[Ailist] VIA and Gallup Strengths

[John Loty]

 G'day Richard,

One explanation I have read (for the difference between Gallup and the Via
Strengths) is that Gallup is more focussed on talent and the workplace and
the other is on "virtues" as explained by Martin Seligman in his writings.

Personally speaking - given that we construct meaning - I do not find this
"difference" explanation of much practical utility.

A bit like "beauty" that the ancient Greeks said was in the eye of (came
from)the behoder.

And then we go and rate and compare the beautiful! 
As if there was some really valid, meaningful standard! 

The most simple/difficult everyday example is the word normal. Everyone
strives to be "normal" but "normal" is a statistical average that does not
exist in reality - just in our minds! 

Unless you go to a washing machine - where there is a "normal" setting.

The important thing (again from my viewpoint) is to identify these
talents/strengths/values - what is really important for me/us - and then
live our lives according to our discovery of what is really important to us.

No doubt this was all discussed at the recent conference (in New York that
had the 3 viewpoints represented- AI people (David Cooperrider, et al,
Gallup's Buckingham and Via Strengths (authentic happiness) - Martin
Seligman and someone from this list will be able to share insights at that
conference and add some more meaning as to the differences.

I am reminded of the quote I have seen in the AI literature that observes
how we spend so much energy creating and constucting our structures
(understandings) and then spend large slabs of time fighting with the very
things (structures and understandings) that were designed to make life
easier.

I recommend both and some Values and Behavioural profiling and Brain
Preference models as well. 

After all if we are we are, as I understand it, (in the words of Telhard de
Chardin) "spiritual beings having a human experience" then words (labels)
will not be adequate to fully describe all the possibilities.

Cheers

John Loty
 
AI Advocate and Facilitator 
 
"What we focus on grows" 
 
Learning to improve by building on what works - our strengths.
Find out more about Strength based approaches to improvement 
 
Appreciative Inquiry Network (in Australia)
 
Visit www.appreciativeinquiry.net.au 
 
-----Original Message-----
From: ailist-bounces at lists.business.utah.edu
[mailto:ailist-bounces at lists.business.utah.edu] On Behalf Of Richard
Sellwood
Sent: Wednesday, 10 October 2007 11:54 PM
To: AI listserve
Subject: [Ailist] VIA and Gallup Strengths

Hi,

I have introduced Marcus Buckingham's work around strengths and am keen to
also introduce the VIA signature strengths but I am unsure how to best
explain the differences.

If anyone can enlighten me it would be very much appreciated.

Have a great day,

Kind regards,

Richard
 
Richard Sellwood
07802 318803
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