Playing to Your Strengths by StandOut® from Coursera

Playing to Your Strengths is designed for any professional individual striving to be more productive and more focused today than they were yesterday and those who want to make their greatest contributions at work and in life by embracing a strengths-based mindset.

Based on the six-part film series Trombone Player Wanted from Marcus Buckingham, this 6-week course includes video demonstrations, practice simulations, a course guide, and reflection activities that will inspire you to identify your strengths and make them a vital and sustainable part of your everyday life.

Leaning into the powerful story of a young boy who wants to make a change, this course centers on the metaphor of building your own orchestra, with each lesson serving as its own “Rehearsal” that allows you to:

• LISTEN to responses from the previous lesson

• WATCH a 10 min or less video in the Trombone Player Wanted series

• PRACTICE applying what you’ve learned

• PLAY your part, using the "Learning Guide" and “Orchestra Map” to capture your self-reflection

Playing to Your Strengths illustrates that when people get the chance to put their strengths to work, everyone wins: individuals, who get to do more of what they love; team leaders, who get better performance out of team members; and organizations, which see better business outcomes as a result.

This is a beginner's course, intended for learners with an interest in building a strengths-based mindset. To succeed in this course, you should be willing to self-reflect and open to shifting perspectives. Making the effort will result in a positive and fulfilling response. By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Identify your strengths and demonstrate them individually, at work, or in personal situations

• Share, listen, and learn from others as you use your identified strengths

• Stimulate conversation and articulate your strengths by asking relevant questions

• Create habits that stick as you keep them at the forefront of your correlating Orchestra Map

What's inside

Syllabus

Playing to Your Strengths - Week 1

Welcome to Playing to Your Strengths Week 1! This course is designed for individuals who want to make their greatest contributions at work and in life by embracing a strengths-based mindset. Based on the six-part film series Trombone Player Wanted from Marcus Buckingham, this course will inspire you to identify your strengths and make them a vital and sustainable part of your everyday life. By the end of this week, you will be able to describe myths and beliefs holding you back and the importance of playing to your strengths most of the time.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Teaches skills and knowledge whose use may be against the law in certain jursidictions

Teaches methods and health concepts that are possibly at odds with scientific understanding or the advice of the medical community and that may pose a danger to the learners

Courses that teach tools or software that are on the decline, (examples include jQuery, film photography, or Objective-C)

Teaches software and that software has 1) newer versions available and 2) the version the course uses is older than 2022

Teaches skills, knowledge, and/or tools that are highly relevant to industry

Develops professional skills or deep expertise in a particular topic or set of topics

Strengthens an existing foudnation for intermediate learners

Covers unique perspectives are ideas that may add color to other topics and subjects

Reviews summary

Strengths-based mindset for professionals

According to learners, Playing to Your Strengths is a largely positive and highly effective course for professionals seeking to understand and leverage their unique abilities. Students praise the engaging video demonstrations, particularly those from Marcus Buckingham, and the practical nature of the reflection activities which guide them through identifying their strengths. While it's noted as best for beginners in strengths-based concepts, many appreciate its clear structure and actionable insights. The course's metaphor of 'building your own orchestra' is highlighted as a unique and inspiring framework for personal and professional growth, though it does require a commitment to dedicated self-reflection.

Features engaging videos and a clear, well-structured learning path.

"The video series was surprisingly engaging, and the 'orchestra map' was a useful tool."

"The videos with Marcus Buckingham were inspiring and kept me motivated."

"I appreciated the structured approach, with each week building on the last."

Provides actionable strategies for applying strengths in daily work and life.

"I've already started applying these principles at work, leading to much better focus and productivity."

"I gained practical tools and strategies I could apply immediately to my work."

"The emphasis on practical application in daily life and work was highly appreciated."

Helps learners identify and leverage their unique personal and professional strengths.

"The reflection activities truly helped me pinpoint my unique strengths."

"It really makes you think about what energizes you and how to leverage it."

"I identified what makes me feel strong and how to call upon my strengths daily."

