Stärken

Stärken is the plural form of the German noun Stärke and is used to refer to strengths, strong points, or capacities. It describes positive attributes of a person, a group, an object, or an organization, and it is often paired with Schwächen in discussions about capabilities and performance.

Etymology and meaning: Stärke denotes power, force, or measure of intensity, with Stärken as its plural. The term is widely used across contexts to express what makes someone or something capable or advantageous. In everyday language, Stärken often appear in assessments of abilities and in planning or evaluation processes.

Usage and contexts: In personal or professional settings, one speaks of Stärken to highlight competencies, for example, “Zu meinen Stärken gehören Teamfähigkeit und Zuverlässigkeit.” In education and research, Stärken are discussed alongside Schwächen in self-assessments, performance reviews, and development plans. In business contexts, the concept is closely related to Kernkompetenzen and to the strengths identified in SWOT-Analysen. In science and engineering, Stärken can refer to the strength or robustness of a component, system, or method.

Morphology and related terms: Stärken is a noun; the corresponding verb is stärken, meaning to strengthen. The opposite concept is Schwächen, referring to weaknesses or limitations. Related concepts include Stärke (singular) and phrases like die Stärken eines Systems or die Stärken der Mannschaft.

See also: Stärke, Schwächen, SWOT-Analyse, Kernkompetenzen.