Unlocking Potential Through Strengths-Based Confidence Building
Introduction
Everyone holds immense potential—but most of us aren’t tapping into it. A recent LinkedIn poll by HiR asked over 500 professionals: “What’s the biggest challenge holding you back from reaching your full potential?”
The top response, with 31% of the votes, was Lack of confidence in myself.
This finding echoes a broader trend across industries and demographics: Confidence isn’t just a buzzword but a barrier.
At HiR, understanding and embracing your strengths is the key to unlocking confidence. This article explores how strengths-based coaching can help individuals overcome self-doubt, improve clarity, and enhance performance, based on psychological research and our experience working with diverse clients through our Starter, Supercharge, and Transform Programs.
The Confidence Crisis
Confidence is not just about personality or presentation—it’s about knowing your worth, believing in your abilities, and being equipped to take action. Studies have shown that confidence correlates strongly with job performance, career progression, and well-being. A 2022 study by Indeed found that 94% of employees who reported high confidence in their role also reported high job satisfaction.
In another global survey by the Centre for Talent Innovation (2023), nearly 67% of professionals said they held back from contributing ideas or taking on new projects due to a lack of self-confidence, even when they had the skills and qualifications. For underrepresented groups, this figure climbs even higher.
Strengths as a Pathway to Confidence
Strengths-based coaching offers a radical reframe: what if you focused on what you do well, rather than constantly trying to fix what you don’t?
The Strengths Profile assessment, which underpins HiR’s coaching approach, identifies your Realised Strengths (what you’re good at and enjoy), Unrealised Strengths (what you’re good at but don’t use often), Learned Behaviours (what you’ve learned to do well but may not enjoy), and Weaknesses (what you find hard and draining). By helping individuals understand and articulate their strengths, the Strengths Profile provides a powerful tool for self-reflection and growth.
Research by the Centre for Applied Positive Psychology (CAPP) shows that individuals who use their strengths daily are:
18x more likely to be flourishing
6x more likely to be engaged at work
3x more likely to report excellent quality of life
Real-World Confidence Boost: The HiR Approach
HiR's strengths-based Programs are designed to meet people where they are in their personal and professional journeys:
Starter Program
This package is ideal for those just beginning their journey. It includes the Strengths Profile assessment, a personalised report, and a 90-minute 1:1 debrief session to explore your results and begin applying them immediately.
Client impact: One client noted that after completing the Starter Program, they could confidently update their CV and LinkedIn profile for the first time in years. "It’s the first time I’ve felt like I could talk about myself with pride."
Supercharge Program
Perfect for people looking to apply their strengths to achieve specific goals; 3 sessions, over 4 hours to build clarity, boost confidence and shift into action.
Client impact: A mid-career professional said, "This program didn’t just help me identify my strengths—it showed me how to use them in my current role and gave me the confidence to put myself forward for a leadership opportunity."
Transform Program
This immersive, high-touch program is for those looking to create long-term, sustained change. Includes up to 12 months of coaching, strengths re-assessments, and accountability mechanisms.
Client impact: A senior executive who completed the Transform Program reported a 40% increase in self-rated confidence and resilience. They now lead strengths-based development across their team.
The Confidence-Strengths Loop
When individuals use their strengths:
This creates a powerful upward spiral: confidence fuels action, reinforcing strengths and boosting confidence.
Gallup research (2023) found that teams who focused on strengths every week had:
14% to 29% increased profit
10% to 19% increased sales
9% to 15% increased engaged employees
Making Strengths Visible
One of the most significant barriers to confidence is invisibility—when your contributions go unnoticed or you struggle to articulate your value. Strengths-based coaching helps individuals become fluent in their values and more confident in expressing them.
This is particularly powerful for those in underrepresented or marginalised groups, who often experience stereotype threat or imposter syndrome. According to research by the Harvard Business Review (2022), when underrepresented individuals were coached to recognise and use their strengths, they were two times more likely to rate themselves as confident leaders.
Moving Forward with HiR
If confidence is holding you back—or your team—HiR is here to help. Our strengths-based approach, delivered through tailored Programs, builds absolute, lasting confidence by:
Whether you’re an individual looking to find your voice or a leader wanting to build a confident, engaged team, there’s a path forward.
Next Steps
Explore the HiR Programs to find the right fit:
Sources:
Centre for Applied Positive Psychology, Strengths Profile Research, 2022
Indeed Workplace Happiness Study, 2022
Centre for Talent Innovation, Confidence at Work Report, 2023
Gallup State of the Global Workplace, 2023
Harvard Business Review, "The Confidence Gap and How to Overcome It", 2022
