with the client. Now it's time to ask your client to get pen and paper and make notes as you discuss your observations with them.

Step 6) Look for patterns and themes and share with your client

Review your client's answers/your notes, in particular looking for re-occurring strengths and themes. Then share these strengths and themes with your client. And if it's relevant it's helpful to also share where you think they have demonstrated that strength (the "evidence").

Here's an example of what this could look like: I see a strength of "courage" running through all your answers. It's something you get complimented on, you're always willing to try something new even when it's hard, like when you confronted your boss about that difficult issue. Which leads me to persistence; you learned a difficult musical instrument, your best friends say this is a quality they admire in you—and it's something you're proud of in yourself. I also see you have a great attention to detail—which shows up in your beautiful gift wrapping—which I have personally experienced, also in your work as an editor. And I remember that story about when you found errors on your teacher's answer sheet!

Step 7) Wrap-up

Finally, wrap-up by saying something like: Now that we've reviewed and identified many of your strengths:

• How did this exercise feel?
• What surprised you?
• Which are your Top 3 (preferred) strengths?
• Which of your strengths could you use more in daily life? And how?

Client Homework: Identify their "Top 10" Strengths!

For a great piece of client homework (obviously ask for permission first), ask your client to review their notes from this session and write out what they consider to be their Top 10 Strengths.

• • If they think of anything else after your coaching session (and they probably will after all those powerful coaching questions), they should also add this to their list!
  • Optionally, you can also send them a copy of your notes—whether it's a typed document or a photo of your handwritten notes. Don't be shy—clients like to see what people write about them, especially when it's positive!

Get the Free 25 Questions to Identify Your Strengths Tool here >>

Wrap-up

This is just a couple of ways way you can use this powerful worksheet—and there are many others.

Consider using these strengths questions in a workshop or webinar setting, or simply give the sheet to your clients as homework. Enjoy!