Core Quality Framework

A systemic way to see why we are reluctant to let go of our strengths even though they become baggage restricting growth

Created by Daniel D. Ofman; an introduction video on how the Core Quality framework works

Introduced to us through Eugene Kim @ Faster Than 20

What is it? A systemic approach of finding areas for improvement based on your innate core qualities, assuming that overuse of core strengths can become obstacles.

How to use the framework? The framework gives a perspective that everyone has a few core qualities that belong to them naturally. If you use them in your work, you feel very comfortable. There is no effort needed to use your core qualities. However, if you rely on your core qualities too much, they can become weaknesses.

Often when I collect stakeholder feedback for my clients, clients’ overused strengths become their weaknesses. Sometimes, this overuse keeps them from growing further. How can we let go of our strengths that got us to be successful in the first place? If clients’ weaknesses are clearly related to relying too heavily on their strengths, Core Quality framework can be very helpful in thinking about how to shift these patterns.

As you can see above, if thoughtfulness become too much, you can be rigid and slow. Positive opposite of that is your challenge, in this case, “being flexible” or “being spontaneous”. If you use that too much, say, becoming “spineless” or “unprepared”, you feel allergic to that. This is why being flexible or spontaneous would be challenging to someone who has “thoughtfulness” as her core quality.

By going though this, it also helps you to think about others. If you don’t like someone’s behaviors, think about the positive opposite side of that quality. That maybe her core qualities you like.