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The executive coaching and positive psychology fields are growing; however, minimal research exists regarding the coaching experiences of executive coachees with the various approaches a coach can utilize. The problem addressed in this study was the lack of research on consistent standards regarding how executive coaching should be conducted. The primary purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of executives who have been coached using approaches based on Snyder's hope theory, Buckingham and Clifton's theories of strength-based approaches to leadership, and the theories of positive psychology advanced by Seligman and Csikszentmihalyi. The participants in this study were a purposively selected sample of 20 executives. The primary data collection method was semistructured interviews, and the resulting data were recorded and organized into themes guided by the research questions, and was analyzed for overarching themes, validated, and interpreted against Snyder's hope theory. The findings demonstrated the importance of coaching approaches utilizing all components of hope theory and the importance of the coaching approach being the preference of the executive. These findings can be used by executive coaches to inform coaching approaches that lead to favorable leadership behavioral changes. The potential for social change from this study is that the findings can help guide improvements in leadership in all areas of organizations, including the non-profit sector, that lead to better serving of goals and increasing organizational capacities.

In einer quasiexperimentellen Längsschnittstudie mit 380 Lehramtsstudierenden wurde das Interventionsprogramm „Gestärkt für den Lehrerberuf“, welches Elemente eines Self-Assessments der berufsrelevanten Kompetenzen mit konkreten Beratungsmöglichkeiten und einem Zieleffektivitätstraining (Dargel, 2006) zur Entwicklung individueller berufsbezogener Kompetenzen verbindet, auf seine Wirksamkeit (Reflexionskompetenz, Lehrerselbstwirksamkeit, berufsbezogene Kompetenzen, Beanspruchungserleben, Widerstandsfähigkeit) und den Wirkungsprozess (Zielbindung, Zielrealisierbarkeit, Zieleffektivität) hin überprüft. In dem Prä-Post-Follow-up-Test-Vergleichsgruppen-Design wurden eine Interventionsgruppe, deren Treatment auf dem Stärkenansatz basiert (1), eine defizitorientierte Interventionsgruppe (2), sowie eine kombinierte Interventionsgruppe, bei der der Stärkenansatz durch den Defizitansatz ergänzt wird (3), einer unbehandelten Kontrollgruppe sowie einer alternativ behandelten Kontrollgruppe, die ausschließlich in ihren sozial-kommunikativer Kompetenzen geschult wurde, gegenübergestellt. Es gelang zum Post- und Follow-up-Test, sowohl die individuellen beruflichen Kompetenzen als auch die Reflexionskompetenz von Teilnehmern der Interventionsgruppen im Vergleich zur unbehandelten Kontrollgruppe zu fördern. Die Teilnehmer der kombinierten Intervention profitierten im Vergleich zu den Teilnehmern der anderen beiden Interventionsgruppen stärker im Bereich Lehrerselbstwirksamkeit, Widerstandsfähigkeit und Zieleffektivität. Gegenüber der alternativen Kontrollgruppe zeigten sie ebenfalls einen stärkeren Zuwachs in der Entwicklung ihrer berufsrelevanten Kompetenzen und in ihrer Widerstandsfähigkeit. Die Studie liefert erste Hinweise darauf, dass ein Ansatz, welcher Stärkenfokussierung und Defizitorientierung integriert, besonders effektiv wirkt. / In a sample of 380 student teachers this longitudinal study examined the effectiveness of a strengths-based intervention program that combined elements from a self-assessment of work related competencies with peer-coaching and a goal effectiveness training (Dargel, 2006). The intervention intended to improve work related competencies, reflectivity, teacher self-efficacy, strategies to cope with occupational stress, hardiness and the process of competence development (goal commitment, goal planning, goal accomplishment). The participants were assigned to three treatment conditions: (1) focus on their individual work related strengths, (2) focus on work related weaknesses or (3) integration of strengths and weaknesses and compared to a no-treatment control group and an alternative control group that focused on developing social-communicative competencies. Both at posttest and at follow-up-test the students in the three intervention conditions outperformed control students in measures of reflexivity and work related competencies. Relative to students, who focused on strengths or weaknesses only, students in the combined intervention were better able to maintain training induced teacher self-efficacy, hardiness and goal attainment. Compared to the alternative control group they showed a greater increase of work related competencies and hardiness. The study provides preliminary results that a combined treatment that integrated the training of work related strengths and weaknesses is more effective than a training that focuses either on strengths or relative weaknesses.

