THE BOOK’S MAIN IDEA: By focusing on your strengths, you can go further, enjoy life more, and contribute to the world in your special way. Strengths Finders 2.0 by Tom Wrath and Gallup walks you through the secrets of how to tap into your strengths and the strengths of others to reach amazing heights in your life.
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Tell us what your strengths are…
Once you have taken the test, share your strengths here and then see how yours compare with other that have shared.
This is a fantastic book to not only help you understand the principle of how building on your strengths rather than working on your weaknesses will get you further in life. It is not only more enjoyable, but will be more effective as well.
The first section of the book is an overview about using your natural talents, called “strengths” in this book, and why you want to focus on building your strengths rather than working on your weaknesses. The second section is a list of the 34 strengths highlighted, explained, and unlocked for you.
My Notes
StrengthsFinder: The Next Generation
Goal: What’s right with people
Working with Clifton
People do better when working on their strengths
Discovered 34 Strengths
Created an assessment
Now millions have used it
More work to do
Employee engagement (being happy at work)
If people don’t focus on their strengths, the costs are heavy
People who DO FUCUS on their strengths
Six Times more likely to be engaged
Three times likely to have a quality of life as well
If your manager…
Ignores you – 40% chance of disengagement
Focus on weaknesses – 22% chance of disengagement
Focus on strengths – 1% chance of disengagement
Focus on strengths = >> Cure disengagement
New in StrengthsFinder 2.0
Still 34 Themes
Faster Assessment and more reliable
Suggested actions to take according to your top 5 themes
Lots of resources to leverage your strengths
ALL ABOUT APPLICATION
Applying your strengths
Makes you happier and more productive
PART I: Finding Your Strengths — An Introduction
The Path of MOST Resistance
The path of most resistance
Flawed philosophy
Focusing on where you are low
Designed to become who we are not
Devote more time focusing on weaknesses rather than strengths
Story of Rudy
Tried really hard to be on Football team
He was not good at football
He only played for a few seconds and made a single tackle (after the game was in the back)
His victory was touching people’s heart – not football
Media makes heroes of those who focus on weaknesses
Overcoming deficits is a significant part of our culture
Books and movies filled with underdog stories
Heroes epitome of American Dream
This UNFORTUNATELY Champions the path of MOST resistance
Slight Edge – quiet heroes play to their strengths and soar
Passion where they are best
Misguided Maxum: You can be anything you want to be if you just try hard enough
Adopting this Maxum means working hard and achieving little
The position Strengths Finder takes
You have strengths
If you work on your weaknesses (places where you don’t have talents), you achieve very little with huge amounts of efforts
If you focus on strengths, you will achieve huge results, happily and with little efforts
Seems heretical
Ben – You can become anything you want, but you are better off being yourself
“You cannot be anything you want to be — but you can be a lot more of who you already are.” – Excerpt From: Tom Rath. “StrengthsFinder 2.0.” iBooks.
Synergizing with others
Story of Hector, the shoe salesman, and Sergio, the marketing and sales expert
Alone they were failures
Together they experienced extraordinary growth
The Strengths Zone
Talent Study
How talent can be applied in a wide variety of roles
All over the world
Having the opportunity to develop strengths more important that success in the role
No opportunity to develop strengths – dread work, negative experience, achieve less, not fulfilling
Conclusion
You need to know and develop your strengths in the roles you play
Why people are not living from strengths
They don’t know their strengths
Your Themes of Talent
People don’t know what they are good at, and they can only perform from their strengths
Language of Strengths
Lots of words to describe what is wrong with people
Need terms to describe what people do well
Project to determine what people do well
100,000 interviews
34 main themes discovered – best attempt at create a common language
There are 100’s of specific themes not included
This doesn’t capture everything
They wanted to keep language manageable
Strengths finder vs. Talents
Strengths finder ACTUALLY MEASURES Talent
Talent is just one of the ingredient in the formula to build strengths
Needed to build strengths:
Talent
Knowledge
Skill
Practice
A Recipe for Strength
Core personality traits, passions, and interests are stable in life
A child’s personality at age 3 is similar to that at age 26
Talents, knowledge, skills, and practice
Without knowledge, skills, and practice Talent goes untapped
It’s easier to add knowledge, skills, and practice to your repertoire
Adding talent (where little exists) is NOT the best use of your time
Formula for Most Super Successful People
Talent X Investment = Strengths
(Investment = adding knowledge, skill, or practice)
Raw talent then serves as multiplier
Look back on the Rudy story
He had little talent, so he had to add tons and tons of effort or investment to achieve something
Everyone is different
We all recognize that people are different
It can sometimes be difficult to discover our talents
We can therefore start with a Theme, this gives us the language to begin thinking of what the talents cover
Using talents
Being aware talents
Build these
Being aware of areas where you have little talent
Move away from this area
Managing Weaknesses
Knowing your areas of lesser talents can be helpful
Being unaware of them can lead to weaknesses
Being aware can help you avoid major roadblocks
Questions to ask
Is it necessary to operate in the area of your lesser talent at all?
