Formium Development Helps Kick-Off Initiative in the United Kingdom 8-12 February 2016.
Britain returned to work after the holidays, but its staff could do better in playing to their strengths. Improve employee well-being by playing to their strengths at work. A new online challenge has been developed to help employees focus on what they do best - regardless of what's in their job description.
This year's strengths challenge - [www.strengthschallenge.com](http://www.strengthschallenge.com/) - is designed to give participants tools to help them identify and leverage their strengths on the job, and record how they are changing their habits. After finding that close to three-quarters of polled employees feel they could be happier at work if they could focus on what they do best, workplace well-being expert Michelle McQuaid, the VIA Institute, Live Happy and Formium Development, partnered to launch a new strengths challenge designed to equip participants with tools to identify and leverage their strengths on the job.
To date more than 15 million people around the world have taken surveys to discover their strengths, but this challenge gives employees the tools to help them leverage their strengths no matter what their job description says or who they're working for.
According to a study conducted by McQuaid and the VIA Institute, over the past decade employees have become increasingly interested in knowing and using their strengths at work. The study found that employees who focus on their strengths - the things they're good and enjoy doing - are the most likely (65%) to describe themselves as flourishing at work.
This comes as good news to the countless employees who dread going to work each day - and their employers who wonder why they aren't seeing better performance levels from their workers. Those struggling for more energy and engagement will find it, the study suggests, if they are able to identify and leverage their strengths. A claim supported by more than a decade of academic research.
Today, [Formium Development](http://formium.co.uk/) is inviting clients and contacts to enroll in the Strengths Challenge from February 8th to February 12th 2016.
During the challenge, each participant will practice an 11-minute Strengths Habit and other skills that will revolutionize the way they approach their daily work routines.
Challenge participants will:
- Create a small daily habit to develop their character strengths.
- Track online how they're using their habit until 12th February 2016.
- Report what impact their strength habit is having on their performance and wellbeing.
- Be supported by a community of other people also practicing strength habits.
"While studies like mine repeatedly show employees who focus on their professional strengths are more productive and engaged, there have been very few tools to help them develop those strengths at work," said McQuaid. "With the Strength Challenge, we hope to give employees, and their managers, methods they can use to kick start the process. In the end, we hope to show the world, focusing on strengths has bottom line impact for individual performance and wellbeing."
"In increasing numbers, employees and managers are recognizing the importance of building upon their strengths as a critical pathway to better performance," reports VIA Institute's chairman, Neal H. Mayerson. "This Strengths Challenge will give participants the tools to help them 'move from what's wrong to what is strong'."
Eszter Molnar Mills, said: "We are pleased to support the Strengths Challenge following the success of last year's pilot. The follow-up data clearly supports the value of participation. At Formium Development we see how our training and coaching clients benefit from harnessing and building on their strengths and this Strengths Challenge could make life more fulfilling for everyone."
Anyone can sign up for the free Strengths Challenge here: [www.strengthschallenge.com](http://www.strengthschallenge.com/)
Eszter Molnar Mills is a strength-based leadership and organisation development specialist and founder of Formium Development. A qualified executive and team coach, she helps organisations and individuals reach enhanced performance by reflecting on what works, and developing skills and strategies for improvement. Eszter developed several Coaching skills for Managers programmes for organisations and is the Programme Director of Chartered Management Institute (CMI) qualifications in Management Coaching and Mentoring.
Michelle McQuaid is a workplace well-being expert and author of new book, the Strengths Blueprint. McQuaid specializes in translating cutting-edge research from positive psychology and neuroscience into practical strategies for health, happiness and business success.
The VIA Institute is a non-profit, positive psychology organization and the home of the world's largest database on character strengths.
Live Happy is a new lifestyle publication unlike any other on newsstands today. Weaving the science of positive psychology through inspiring content, relatable stories, and sage advice, Live Happy helps readers discover their personal journey of happiness.
