Positive psychology, with its focus on identifying and building up of strengths inherently supports executive development and leadership coaching. Author Doug MacKie explains how strengths can be reliably assessed and developed in an organizational context, reviewing the existing strengths models. After an overview of the historical origins of strength-based approaches in organizations, he analyzes the evidence for using them and links leadership development to strengths-based approaches. He additionally discusses positive assessment, coaching for positive leadership in organizations, and using strength-based approaches as a leader/manager and as a coach. Finally, as a counter balance, MacKie discusses the limits of strength-based coaching and the potential benefits of negative emotions and pessimism.
