In my post, Why Do Groups Fail? Review of the Law of Triviality and Game Theory, we explored a philosophy of life as being a game, defined as social interactions. If we are the players in life's games, then who are our coaches? During my research, I met Dr. Ariela Freedman, a Gallup Certified Strengths Coach and owner of MavenTree Consulting. Ariela agreed to meet for coffee and conversations at Chocolate Coffee. We discussed how strengths-based coaching enables you to fully discover and apply your innate gifts to become the best version of yourself.
Below is our interview:
Enjoy
Question: Ariela, you started your career as a high school English, Drama, and Debate
teacher, but now you are a Gallup Certified Strengths Coach. Did you consciously
decide on this path or did this path choose you?
Ariela: The path decided me. Early in my career, I realized my fulfillment came from empowering students to build their own personal ‘toolbox’ of skills which would enable them to be successful in any environment. As a teacher, I focused on learning as a personal journey and not just arriving at a specific destination as dictated by education standards. In my classes, I created various ways students could learn by using their own voices instead of rote memorization of facts and figures. I was a Teach for America corps member in inner-Chicago, which was challenging, but very rewarding.
Question: What does a PhD in Behavioral Sciences and Health Education encompass? Is it mostly psychology, social work, or both? How does this background help you as a strengths coach?
Ariela: It is a mix of cognitive psychology and education. The Behavioral Science side is focused on understanding why people behave the way they do: What do they know about health? What skills do they have to be healthy? What beliefs do they have about health?
The Health Education side is about developing programs to help people gain the knowledge, skills, and mindsets needed to live healthy lives. And when I say health, I am talking about physical and emotional/mental health. Strengths coaching and team building through strengths is a natural extension of these because I help people create healthy environments where everyone can thrive.
Question: What’s the difference between a Strengths Coach and a therapist?
Ariela: As a Strengths Coach, my goal is to help
clients create the best versions of themselves.
People have innate strengths which make them unique. Instead of conforming to ideas of how a
person or organizations ‘Should Be’, we work in the space of how things actually
‘Are’.
Strengths Coaches Primarily Assist Clients
|
Therapists Primarily Assist Clients
|
Explore self-knowledge
|
Explore and resolve past hurts/traumas
|
Discover strengths and values
|
Focus on emotional/life repair
|
Dial up/Dial down strengths
|
Develop healthy thought processes
|
Create a new future
|
Understand the past
|
Create spaces where people can do what
they do best, and leverage strengths to be successful
|
Create coping mechanisms to handle the
confines of a particular space
|
“Strengths envy”, a feeling that one’s talents are not
sufficient, makes people feel that what they possess is not enough to be
successful. We all have unique talents
that the world needs. Our skills and talents serve a purpose, but we have to
know how to use what we have!
Utilizing the CliftonStrengths Assessment, clients:
Name-Take a test to identify strengths
Claim-Own
the strengths and see their full value
Aim-Use
their strengths to accomplish their goals
The Strengths Formula:
Strengths = Talent x Investment
Question: When
does a person/organization know when they are ready to work with a Strengths Coach?
Ariela: Anyone could benefit from strengths
coaching. I have done Strengths work
with students, artists, mid-life career changers, doctors, academics, and
clergy, among others. I’ve worked with leaders and managers and their teams,
and I’ve also worked with individuals. My success stories are people and
organizations driven to make changes instead of just talking about change. I enjoy
working with clients who are passionate and open to new suggestions and want to
use strengths coaching to enhance their lives.
Question: You are the founder and owner of MavenTree Consulting.
I invite readers to visit your website and subscribe to your newsletter to
get a full list of your services. What
is unique about your approach to strengths coaching?
Ariela: I use a lot of different techniques
in coaching and teaching strengths workshops: art, theater, etc. I keep it
real, and I like to engage people through honesty and humor. My goal is to help clients establish strong
roots to become grounded in themselves, their strengths and their values. I
want people to walk away from each session feeling like they are truly awesome.
Question: When I say, “Life is a game”, you say...
Ariela: “Let’s play!” One of my strengths is “Activator” which is
all about jumping in and learning as we go.
I don’t need all the details before we get started – let’s jump in and
do the thing, and let’s do it together!
References:
MavenTree Consulting: Retrieved from https://maventreeconsulting.com
Wicker, A. (2015). The New Way to Advance Your Career: Hire a Strengths Coach Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/learnvest/2015/06/19/the-new-way-to-advance-your-career-hire-a-strengths-coach/#45804cb2181e
MavenTree Consulting-Arranger-the right people in the right seats. https://maventreeconsulting.com/blog/f/maventreemonday-%7C-arranger-the-right-people-in-the-right-seats
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