If you can avoid it, move away from it
If you can’t
You might need to set up systems to help you manage weaknesses
Partner with others
You can find someone with talents in areas that you are weak in
This enables you to leverage others and others to leverage you to create a synergistic result
Blind Spots
There might be things that your dominant talent leaves behind
You might be naturally blind about issues
Learning what to look for, you can develop strategies to deal with them
The New Assessment
Refined assessments
34 Themes help describe variations
Resources 5000 insights
Strength discovery and action planning guide
Action Planning Guide
Parting Thoughts
Talents and Passions = things we really love to do
Sometimes people never uncover their strengths
“He would have been the world’s greatest general if he had been a general.”
The world will be better off if we follow our strengths
Strengths finder doesn’t anoint you with strengths, it merely helps you discover them
PART II: Applying Your Strengths
This is a list of all 34 themes
Achiever
Activator
Adaptability
Analytical
Arranger
Belief
Command
Communication
Competition
Connectedness
Consistency
Context
Deliberative
Developer
Discipline
Empathy
Focus
Futuristic
Harmony
Ideation
Includer
Individualization
Input
Intellection
Learner
Maximizer
Positivity
Relator
Responsibility
Restorative
Self-Assurance
Significance
Strategic
Woo
The 34 Themes and Ideas for Action
1. Achiever
Achiever
(EXECUTING)
Summary
Explains your drive
Every day, you need to achieve to feel good about yourself
Internal fire burning inside – pushes you to do more and achieve more
Not always logical or focused – but always there
Benefits
Will give you the energy needed to achieve without burning out – work long hours
Jolt you need to do new things… gives you a power supply to keep moving
Don’t require much motivation from others. Set out to achieve own goals.
Limitation
Must learn to live with some discontent
Starting every day back at Zero
Never rest. Always more to do.
Examples
Feeling a need to rack up points every day (driven by to do list)
Helps achieve
Ideas for Action
Good at jobs that allow you to work as hard as you want & measure own productivity
Like being busy. Need to know when you are done. Attach timeline and measurable end points.
Focus on achieving in all areas of life. Achieve with family & friends (relationships).
Build celebration of success into life.
Meetings: Learn objective for meeting and track the progress.
Working with Achiever
Acknowledge successes.
Work directly with them.
2. Activator
Activator
(INFLUENCING)
Summary
Things get done from action – only action is real and can make things happen.
Must act, regardless of whether you know enough or not
Believe: action is the best device of learning (act, look at it, learn from it)
Benefits
Transform ideas into action
Energize plans and ideas of others
Limitations
Process or methodology not always pretty
Examples
Just jumped into things without completely thinking through it (oil drilling)
Experiencing bumping into the wall by self
Ideas for Action
Look to be judged by measurable outcomes
Challenge to have experiences that challenge skills and knowledge
Look for focus or others to help get their ideas going
Be strategic and wise with activator talents
Working with
Pair with thinkers to end the stale mate
Ask this person how to get going, what is the next step…
3. Adaptability
Adaptability
(RELATIONSHIP)
Summary
Live in the moment
Discover things one choice at a time
Very flexible, stays productive when demands pulling in many direction
Benefits
Allows responding willingly at the moment
Likes pressure or need for instance response
Can easily take change or adapt to events (don’t get upset or thrown off)
Limitations
No plans, up for anything, hard to plan or stick to plans
Examples
Love live TV, because you never know what is going to happen
Lives in the moment – whatever you are in the mood for
Ideas for Action
Avoid roles that require predictability
Cultivate reputation as calm or reassuring person
It is about calmly responding to situations
Productive flexibility not “I don’t care” attitude
Don’t let others take advantage of flexibility – they may take over (use guidelines to help you decide when to flex and when to stay firm)
Consider roles where you need to adapt quickly
Look to others for help with planning (shape long-term goals)
Working with
Flexible nature benefits any team – adapts to changes easily
Most productive on short-term assignments (nothing long and drawn out)
4. Analytical
Analytical
(STRATEGIC)
Summary
Challenges other people “Prove it” “Show me why what you are claiming is true”
Insist that people’s theories are sound – objective and dispassionate
Like data because it is objective – like to understand how the data fit together to reveal the truth
Benefits
Gets to the root cause or truth
People may come to you to expose clumsy thinking to analytical/refining mind
