Developed at the University of Michigan
"The RBSE was like going to my funeral, but I got to be there. I discovered strengths I didn't even know I had through the people who know me best."— Graduate Student, University of Michigan
Developed at University of Michigan's Center for Positive Organizations
Grounded in 15+ years of organizational science research
Developed at the University of Michigan's Center for Positive Organizations, the Reflected Best Self Exercise is grounded in the science of thriving organizations. This approach builds on a multidisciplinary view of leadership development, including the sociological idea of the "Looking Glass Self" — we understand ourselves largely through how others see us.
Human strengths fall in several categories and the RBSE fills a gap
Skills and talents measured by assessments like Gallup StrengthsFinder
Cultural values like kindness, wisdom, and courage measured by the VIA Survey
How you naturally show up and influence others — often invisible to you but obvious to them. Cannot be captured by self-report assessments.
The RBSE focuses on Impact Strengths — the effortless, energizing, essential qualities that define who you are at your best. Unlike self-assessments, RBSE reveals strengths you can't see in yourself.
Research shows that true strengths share three defining characteristics that make them both powerful and often invisible to us.
Natural to you — comes easily without much thought or investment of effort. You don't have to work hard to exercise these qualities.
Fuel rather than drain you — using these strengths actually gives you energy and vitality instead of depleting you.
Core to who you are — these qualities feel fundamental to your identity and walk in the door with you no matter what.
The paradox: Because these strengths come so naturally, we often overlook or discount them — which is exactly why we often need others to help us see them clearly.
By becoming more cognizant of the small things that come easily and naturally to you, you can exert intention around them and use your strengths more deliberately. This conscious deployment amplifies their energizing and focusing effects.
In fast-paced, time-pressured environments where we speak the language of problems all day, strengths can feel irrelevant. But research shows we need a different approach to thrive.
When you're constantly fixing problems and managing crises, focusing on strengths can feel like a luxury you can't afford. Your daily emotional diet becomes saturated with what's wrong, what's urgent, and what needs fixing.
Research reveals we naturally give three times more attention to problems than successes due to "negativity bias." To flourish, we need a 3:1 ratio of positive to negative feedback — but most organizations fall far short.
Gallup's research with hundreds of thousands of people found that those who get to use their strengths daily score 6 times higher on engagement and 18% higher on flourishing metrics.
Just as we develop emotional intelligence, we can build our strengths intelligence — the vocabulary and awareness to recognize, appreciate, and leverage what we and others do best. The RBSE is designed specifically to develop this critical capability.
Attentionally efficient — better concentration and detail focus
Better coping and more resilient responses to challenges
Greater sense that your work matters beyond personal gain
A simple, powerful process to discover your strengths through others' perspectives
Send invitations to colleagues, friends, and family who know you well. As storytellers, they'll share specific stories of when they've seen you at your best.
We gather all responses into your personalized Compilation of Stories — authentic narratives about moments when others have seen you at your best and most impactful.
Use your stories to identify patterns of you at your best and to create a portrait that reflects what others see in you that are likely to overlook.
Use your newfound awareness of your essential, effortless, and energizing strengths to enhance your life, leadership, or learning — either independently or with a coach or facilitator.
Hear from those who have experienced the transformative power of seeing themselves through others' eyes
"Most of the stories people shared were about little moments I had forgotten or didn't even think about. I saw how much it meant to other people, even though it wasn't in my line of sight."
"It was like going to my funeral, but I got to be there. I discovered strengths I didn't even know I had through the people who know me best."
"The RBSE helped me recognize patterns in my leadership that I was completely blind to. It's changed how I approach my team and my career."
"I've done many assessments, but none revealed things about myself that I couldn't see. The stories people shared will stay with me forever."
"What comes easy to us, we overlook or discount. The RBSE showed me my impact strengths that were energizing me without even knowing it."
"This is such a rare experience — like graduations or weddings where people celebrate who you are. But this focused purely on my strengths and contributions."
Transform your team, leadership development program, or educational curriculum with the power of strengths-based feedback.
Build psychological safety and mutual appreciation by recognizing each team member's unique contributions.
Help leaders discover their authentic leadership style and leverage their natural strengths.
Enhance self-awareness and professional identity formation in educational settings.
Streamlined dashboard to manage participants, track progress, and coordinate exercises with bulk upload, automated reminders, and real-time analytics.
Corporations, non-profits, and educational institutions integrate RBSE for executive coaching and leadership training
HR departments and team leaders across all sectors use RBSE to build psychological safety and improve collaboration
Organizations help employees and members discover their strengths during onboarding, transitions, and career planning
Upload class rosters, create groups, and manage multiple cohorts from a single dashboard
Send invitations, reminders, and follow-ups automatically - no manual email management required
Monitor participation rates, story submissions, and completion status across all participants
Downloadable facilitator guides, reflection prompts, and assignment templates for seamless course integration
The RBSE is an extraordinarily rare experience. In life, we almost never gather our social network to celebrate who we are at our best — this usually only happens at graduations, weddings, or funerals. The RBSE delivers a structured way to access this transformative social experience while you're alive to benefit from it.
Uncover strengths that are Effortless (natural to you),Energizing (fuel rather than drain you), and Essential (core to who you are) — but often invisible because they come so naturally. Develop genuine self-assurance and gain clarity during career changes, personal milestones, or when seeking new direction.
Discover where and why you naturally thrive, backed by concrete examples from people who know you best
Learn how to intentionally apply your strengths in new situations, roles, and challenges
Make more confident decisions about opportunities that align with your natural strengths
Strengthen connections with those who contributed, creating lasting bonds through shared appreciation
Join our community of certified facilitators who deliver transformative RBSE workshops and coaching experiences to individuals and organizations.
Complete a two-and-a-half-day Train-the-Trainer (TTT) certification workshop, delivered and managed by our partner EnlivenWork.
Corporate and non-profit leaders, human resource professionals, trainers, coaches, educators, and others who submit an application and are approved to participate.
Administer RBSE workshops and coaching to those who officially register via our website. We manage the data collection process and generate Best Self Reports, while you guide participants through the workshop or coaching experience.
Our comprehensive training equips you with the knowledge and skills to facilitate the RBSE effectively.
Enjoy exclusive resources, ongoing support, and a community of practice to enhance your coaching effectiveness.
Discover how coaches and consultants have successfully integrated the RBSE into their practice.
Choose the path that best fits your needs and goals
$75
Custom pricing
We've designed the RBSE experience to be secure, simple, and supportive
Your data and feedback are secure with enterprise-grade encryption. We've simplified account handling and privacy controls to give you peace of mind.
Our team is ready to assist you at every step. For organizations and cohorts, we offer concierge support to ensure a smooth experience.
We're constantly enhancing the RBSE with upcoming improvements to mobile access, non-English support, and multi-modal input options.
Start your journey of self-discovery and transformation today.