The Speaking Center is now offering personal coaching for students who have taken the Gallup Strengths Quest assessment to help develop student’s strengths revealed in the assessment.
“Since it’s a developmental tool, Gallup advocates that people get coaching so that they can not only understand their strengths but also know how to develop and apply them in their lives. ” said Dena Counts, instructor of communication and director of the Speaking Center.
Admissions decided to have students take the assessment during student orientation in order for new college students to understand their strengths before starting college. The current freshmen and sophomore class have taken the assessment with admissions during student orientation.
“At the Speaking Center one of the things that we are trying to do is provide students the opportunity to sit one-on-one with a coach, talk through their five strengths, look at their reports to understand them better and also brainstorms some ways to develop their strengths,” Counts said.
The research that created the strengths philosophy started with Donald Clifton, an American psychologist who’s worked focused on positive psychology during the 1950s.
“Gallup says and Clifton’s research said to focus on your strengths, partner with people who are better in the areas you are weak at but use your strengths to overcome those weaknesses,” Counts said. The official report gives students the definition of their five strengths along with how each strengths interacts with each other.
“When aware of their strengths, students can then utilize them in classes, careers, and personal relationships,” said Faith Boren, one of the Speaking Center consultant. “Strengths Quest is not just a test you take and then forget about until someone asks you what your strengths are months later, it can actually change how you approach most situations in your life.”
Interested students can make appointments online through the Speaking Center’s Facebook page or blog. It is encouraged that students take the Strengths Quest test prior to their upcoming appointment. The test is available online at strengthsquest.com and cost $10.
“I have found that this process produces results that are incredibly personalized and accurate,” said Boren.
