Spotting strengths
The essential characteristics of an effective ‘strengthspotter’ have been identified for the first time. According to a study of 528 people by strengths expert Professor Alex Linley, they are: making connections between people and instinctively making links and introductions; creating conditions for people to grow and develop and providing fair and accurate feedback.
Professor Linley’s paper, “The strengths of the strengthspotter: individual characteristics associated with the identification of strengths in others”, is due to be published this month (March) in International Coaching Psychology Review.
Steppe change
Russian CEOs need coaching to enlarge emotional competency, strengthen strategic thinking and develop people management skills, according to research showcased at the congress.
Russian managers prefer to give orders. They place little importance on values and have higher IQ than EQ, suggests the paper by Elena Mandrikova, a senior associate at RosExpert Executive Search.
Animal magic
Animals could be used to help clients fulfil their potential and increase their wellbeing, suggests a review of research on “animal assisted interventions”.
Facilitating interactions between humans and animals can increase happiness, stimulate conversation and decrease stress levels, concluded Dr Dasha Grajfoner, lecturer in psychology at Edinburgh Napier University.
Coaching at Work, Volume 6, Issue 2