From Differences to Strengths

Character strengths are the positive traits that shape how we think, feel, and act. They include qualities like creativity, curiosity, perseverance, kindness, humor, and fairness. Everyone has all 24 character strengths, but in different combinations. That unique mix is what makes each person unique with different skills to contribute to the team.

The VIA Character Strengths developed by Dr. Martin Seligman and Dr. Christopher Peterson, helps people discover their top strengths as a foundational tool of Positive Psychology focused on building from what you do well. More than 25 million people have taken the survey worldwide.

Your top strengths, called your Signature Strengths, are the ones that energize you and come most naturally to you. They carry the unmistakable mark of the “three E’s”: when you call on them, you feel a spark of Energy, as though something deep inside is saying yes, this is me. They flow with Ease, not as effortful striving but as a natural current you can trust. And they leave you feeling Empowered, more alive, and aligned, as if you’ve tapped into a wellspring of your truest self. These are not just skills to be polished but inner resources waiting to be claimed, an invitation to discover who you already are at your best.

If you’d like to identify your own Signature Strengths, the VIA Character Strengths Survey is a free, research-validated assessment that takes just 10–15 minutes. Think of it as a guided mirror, reflecting back the qualities that already come most naturally to you. Even if you’re a little shy or hesitant, the survey is a gentle doorway into greater self-awareness — one that can spark fresh curiosity about who you are at your best.

The Survey also has an option, when a parent or adult registers, for ages 10–17 to take the survey and provides age-appropriate insights that help them recognize and celebrate their emerging strengths. When a young person’s strengths are named and understood, it becomes easier to guide their growth, nurture resilience, and support them in thriving through life’s challenges.

Why Strengths Matter at Work

Understanding strengths isn’t just theory—it’s practical. Teams that notice and use strengths:

• Solve problems more creatively
• Work together more smoothly
• Handle stress and setbacks and change with more resilience
• Build trust and respect across differences

When differences are framed as strengths, collaboration becomes easier and more productive.

How to Spot Strengths in Your Team

Here are simple ways to start spotting strengths at work:

1. Pay attention to what energizes people. Notice when a colleague is fully engaged or excited. That’s usually a signature strength at work.
2. Watch how people respond to challenges. Some show perseverance, others bring humor or creativity to overcome obstacles.
3. Name it out loud. A simple “I noticed how creative you were in solving that problem” builds trust and reinforces positive behavior.
4. Look for patterns. When you see someone’s strengths show up again and again, take note. This is likely one of their signature strengths.

Even small moments of recognition help build bridges across differences and make teams stronger.

Flourishing Together

When teams intentionally notice and use each other’s strengths, differences stop being obstacles. They become opportunities. The mix of strengths on a team — from leadership to kindness, from curiosity to humor — is what allows teams to thrive together.

✨ Want to get started? Take the VIA Character Strengths Survey to learn more about your strengths and the strengths in general. At work, observe a colleague and name a strength you notice in them. This simple pause to notice and recognize others beyond the tasks they perform is one of the easiest ways to build bridges and strengthen the trust and connection within your team.