Your partner in designing a more purposeful life and a more powerful team.
Meet Your Partners in Possibility
We’ve all been there—standing at a crossroads, wondering, “What’s next?” or leading a team that has immense talent but just can’t seem to find its rhythm. At Appreciative Advantage, we believe that the most transformative work happens not when we try to fix our weaknesses, but when we intentionally design our lives around our greatest strengths.
Our Story & Philosophy
Founded by Annie Bigley and Jen Guyer-Wood, Appreciative Advantage is a coaching consultancy rooted in the belief that everyone has a unique “advantage” waiting to be harnessed.
We aren’t just coaches; we are your thinking partners. Our approach is built on two world-class frameworks that we’ve spent years mastering:
- Gallup Strengths: To help you identify the innate talents that make you (and your team) exceptional.
- Stanford Life Design: To provide a creative, action-oriented roadmap for navigating transitions and solving complex problems.
How We Support You
We bring a warm, approachable, and highly personalized touch to every engagement. While we work with a diverse range of clients, we have a deep specialty in supporting higher education professionals and women in leadership as they navigate high-stakes environments and meaningful transitions.
- For Individuals: We help you silence the “shoulds” and get clear on your “what’s next.” Whether you are looking to break through a professional plateau or rethink your career path, we help you understand your unique potential and prototype a future that feels authentic to you.
- For Teams & Groups: We help workgroups shift from silos to synergy. By focusing on the collective strengths of the team, we provide the tools to improve productivity, deepen trust, and create a culture where everyone does their best work together.
Our Commitment to You
We know that change can feel daunting. That’s why we lead with empathy and evidence-based strategies. Whether we are coaching you 1-on-1 or facilitating a team workshop, our goal is the same: to help you move past the barriers and into a space of clarity, confidence, and transformative growth.
Are you ready to design your next chapter? Let’s find your advantage.
Connect with me:
Transforming how you work and how you live—through the lens of what’s right with you.
Personalized 1-on-1 coaching
Whether you are navigating a career transition or asking ‘what’s next?’, we partner with you to silence the ‘shoulds’ and rediscover your unique potential. By combining the creative framework of Stanford Life Design with the deep insights of Gallup Strengths, we’ll help you break through barriers and prototype a professional life that aligns with who you truly are. Let’s stop guessing and start designing a life of purpose and clarity.
Transformative team coaching
Move beyond the friction of day-to-day tasks and unlock your group’s collective power. We help teams stop focusing on what’s ‘wrong’ and start harnessing the individual strengths of every member to drive productivity and innovation. Our coaching fosters a culture of trust and synergy, empowering your team to work better together and achieve the transformative results that only a strengths-aligned group can reach.
FAQs
How are the coaching sessions conducted?
Our coaching sessions are conducted online or in-person, ensuring convenience and accessibility for clients worldwide.
What is your coaching process?
Our process is a tailored process and a blend of self-discovery, creative action, and focused strategy. We begin by using the Gallup CliftonStrengths assessment to identify each individual’s natural talents. For individuals, next we apply Stanford’s Life Design principles—emphasizing curiosity, reframing obstacles, and “prototyping” new ways of working or living. For teams, we utilize a variety of tools, resources, strategy sessions, and activities achieve success.
What commitment is required?
Growth is a collaborative effort! For individuals, we typically recommend an initial commitment of [3–6 months] to allow for deep reflection and real-world application. This usually involves bi-weekly sessions and a willingness to do homework and prototyping assignments between meetings. For teams, we offer everything from intensive half-day workshops to ongoing quarterly tune-ups. Our goal is to meet you where you are, ensuring the pace feels sustainable rather than overwhelming.
What results can I expect from Appreciative Advantage coaching?
You can expect to move from a place of uncertainty to a position of intentionality. Because we use a dual-lens approach, the results are both internal (how you feel) and external (how you perform):
- For Individuals: You will walk away with a Strengths-First blueprint of who you are and a clear, prototyped plan for your next chapter. Our clients often report a significant increase in professional confidence, a decrease in burnout, and the ability to make career decisions that align with their authentic selves rather than external pressures.
- For Teams: The result is a shift from “working together” to “thriving together.” You can expect a measurable improvement in team cohesion, clearer communication, and higher productivity. By mapping your team’s collective strengths, we help you eliminate the friction of misunderstood roles and replace it with a culture of mutual appreciation and transformative output.
Ultimately, the result is the Appreciative Advantage: the ability to see and leverage the best of what is already there to create what has never been.
How much does the coaching cost?
Our coaching fees vary based on the program selected and its duration. Contact us directly for a tailored quote.
How do I start with the group or individual coaching process?
To start with the coaching process, simply reach out to us via our “Contact” page. We’ll schedule an initial consultation to discuss your goals, answer any questions, and determine the best coaching plan tailored to your needs.
How do I know if the coaching is working?
We believe in measurable transformation. You’ll know coaching is working when you start to feel a shift in your energy and clarity. For individuals, success often looks like faster decision-making and tangible progress toward your “what’s next.” For teams, you’ll see it in improved communication, a decrease in friction, and a collective ability to hit targets more efficiently. We check in regularly on your specific goals to ensure we are delivering the “Appreciative Advantage” you expect.
Who can benefit from this coaching?
While we work with anyone ready to unlock their potential, our approach is particularly resonant for higher education professionals and women in leadership navigating complex transitions.
Teams: Ideal for workgroups that are talented but siloed, or any team that wants to move from “functional” to “transformative” by valuing what each member brings to the table.
Individuals: Perfect for those feeling “stuck,” facing a career pivot, or wanting to lead with more authenticity.
Consultation
Ready to transform your life?
Schedule your free consultation and find out how mindset coaching can help you.
Appreciative Advantage LLC 