Identifying family strengths is central to early childhood practices. Moving beyond identification to exploring and explicitly applying those strengths can evolve strengths-based and family capacity-building practices. Assessment and planning processes that focus on the strategies families use to help their child learn can give agency to families in this parenting role. This exploratory study examined the perspectives of seven families who participated in an early intervention assessment-to-planning approach that sought to uncover, understand, and utilize the strategies families used to help their child learn and their appraisals of those strategies. Family responses during qualitative interviews were analyzed into three themes: (1) naturalistic observations yield naturalistic understandings, (2) practices that honor family strengths and family fit, and (3) self-discovery and self-affirmation. Implications for evolving family capacity-building approaches are discussed.

This study explored the perspectives of children whose complex health needs included respiratory technology dependence, and that of their parents, regarding community life and helpful patterns of coping and relationship. In-depth interviews were conducted with 7 children (3-18 yrs. old) and 8 parents. Survey data collected from 31 parents contributed to a convergent mixed methods design. Findings showed that children viewed themselves as normal, but experienced "a constricted life". Parents' active engagement in their child's life, as system navigators and advocates, was necessary to ensure their child's wellbeing. Key relational components included "authentic engaged presence", caring, competence, communication and collaboration. Effective coping patterns included reliable social support and both emotion-focused and problem-focused strategies. Contextual factors significantly affecting parental coping and relationships included family structure and child’s dependence on invasive respiratory technology (tracheostomy). Respite reported inadequate. Findings have practice and policy implications for health, respite and education systems, professionals and parents.

This study explored the perspectives of children whose complex health needs included respiratory technology dependence, and that of their parents, regarding community life and helpful patterns of coping and relationship. In-depth interviews were conducted with 7 children (3-18 yrs. old) and 8 parents. Survey data collected from 31 parents contributed to a convergent mixed methods design. Findings showed that children viewed themselves as normal, but experienced "a constricted life". Parents' active engagement in their child's life, as system navigators and advocates, was necessary to ensure their child's wellbeing. Key relational components included "authentic engaged presence", caring, competence, communication and collaboration. Effective coping patterns included reliable social support and both emotion-focused and problem-focused strategies. Contextual factors significantly affecting parental coping and relationships included family structure and child’s dependence on invasive respiratory technology (tracheostomy). Respite reported inadequate. Findings have practice and policy implications for health, respite and education systems, professionals and parents.

Ledare vill att medarbetare skall vara engagerade i sitt arbete och i organisationen som helhet. Ett sätt att uppnå detta är att arbeta utifrån ett styrkebaserat förhållningssätt vilket har flera positiva effekter i organisationer såsom att behålla medarbetare och öka lönsamheten. Utgångspunkten i detta är att fokusera på styrkor och möjligheter istället för svagheter och problem. Trots att tidigare forskning har visat att ett styrkebaserat förhållningssätt är effektivt har inga studier undersökt vilka faktorer som påverkar om en organisation använder sig av metoden eller inte. Syftet med den här studien var att undersöka vad som gör att vissa organisationer väljer att arbeta utifrån ett styrkebaserat förhållningssätt och andra inte samt vad som krävs för att lyckas med implementeringen. Detta har utforskats genom semistrukturerade intervjuer med fem specialister inom området. Därefter gjordes en tematisk analys av resultatet. Studien visade att många inom organisationer har en positiv inställning till det styrkebaserade förhållningssättet när de får höra om det men att det är få som känner till det. Skulle det styrkebaserade förhållningssättet och dess effekter vara mer kända skulle detta förhållningssätt kunna tänkas vara mer etablerat i organisationer. Att många fokuserar på problem och svagheter framför möjligheter och styrkor beror på fostran i problembaserade tankebanor. För att lyckas med implementeringen behöver organisationen vara mogen för förändring samt genomföra en bedömning av sitt utgångsläge. Eftersom ett styrkebaserat förhållningssätt passar i alla organisationer men inte alla situationer behöver organisationen klargöra hur utvecklingen ska se ut i sin organisation. Det kräver ett tydligt mål med implementeringen samt att ledningen står bakom initiativet och driver hela förändringsprocessen tillsammans med medarbetarna. Studien visade också att det är av stor vikt att ha uthållighet och genomföra hela processen utan genvägar.

