Design For Strengths Applying Design Thinking to Individual -- Coyle, John K -- FR, 2018 -- The Art of Really Living LLC -- isbn13 9781732094239 -- c1fb3aa458d73b70a8c72ab5d0591894 -- Anna’s Archive
The book combines the author’s personal journey as an Olympic speed‑skater, analyst and innovator with a practical guide that merges design‑thinking methodology and strengths‑based development. It argues that conventional weakness‑focused improvement is a cultural neurosis and that true breakthrough performance comes from identifying one’s specific, often hidden, super‑powers and designing life, work and sport around them. The work is organized around the six steps of design thinking (Accept, Define, Empathize, Ideate, Prototype, Test) and four rules for designing for strengths (accept weaknesses, accept strengths, define problems through the strength‑weakness mirror, and design around weaknesses while racing strengths). Throughout, the author illustrates concepts with vivid case studies – the legendary Detroit cycling coach Mike Walden, archer Matt Stutzman, speed‑skater Apolo Ohno, and his own failures and triumphs – and weaves in insights from experts in design (David Kelley, Tim Brown), psychology (Carol Dweck, Daniel Coyle), neuroscience (Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi), and business (Chip Conley). The narrative moves from personal anecdotes of early failure, through the discovery of design thinking, to a systematic framework that readers can apply to personal, team and organizational contexts. The book concludes with a reflective epilogue on the importance of pursuing strengths, acknowledgments, and resources for further learning.
Topics
Design Thinking Framework for Strengths
A unified guide that blends the six‑step design‑thinking process (Accept, Define, Empathize, Ideate, Prototype, Test) with four specific rules for strength‑based design: accept weaknesses, accept strengths, define problems through the strength‑weakness mirror, and design around weaknesses while racing strengths.