The Strengths Revolution with Steve Morgan | Strengths | Resources | Taking Risks

We live and work to varying degrees in a blame culture, which can drive us unintentionally to make more risk averse decisions on occasions. But taking risks is an essential part of a healthy life. The questions that we need to address are why we take risks, and then to consider how we go about taking risks. The concept of Positive Risk-Taking is discussed in this episode, as something that emerged in the thinking relating to mental health services, but is equally applicable to everyone's lives. The concept is firmly based in strengths-thinking, because we gain confidence in taking risks if we are more aware of our or others strengths. The discussion highlights the importance of clearer use of language in order to communicate more precisely what we mean. A further message is that a risk averse option is not a risk-free option. Quotes are used to illustrate the importance of taking risks in our lives.

In Part 2 of this extensive interview Steve Onyett explores his work interests and influences. With a focus on the current challenging and exciting times faced by health and social care services he discusses ideas around leadership, the role that solution focused approaches have played in his practice as well as development of others, and the 'bonkers' nature of the system that has emerged across the last couple of decades. In relation to the priorities of the 'system' the question arises as to whether there is a place for the Sacred Fools to make a real impact? As for the next steps in his journey he explores the importance to him of becoming involved in the 'Way of Council' approach to personal development, and also outlines the true meaning of listening as he explores the idea of 'listening from the heart'. Steve embodies an excellent example of how and why we should honour both our ancestors as great influences on our own development, but also our successors through our care for the planet and the legacy we pass on to the next generation.

Professor Steve Onyett reflects on the values that have influenced his work and personal development across the last 30 years, including where those values have emerged from. He identifies two particular people who have been influential, one specifically on his professional roles in mental health services, and the other offering him a mentoring role in his development as a spiritual being. Steve is a well respected facilitator, coach, researcher and writer, but this interview also explores his aspirations in areas of environmental activism and the wider humanistic approach to personal development and his desire to support others. He is particularly engaged in the 'Way of Council', and the idea of a deeper 'listening from the heart'.

An ordinary life is an exceptional life in so many ways, particularly if we devote some time to reflecting on who we really are, what we are good at, and what we want out of our normal lives. So, can the idea of a Strengths Assessment as derived from health and social care services apply to everyone else who has nothing to do with being in need of or delivering such services?

Lets leave the idea of paperwork tools and unnecessary bureaucracy in its rightful place (the bin?). The concept is perfectly applicable to all of us when we think of it as our own informal subconscious way of adapting our personal values and principles to situations we find ourselves in throughout our lives. A strengths approach can provide a guide to the path we follow, whether that is a rocky rooad or a smooth highway at different points in time.

Thinking about and applying our strengths happens in every situation... moving home, changing jobs, developing new relationships or bringing up children. We draw on our accumulated experiences and resources, as well as taking a few risks along the journey.

We don't normally confront a challenge by seeking out and applying our weaknesses. We actually draw on what we can do, what we are good at, apply our skills, adapt to circumstances, and call on others with the necessary expertise to help us accomplish the challenge. We work to our strengths!

When should we be starting to build up a Strengths Assessment, including within health and social care services? The answer is 'immediately', it should be a natural default position to how we connect with people and think about who they really are.

Searching for and using peoples strengths should be equally relevant when someone is acutely unwell or going through a period of crisis. It is not something that we just set aside a one-off time slot to complete; it is an on-going fluid conversation. The picture has to emerge over time if we are to have faith in it as an accurate positive picture of personal resources.

It requires a different mindset of practitioners working with clients/patients/service users. Medical approaches focus on the issue of identifying the diagnosis, as a descriptor of problems. It requires degrees of self-disclosure in order to engage a stronger therapeutic relationship.

Paperwork has a place for prompting and capturing the detail; but bureaucracy has no place in a picture of positive practice. We are ultimately helping people to build a positive picture of themselves, and of the resources they can personally apply to exert more control over their own experiences.

Building a Strengths Assessment is like painting a picture, requiring careful attention to the detailed layers of its construction. From the broad brush of the different parts of our lives, to the strokes and touches that represent the fine detail of who we are. Nobody's life is simply black and white, we all have colours, contrasts and textures that help to define us. But don't expect the canvass to give up its secrets lightly, a Strengths Assessment requires attention and passionate inquiry of a life lived and a future one hoped for. The detail of a Strengths Assessment addresses the core questions of what is going on at the moment, what do you want to change, and what resources are needed to achieve that change? It is based in a few very practical principles that are outlined in this episode.

Death has a strange way of focusing us on the good times, on the positive experiences of the deceased, whatever the bigger picture may have looked like. In this episode Steve reflects on the recent sudden death of his ex-wife, but this is more of an emotional tribute to the ways in which the two children of the former marriage cope with difficult circumstances. In adversity we can sometimes draw on a well of personal strengths and qualities that we may have been unaware even existed. There are many way in which we identify and use our strengths.

An interview with Satsanga (Lawrence Borish) where he details the story of Anna, a client from the early days of his Social Work career, and the challenges of supporting Anna to achieve her dreams within a system that unintentionally institutionalises people. The case study illustrates how a strengths approach can be put into practice, and the challenges and risks that have to be overcome in order to support people in a genuinely person-centred way.

An interview with Satsanga (Lawrence Borish) about his life in Social Work, exploring his values and reflections on the role that a strengths approach has played in the way he engages with people. He also reflects on some of the barriers he has encountered to other people thinking and working in this way.

What do we mean by assessment? As a concept it applies in ordinary lives not just in formailsed services. Most assessment focuses on the problems and deficits, so we need to be prompted to give equal attention to what we are good at. A strengths assessment will offer resources and confidence to underpin any call-to-action. It helps us to articulate our priorities and exert some control over our own lives. Genuinely working with strengths still has barriers to overcome.