The Character Strengths That Can Help Boost Productivity and Wellbeing

Sponsored by Universidad Tecmilenio

In recent years the importance of wellbeing and productivity across all areas of life has received increased focus, not just in the classroom, but in the home and workplace too.

One university in Mexico has sought to address this trend by becoming the first in the world to develop a scientific master’s program focused on these areas.

Based on scientific research, the Master in Positive Leadership at Universidad Tecmilenio teaches students to build character-strength-based teams in order to have a positive impact on both society and productivity.

At the beginning of the 21st century, scientists discovered 24 character strengths that give us all our very own unique character profile. These character strengths fall under six categories:

• Wisdom (using your experience and knowledge in order to make good decisions and judgements – examples include creativity, perspective, and curiosity)
• Courage (being able to control your fear in a difficult or dangerous situation – examples include bravery, perseverance and honesty)
• Humanity (simply being human – examples include social intelligence, love, and kindness)
• Justice (being fair in the way you deal with people – examples include fairness, leadership, and teamwork)
• Temperance (being in total control of your own behavior – examples include self-regulation, and forgiveness)
• Transcendence (experience that goes beyond normal limits, or the ability to achieve this – examples include hope, gratitude, spirituality, and appreciation of beauty and excellence)

It is believed that focusing on your strengths and developing these as opposed to tackling your weaknesses is better for your happiness, productivity and engagement levels.

In a recent interview, the Director of Universidad Tecmilenio’s Institute of Happiness and Wellbeing Rosalinda Ballesteros spoke about turning negatives within your team into a positive, and how doing so can help achieve better results, as opposed to “constantly correcting mistakes and trying to correct what is lacking.”

This area of psychology, known as ‘positive psychology’, is at the heart of the Master in Positive Leadership at Universidad Tecmilenio. Students study a variety of modules and develop their knowledge of social wellbeing, positivity leadership, the benefits of positive relationships, as well as their understanding of happiness and wellbeing tools. 

The Institute of Happiness and Wellbeing at Universidad Tecmilenio aims to ensure positivity and wellbeing is an integral element throughout the university, such as the training and coaching sessions based on positive psychology.