‘The assessment needs to go hand-in-hand with the debriefing’: The importance of a structured coaching debriefing in understanding and applying a positive psychology strengths assessment

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Objectives:Despite extensive empirical evidence supporting the use of strengths, minimal research has been conducted on the practical application of strengths tools. The objective of this study was to test the impact of a structured debriefing following completion of Realise2, an online strengths assessment, in relation to strengths application (Linley, Willars & Biswas-Diener, 2010).Design:The study utilised a qualitative design. Semi-structured interviews were employed and thematic analysis was used to identify themes representing the participant’s experience (Braun & Clarke, 2006).Method:The 20 participants were a mixture of middle and senior managers from a global travel organisation. All participants completed the Realise2 strengths assessment and a structured debriefing with a qualified coach. Following the debriefing, each participant completed a semi-structured interview to determine how the debriefing impacted their understanding and utilisation of the assessment findings.Results:The results show that the debriefing was associated with engendering action, enhancing self-efficacy and stimulating psychological development.Conclusions:The study found that all 20 participants benefited from having a structured debriefing after completing a strengths assessment. The debriefing led to a greater understanding and utilisation of the strengths assessment. This pairing has practical implications for those involved in strengths-based coaching and development. In addition, limitations of the study are discussed and areas for future research suggested.