Webinar: Strengths - the performance catalyst?

An introduction to 'strengths' and their use in selection

We’ve all heard of ‘competencies’ – what someone is functionally able to do. But hold on a second. Logic tells us that just because someone is able do something, that doesn’t necessarily mean they will be energised by doing it. And if someone doesn’t enjoy what they do, will they be the right hire? Will they perform? These shortcomings have led to the development of the ‘strengths’ based approach to selection.

In this webinar, Chartered Occupational Psychologist, Rebecca Stevens, from the consultancy WorkBrighter, introduces and explores the concept of ‘strengths’ – the combination of what someone is able to do, and what they truly enjoy doing and are energised by. Rebecca outlines how ‘strengths’ can be used both to complement a competency-based approach, and in some cases even replace it.

Further to this, Louise Szymala, Business Unit Director at Ochre House, explores the challenges and potential benefits of using ‘strengths’ in the real world. What are the barriers to adopting a strengths-based approach? Should recruiters and HR professionals push their businesses toward using them? How can a transition from competencies to strengths realistically be achieved?

Watch the webinar to learn:

  • Introduction to ‘strengths’: what are they?
  • How can strengths be used in a recruitment process?
  • What are the benefits and drawbacks of using strengths in recruitment?
  • How can a business transition successfully to using strengths?

Click here to download the webinar recording

Webinar Presenters

  • Rebecca Stevens B.Sc. (Hons), MSc., C.Psychol

    Rebecca Stevens B.Sc. (Hons), MSc., C.Psychol Business Psychologist & Director of Work Brighter Ltd

    Rebecca is registered as a Practionner Occupational Psychologist with the Health Professions Council and a Chartered Psychologist with the British Psychological Society Division of Occupational Psychology. Rebecca's expertise is in assessment for selection and development and employee engagement. She is also an active member of the Association of Business Psychologist's chairing the North West Group and in May 2010 Rebecca presented at the Association of Business Psychologists conference 'from competencies to strengths - a new approach to selection'.

    Work Brighter work strategically with organisations to resolve the people problems they face. By looking at the employee life-cycle in those problem roles, work brighter puts in place solutions which address the organisations particular issues - whether that's performance, turnover or difficulty recruiting.

  • Louise Szymala

    Louise Szymala Business Unit Director, Ochre House

    Part of the Ochre House leadership team since joining the business in 2006, Louise is responsible for ensuring service excellence, driving continuous improvement and innovation across the Ochre House customer base.

    Whilst at Ochre House, Louise has been responsible for leading a team of international recruiters across EMEA supporting clients such as Anheuser-Busch InBev and defining, owning and managing the talent acquisition agenda for Ochre House and its RPO clients.

    She has developed our greenfield FMCG & Manufacturing practice and is now leading a Business Unit focused on delivering recruitment, resourcing and strategic talent programmes to deliver transformational business value to mature organisations; effectively making the link between people, innovation and sustainable competitive advantage.

    Prior to her career at Ochre House, Louise recruited directly across EMEA for a number of technology, telecoms and pharmaceutical clients in both an executive search and contingency capacity.

  • Jamie Betts

    Jamie Betts Solutions Consultant, Ochre House

    Jamie is a consultant and project manager within Ochre House's central Centre of Excellence, supporting our clients as a subject matter expert in areas such as assessment and development. Jamie started his career over 10 years ago in executive search, working on projects with numerous investment banks. Around six years ago he moved into a resourcing manager role, operating on a European level for a large international firm. Following on from this, he specialised in assessment and development consulting, which he specialised in prior to joining Ochre House in 2010.

    Jamie has considerable experience of working with Strengths, both pragmatically and through developing tools and approaches which can be applied to a selection process.