Demands significant personal introspection and active participation for full benefit.

"It requires a lot of introspection, which some might find challenging."

"It's a great course if you're willing to do the self-work; it's not a quick fix."

"To succeed in this course, I understood I needed to be willing to self-reflect."

Ideal for those new to strengths-based concepts, potentially basic for advanced learners.

"I found this a good introductory course to strengths-based thinking; it's great for beginners."

"As someone already familiar with strengths assessments, I didn't gain much new insight."

"I found it truly for absolute beginners, so don't expect deep dives."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Playing to Your Strengths by StandOut® with these activities:

Review intro to strengths-based approach

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Begin to shift your mindset to a strengths-based approach by reviewing the core concepts.

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Read Chapter 1 of Marcus Buckingham's "The Power of Moments"
Review the definition of a strengths-based approach
Identify your top five strengths

Read "StrengthsFinder 2.0" by Tom Rath

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Gain insights into your unique strengths and how to maximize them in various areas of life.

View Strengths Finder 2.0: Discover Your... on Amazon

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Purchase or borrow a copy of "StrengthsFinder 2.0"
Take the StrengthsFinder assessment
Read the book and reflect on your strengths

Seek guidance from a strengths-based mentor

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Elevate your strengths-based journey by finding a mentor who can provide valuable insights and support.

Browse courses on Mentorship

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Identify potential mentors who align with your strengths-based goals
Reach out to them and express your interest in mentorship
Establish a regular cadence for meetings and discussions

Five other activities

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Show all eight activities

Watch "Trombone Player Wanted" video series

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Gain valuable insights from Marcus Buckingham's "Trombone Player Wanted" video series and learn how to harness your strengths.

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Watch the first episode of "Trombone Player Wanted"
Identify the key takeaways from the video
Reflect on how you can apply the lessons learned to your own life and work

Engage in discussion forums and share strengths

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Connect with peers to share and learn from each other's strengths-based experiences.

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Join the course discussion forums
Introduce yourself and share your strengths
Participate in discussions and share insights on how you use your strengths

Identify and practice strengths in daily activities

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Reinforce your understanding of the strengths-based approach through practical application in various situations.

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Choose a specific strength you want to focus on
Identify a daily activity where you can practice using this strength
Practice using your chosen strength in the identified activity for one week
Reflect on your experience and identify areas for improvement

Develop an individualized "Orchestra Map"

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Create a personalized roadmap for your strengths-based development and growth.

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Identify your top five strengths and their corresponding activities
Create a visual representation of your strengths as an "Orchestra Map"
Develop a plan for how you will use your strengths to achieve your goals

Share your strengths-based knowledge with others

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Reinforce your own understanding of strengths-based approach by mentoring others.

Browse courses on Mentorship

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Identify someone who is interested in learning about strengths-based approach
Share your knowledge and experiences with them
Provide guidance and support as they explore and develop their strengths

Career center

Learners who complete Playing to Your Strengths by StandOut® will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Recruiter

Recruiters actively seek out talent to help businesses grow their teams and excel. Understanding the strengths and talents of candidates is crucial for Recruiters to match the best people to the best roles. Playing to Your Strengths is a course that is based on the power of working closely with others to help them find their best fit within a team. The course can help Recruiters understand what questions to ask candidates to learn about their strengths, experiences, and potential to help them find the perfect role match.

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Human Resources Manager

The work of a Human Resources Manager is centered around the needs and strengths of a company's employees. This role seeks out and develops strategies that aim to improve company culture, productivity, and satisfaction. Since this course, Playing to Your Strengths, is based around how to help individuals play to their strengths, it can help Human Resources Managers better understand how to develop strategies and tools that can help employees at all levels grow and develop their full potential.

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Talent Acquisition Specialist

Talent Acquisition Specialists are responsible for discovering and recruiting new talent to help their organization meet its staffing needs. They are required to create strategies, processes, and systems that identify candidates with high potential to help teams succeed. This is a role that interacts with talent on a daily basis. The Playing to Your Strengths course can teach Talent Acquisition Specialists how to identify and understand the strengths of candidates and how to help them utilize those strengths to find the right role for their team.