As the focal point of the school, the principal’s leadership is integral to its effective functioning. This study used a self-assessment to analyze the self-identified strengths of principals in Islamic schools within the five most populated states in the United States (which also have the largest number of mosques) and the commonalities in those strengths based on (a) the enrollment of the school; (b) year school was established; (c) the gender of the principal; (d) the principal’s professional preparation, e.g., degree in education vs. other fields and years of experience; and (e) geographic location. While only a small amount of statistical significance was evident (p < .05) in exploring the differences between groups, several conclusions were made. In analyzing the strengths of the principals, the least selected strength was Significance and the most was Analytical, which had the highest proportion of affirmatively responding principals as compared to any of the other strengths. Additionally, the relationship between principal strength and school enrollment resulted in for the strengths of Command and Developer at a significance level that was less stringent than the p = .002 dictated by the study; principals at schools that have a student enrollment of 151-200 ranked Command higher as compared to principals in schools of other sizes, whereas those with an enrollment of 150 or fewer students ranked Developer as a more preferred strength. In addressing principal strengths and gender, the results showcased males ranking Self-assuredness as their preferred trait more frequently than their female counterparts, who preferred Futuristic. Furthermore, the relationship of principal strengths and area of education resulted in the strengths of Activator, Maximizer, and Positivity as being iv ranked higher for principals who had a degree in education at the p = .05 level. The strengths of Empathy, Harmony, and Responsibility (p < .05) and Deliberative (p < .01) were ranked higher by principals who did not have a degree in education. Also, based on the average rankings of principal strengths, Achiever indicated the strongest association for principals with a degree in education and Deliberative for principals who did not. The results of the mean ranking of the strengths among principals of differing years of experience resulted in the ranking of Focus and Includer at higher levels for principals with 3-6 years of experience (p < .01). Furthermore, the average rankings showcased the strength of Achiever as the most strongly rated for principals with less than 3 years of experience, Focus for principals with 3-6 years of experience, and Analytical for principals with more than 6 years. Examination of principal strengths based on geographic location was conducted descriptively due to small group sizes. Among the five states of focus, average rankings of strengths indicated that Deliberative was the most preferred among California principals, Includer among Florida principals, Activator among Illinois respondents, Command among New York principals, and Analytical in Texas.

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Family resilience is the ability of a family to rebound from adversities, often stronger than before. To be knowledgeable on the characteristics and processes that render individuals and their families resilient, contribute to family well-being. Using a qualitative research approach and an interview guide, the researcher focused on developing a better understanding of the manifestation of family resilience as part of a family’s ability to adapt to changing circumstances and life in its dynamic form. Family resilience as an interactive process over time, normalizes resilience as part of the day to day living of the family and its members, including the young and the old. The domains of family resilience are, organizational patterns, adaptability, protective processes (including family risks, family strengths and protective/buffering factors), communication processes and family belief systems that, in synergy with one another, render families resilient. The research results confirmed the presence of characteristics and processes of family resilience amongst social work client families in South Africa. Depending on the challenges families my face, all families are either more resilient or less resilient. The latter most often needing additional support, such as social work intervention. South African policies should be family-focused and urge for a strengths-based approach towards enhancing family resilience and ultimately family well-being. Service providers need to give recognition to the fact that all families have challenges that need to be faced, but that families also have strengths to be drawn-upon to address and overcome these challenges. This implies that social work interventions that impact on the lives of families, should be rendered from a family resilience perspective and strengths-based approach, with the family as focal point for service delivery. / Social Science / M.A. (Social Work)