Bridges Over Troubled Water: What Character Strengths Can Teach Us About Wellbeing at Work
Character strengths are the positive traits of personality that reflect our best selves. Alex Linley defined a strength as “a pre-existing capacity for a particular way of behaving, thinking or feeling that is authentic and energising and enables optimal functioning.” Building on this, Martin Seligman and Christopher Peterson’s seminal Character Strengths and Virtues framework identified 24 universal strengths, grouped under six core virtues, which underpin much of the research in positive psychology today.
There are well-established ways of spotting and measuring character strengths. The VIA Survey of Character Strengths is the most widely researched, freely accessible tool and is often used in both academic and applied settings. Alongside VIA, tools such as Cappfinity’s Strengths Profile provide a dynamic way of understanding strengths by distinguishing between realised and unrealised strengths, as well as learned behaviours and weaknesses.
When we use our character strengths, we feel energised and are able to live in a way that is authentic to who we are. Research consistently shows that strengths use is associated with higher levels of wellbeing, greater engagement, and improved resilience. For organisations, strengths-based approaches can drive productivity, performance and collaboration, while also fostering a culture of psychological safety and trust.
What the Latest Research Tells Us
A landmark meta-analysis published in August 2025 (European Journal of Personality) reviewed 130 studies with data from more than 275,000 participants. Its aim was to understand how character strengths relate to wellbeing and mental health. The results are both compelling and highly relevant for individuals, and workplace wellbeing strategies.
Nearly all character strengths (except humility) showed meaningful links with healthy functioning, typically with correlations between .10 and .30.
Hope and zest stood out as the most powerful strengths, each with effect sizes around .52 ; unusually strong by social science standards.
Gratitude, love and curiosity also showed strong associations with wellbeing (r ≈ .38–.43).
Strengths had stronger relationships with wellbeing outcomes than with clinical mental health symptoms. This suggests their greatest value is in building flourishing and resilience, not just preventing illness.
Why This Matters for Organisations
Organisations often default to reactive approaches to wellbeing: stress management workshops, mental health first aiders, or crisis support. While important, these efforts do not always lead to lasting cultural change.
This study reinforces the case for proactive, strengths-based design. By cultivating hope, zest, gratitude and curiosity, workplaces can create the conditions where people thrive, not merely cope.
Practical Applications
Embed strengths awareness into leadership programmes, so managers can model and amplify these qualities.
Foster hope by creating clear pathways for growth, recognition of progress, and a culture of possibility.
Build zest through energising rituals, job crafting, and celebrations that keep engagement alive.
Nurture gratitude and connection with simple peer-to-peer recognition practices.
Wellbeing at work is not achieved through isolated initiatives. It requires weaving character strengths into the everyday fabric of organisational life. Evidence now shows that these strengths, particularly hope and zest, are not soft concepts but powerful predictors of flourishing.
The opportunity for HR and leaders is clear: move from reactive wellbeing to strengths-based, proactive culture design.
If you are exploring how to shape your workplace wellbeing strategy, I would be delighted to help. My work focuses on building strengths-based, psychologically safe workplaces where people and performance can thrive. I partner with organisations through consulting, speaking, training and coaching. Please feel free to book a call or send me a message if you would like to learn more.
Source: Casali & Feraco, 2025, European Journal of Personality.