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Team Lead

Team Leads oversee the work of other team members to ensure the work is done properly and on time. They motivate, coach, and develop team members, providing them with the tools and resources they need to succeed. Stronger team performance results in stronger overall performance, so Playing to Your Strengths may be a helpful course for Team Leads to gain the skills they need to guide a team to greatness.

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Executive Coach

Executive Coaches help executives develop their skills and behaviors to improve their performance. They often work with executives to identify and achieve their goals. Playing to Your Strengths is a course that fits well with the work that Executive Coaches do. Understanding and teaching executives how to identify and leverage their strengths can help them achieve their goals more quickly.

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Career Counselor

Career Counselors help people make career decisions and plan their career paths. They assess clients' skills, interests, and values to help them identify career options that are a good fit. Career Counselors may also provide guidance on job search strategies, resume writing, and interviewing skills. Playing to Your Strengths can be a helpful course for Career Counselors to understand the unique needs of each client and help them identify and achieve their career goals.

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Organizational Development Manager

Organizational Development Managers help organizations improve their performance by developing and implementing strategies that focus on the people side of the business. They work with leaders to identify and address organizational challenges, and they develop and deliver training programs to help employees grow and develop. Playing to Your Strengths is a course that can be useful for Organizational Development Managers to enhance their understanding of how to develop and implement strategies to improve performance at the individual and organizational levels.

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Leadership Development Manager

Leadership Development Managers work with leaders at all levels to help them develop their leadership skills. They assess leaders' strengths and weaknesses, and they develop and deliver training programs to help leaders grow and develop. Playing to Your Strengths can benefit Leadership Development Managers by providing them with the tools and techniques they need to help leaders identify and develop their strengths.

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Learning and Development Specialist

Learning and Development Specialists design and deliver training programs that help employees develop their skills and knowledge. They may also work with managers to identify training needs and develop strategies to improve employee performance. This course, Playing to Your Strengths, can be useful for Learning and Development Specialists who want to develop their skills in the design and delivery of training programs that are effective in helping employees identify and develop their strengths and weaknesses.

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Talent Management Specialist

Talent Management Specialists develop and implement strategies to attract, develop, and retain talent within an organization. They may also work with managers to identify and develop high-potential employees. Playing to Your Strengths can help Talent Management Specialists better understand how to identify and develop the strengths of employees at all levels.

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Performance Management Specialist

Performance Management Specialists design and implement performance management systems that help organizations improve employee performance. They may also work with managers to develop and deliver performance feedback. Playing to Your Strengths can provide Performance Management Specialists with the tools and techniques they need to develop performance management systems that allow employees to play to their strengths and achieve their goals.

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Organizational Psychologist

Organizational Psychologists apply psychological principles to the workplace to help organizations improve their performance. They may work with leaders to improve employee motivation, engagement, and productivity. Playing to Your Strengths can benefit Organizational Psychologists to understand how to apply psychological principles to help organizations identify and develop the strengths of their employees.

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Industrial-Organizational Psychologist

Industrial-Organizational Psychologists apply psychological principles to the workplace to improve employee productivity and satisfaction. They may also work with organizations to design and implement selection systems and training programs. Playing to Your Strengths can be useful for Industrial-Organizational Psychologists who want to better understand how to use psychological principles to help organizations identify and develop the strengths of their employees.

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Project Manager

Project Managers plan, organize, and execute projects to achieve specific goals. They work with teams of people to complete projects on time, within budget, and to the required quality standards. Playing to Your Strengths can be a helpful course for Project Managers. It can help them understand how to identify and utilize the strengths of team members to successfully complete projects.

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Manager

Managers oversee the work of other employees and are responsible for achieving the goals of their department or organization. They plan, organize, and direct the work of their team, and they provide feedback and support to help employees grow and develop. Playing to Your Strengths can benefit Managers to understand how to motivate and develop the strengths of their team members.

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