(Nathan Ferraro / Fourth Estate)
How a Mason program helps students discover their talents and turn them into professional career paths
BY NGHI NGUYEN, CONTRIBUTOR
Did you know Mason’s Center for the Advancement of Well-Being is now offering personalized coaching based on your CliftonStrengths results and you can even become a coach yourself?
CliftonStrengths, operated by the Gallup organization, is an online assessment that helps individuals identify their top talents out of 34 possible themes. The themes highlight strengths rather than weaknesses, empowering students to understand how their abilities can shape their success in many aspects of life.
At Mason, CliftonStrengths is more than just an assessment. It helps people gain a deeper understanding of their natural talents and how to apply them effectively in class and future professional environments.
Students get a chance to work with a coach to effectively manage their strengths. The program can help them improve in many areas, such as professional development, confidence building and conflict resolution.
After taking the CliftonStrengths assessment and receiving their report, students can schedule a 30-minute in person or virtual coaching session with a student coach through the Center for the Advancement of Well-Being website.
A typical coaching session might include walking through the student’s top five themes, discussing real examples of when those strengths have helped them and exploring strategies for using those talents more effectively.
Coaches may offer advice on time management based on a student’s strengths, navigate team dynamics or identify career paths that align with their natural strengths.
Mason’s Center for the Advancement of Well-Being also offers a coaching program, where students are trained to become a coach.
By being involved in the program, students can learn communication and leadership skills and get hands-on experience guiding their peers in discovering and developing their strengths.
“This experience will be an invaluable one where I can honor working with both integrity and humanity, while learning great leadership in professional settings,” student strengths coach Sydney Carver said.
Students interested in becoming a strengths coach or receiving coaching are able to do so via the CliftonStrengths website or in-person at the Center for the Advancement of Well-Being in Northern Neck 119. Additional updates and opportunities are available on the center’s Instagram account.
