Character Strengths Assessment

Uncover your strengths and boost personal growth with a character strengths assessment. Maximize potential and excel in all areas of life.

By Bernard Ramirez on May 13, 2024.

Fact Checked by Ericka Pingol.

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What is a Character Strengths Assessment?

A character strengths assessment is a valuable resource that aims to uncover and evaluate an individual's positive qualities, virtues, and character traits. It provides a systematic way to identify and measure the strengths that define who we are as individuals. This assessment is rooted in positive psychology, which focuses on promoting well-being and flourishing in individuals rather than solely treating psychological disorders.

The assessment process typically involves a series of questions or statements that prompt self-reflection and introspection. These questions explore virtues such as courage, wisdom, kindness, perseverance, creativity, gratitude, and many others. Participants are encouraged to assess their preferences, behaviors, and emotional responses to gain insights into their dominant character strengths.

Upon completing the character strengths assessment, individuals receive a comprehensive profile outlining their unique strengths and virtues. This profile serves as a roadmap for personal growth and development. By understanding and leveraging their character strengths, individuals can enhance their self-awareness, improve their relationships, and navigate challenges more effectively.

Character strengths assessments have practical applications in various areas of life. In education, they can inform teaching strategies and help students discover their strengths, leading to improved engagement and academic performance. In career development, they can guide individuals towards professions that align with their strengths, resulting in greater job satisfaction and productivity. Additionally, these assessments can be used in counseling and therapy to promote self-esteem, resilience, and overall well-being.

Printable Character Strengths Assessment

Download this Character Strengths Assessment to better understand your clients’ personalities.

How does this Character Strengths Assessment work?

Step 1: Introduction and Purpose

Before diving into the assessment, provide participants with a brief introduction and explain the purpose of the questionnaire. Let them know that the assessment aims to identify their core character strengths, which will help them gain valuable insights into their unique qualities and potential for personal growth.

Step 2: Answering the Questions

The questionnaire includes carefully crafted questions or statements about various virtues and character traits. Participants should read each question thoughtfully and respond honestly based on their feelings, behaviors, and preferences. There are no right or wrong answers; the goal is to reflect on their inherent strengths.

Step 3: Scoring and Analysis

Once participants have completed the questionnaire, collect and analyze their responses. Each question is usually assigned a numerical value corresponding to a specific character strength. By tallying these values, you can determine the dominant strengths of the individual. The highest-scoring virtues are likely their core character strengths.

Step 4: Interpretation and Feedback

After scoring the assessment, provide participants with a personalized interpretation of their results. Explain the significance of their top strengths and how these virtues manifest in their lives. Offer constructive feedback on how they can leverage these strengths to enhance their well-being, relationships, and overall success.

Step 5: Application and Development

Encourage participants to apply their newfound understanding of their character strengths practically. Suggest activities or practices that align with their dominant virtues. For example, if someone's top strength is kindness, they could volunteer at a local charity or regularly engage in acts of kindness. The aim is to help them develop and integrate their strengths into their daily lives.

Step 6: Long-term Reflection 

You can repeatedly use character strengths assessment. Encourage participants to revisit their results and reassess their progress periodically. Long-term reflection can reveal growth, changes in strengths' order, or the emergence of new strengths as they continue to develop as individuals.

How is this Character Strengths Assessment scored?

Step 1: Assigning Numerical Values

Assign numerical values to each question or statement in the assessment. The values represent how an individual resonates with a particular character's strength. Higher values indicate a stronger alignment, while lower values reflect a weaker alignment. Let's assume a scale of 0 to 5 is used for the assessment. Assign the following values based on the degree of alignment with each character's strength:

1 - Not at all like me

2 - A tiny bit like me

3 - A little bit like me

4 - Quite a lot like me

5 - Exactly like me

Step 2: Summing and Calculating Scores

Calculate the scores for each character strength by summing up the assigned values across the relevant questions or statements. This process involves adding the numerical values of each response within a particular strength category. The resulting score represents the total measure of the presence and intensity of that strength for the individual.

Step 3: Ranking or Profiling Strengths

Based on the calculated scores, rank or profile the character's strengths. Arrange them in order from highest to lowest based on their respective scores. This ranking clearly shows the individual's dominant strengths and relative significance within their overall character profile.

Step 4: Interpretation and Feedback

Interpret the scores and provide feedback to the individual. Explain the meaning and implications of their top strengths, highlighting how they manifest in their thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and relationships. Offer personalized guidance and practical suggestions on leveraging their dominant strengths to enhance their well-being, achieve goals, and navigate challenges effectively.

Step 5: Consideration of Subscores

In some character strengths assessments, additional subscores may be calculated for specific subcategories or dimensions of each character strength. These subscores provide a more detailed understanding of an individual's strengths within different aspects or contexts. Consider analyzing and discussing these subscores alongside the overall strength scores to provide a comprehensive evaluation.

Character Strengths Assessment Example

The Character Strengths Assessment PDF template typically consists of multiple pages. The first page introduces the purpose and instructions for completing the assessment. It explains the importance of identifying and leveraging character strengths for personal growth and well-being.

The subsequent pages of the template contain the actual assessment questions or statements. These questions prompt self-reflection and introspection, allowing users to evaluate their preferences, behaviors, and emotional responses in different situations. 

Download this Character Strengths Assessment Example:

Character Strengths Assessment Example

When would you use this Character Strengths Assessment template?

The Character Strengths Assessment template is a versatile tool that can be beneficial in various situations and for different purposes. Here are some of the best and most appropriate times to use this assessment:

Personal Development and Self-Exploration:

The Character Strengths Assessment template is ideal for individuals who are interested in personal growth and self-awareness. Using the template can help people identify their core strengths and virtues, enabling them to make informed decisions about their personal and professional lives. It provides a structured approach to self-exploration, helping individuals gain insights into their unique qualities and values.

Career Planning and Advancement:

The Character Strengths Assessment template can be valuable when considering career choices or advancement opportunities. Understanding one's character strengths can guide individuals toward career paths that align with their inherent abilities and passions. It also aids in building a stronger resume or preparing for interviews, as individuals can highlight their strengths and how they contribute to the desired role.

Educational Settings:

Teachers, educators, and school counselors can use the Character Strengths Assessment template with students. It helps students discover and embrace their strengths, fostering a positive and growth-oriented mindset. By recognizing their strengths, students can approach their learning journey more confidently and enthusiastically.

Therapy and Counseling:

Mental health professionals can utilize the Character Strengths Assessment template in therapy sessions to support clients' self-awareness and emotional well-being. Identifying and building on existing strengths can enhance resilience and coping mechanisms.

Team Building and Leadership Development:

The Character Strengths Assessment template can be employed in a corporate or organizational setting for team building and leadership development workshops. Assessing team members' strengths can enhance collaboration, improve communication, and create a more harmonious and productive work environment.

Positive Psychology Interventions:

Positive psychology interventions focus on promoting well-being and positive emotions. The Character Strengths Assessment template aligns well with these interventions by identifying and nurturing an individual's positive qualities, which can lead to increased life satisfaction and happiness.

Life Transitions and Challenges:

During major life transitions or facing challenges, individuals may benefit from revisiting their character strengths. Understanding their strengths can provide a sense of empowerment and resilience, helping them navigate uncertainties and adversities more effectively.

Why use Carepatron as your life coaching and therapy assessment app?

Carepatron is a comprehensive platform designed for healthcare professionals seeking life coaching and mental health therapy support. It offers a user-friendly interface, allowing professionals to navigate through tools and resources, save time, and streamline their workflow. The app also supports managing schedules, appointments, and client records, ensuring confidentiality and compliance with privacy regulations.

Carepatron also supports billing and invoicing, reducing administrative burdens and facilitating financial management. One standout feature of Carepatron is its ability to support life coaching, allowing professionals to guide clients in setting and achieving goals, promoting personal growth, and enhancing overall well-being.

The platform is designed with the unique needs of healthcare professionals, offering a secure and encrypted platform for confidentiality and data protection. Carepatron also enables seamless collaboration with multidisciplinary teams, facilitating integrated care and enhancing patient outcomes. Carepatron is essential for healthcare professionals seeking personalized and effective life coaching services.

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How long does a Character Strengths Assessment take?
How long does a Character Strengths Assessment take?

Commonly asked questions

How long does a Character Strengths Assessment take?

The duration of a Character Strengths Assessment can vary depending on the specific assessment tool used and the depth of analysis required. Typically, it takes around 15 to 30 minutes to complete the assessment questionnaire.

Can a Character Strengths Assessment be used in professional settings?

Yes, Character Strengths Assessment can be highly beneficial in professional settings. Many organizations and leaders use it for talent management, team-building, and career development. By understanding employees' character strengths, employers can create more engaging and fulfilling work environments and optimize individual and team performance.

Are there different types of Character Strengths Assessments available?

Yes, there are various types of Character Strengths Assessments available. Some popular assessments include the VIA Character Strengths Survey, Clifton StrengthsFinder, and the Values in Action Inventory of Strengths (VIA-IS). Each assessment has its unique approach and set of character strengths identified.

Are character strengths fixed, or can they change over time?

While relatively stable character strengths can develop and evolve. Life experiences, personal growth, and intentional cultivation of specific strengths can enhance or modify their enhancement. Regular self-reflection and reassessment can help you track changes in the prominence or expression of your character strengths.

Can a Character Strengths Assessment be used in therapy or counseling?

Yes, Character Strengths Assessments can be incorporated into therapy or counseling sessions. Therapists and counselors can use the assessment results to help individuals explore and leverage their strengths as part of their therapeutic journey. It can provide insights, increase self-awareness, and support personal growth and resilience.

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