Love asking questions to find out more about a subject
Mind is constantly working and producing ideas and analysis
Limitations
Others see it as logical and emotionless
Some annoyed by lack of flexibility or imagination
Others may take skepticism personally
Examples
Innate ability to see patterns before they exist
Break things down to useful components
Claims can be broken down to facts to back it up
Ideas for Action
Find roles to work with data, find patterns, or organize ideas
Have supportive and reliable sources of data
Let people know your ideas or thoughts, communicating thoughts adds value
Must be pushed from theory to practice
Partner with activator
Expand analytical talents: learn more, or volunteer
Working with
Important decisions: need time and information
Must show numbers and accuracy to this person when convincing them of new ideas
Make sure accuracy and time are there
5. Arranger
Arranger
(EXECUTING)
Summary
Conductor, manage all the variable, arranged variables into the best way to get things done
Always looking for the perfect configuration
Confronted with unexpected: jump into confusion of change and find new ways of doing things
Benefits
Keep so many ideas in your head
Willing to shelf well laid plans for a better idea
Weigh values of different options quickly
Limitations
Others may hold to the past or well thought out things
Arranger thing makes everyone rely on you to get things … arranged … quickly
Examples
Good at looking at a complex situation and only see a few good solutions
Get ideas (out of box) to create new solutions
Ideas for Action
Learn goals of co-workers and friends and help them get there
Learn more about people and use this ability to get them in the right spot
Keep track of deadlines, inform people of your progress
Seek complex environments with few constraints
Take the time to clearly explain why your way would be more efficient
Share some of your, “what if…” thinking with them
Working with
This person is excited with complexity and many moving parts
This person can help position people in a team well, too
If something is not working, this person will enjoy figuring out solutions
6. Belief
Belief
(EXECUTING)
Summary
Family oriented, altruistic, spiritual
Beliefs give meaning and satisfaction
Beliefs and values provide consistency
Success is more than money and prestige
Benefits
Friends find you reliable, know where you stand
Consistent set of priorities
Easy to trust
Values are why you work so hard
You can remind people why their work is important – you can motivate them with this vision
Limitations
Work must be meaningful, must matter to you
May be the lowest paid in the group and not even care
May be so caught up in values, might not balance it with career
Examples
Find purpose, and then be happy with it
Purpose is the most important
Ideas for Action
Find work that works with your beliefs
Discover and clarify your values – repeat them
Actively seek roles that match your values
Create a gallery or record of the lives you have influenced for the good
Balance work and commitment to values
Working with
This person will likely be very passionate about the work
Learn about this person’s values and commitments – you need to understand their belief system
7. Comand
Command
(INFLUENCING)
Summary
Leads you to take charge
Once your opinion is formed, and goal is set, you need to share it with others
Not afraid with confrontation – compelled to present facts or truths regardless of harm
Benefits
People will be drawn to you
You have presence, they will hand you the reigns
Whatever needs to be said, you just say it
Limitations
Some may label you opinionated
Sometimes people feel intimidated
Examples
People feared to work with you before, but then understand your strengths
You will likely call people out for breaking the rules
You take charge of the situation, people want you to take charge
Ideas for Action
Always be ready to confront – practice the words to change this urge to effective persuasiveness
Strive to become known as a candid person
Explain that you are upfront because it is uncomfortable to keep things bottled up
Partner with Woo or Empathy talents
Some things do not need to be challenged – avoid obstacles through relationships
Like to wrestle for the reins of power – even if you are not formally in charge, you can influence things to happen
Selling may be a good career for you
Working with
Always ask this person for evaluations of the company, this person will give you a straight answer
Look to this person to get something moving again or jar things up
Never confront this person unless you are 100% ready to follow through
8. Communication
Communication
(INFLUENCING)
Summary
You like to explain, describe, host or teach
You feel a need to bring ideas to life, to liven the idea with images and metaphors
You want your information to survive, to divert their attention, and capture it
Benefits
You can put together powerful word combinations
You can use your words to inspire people to act,
Limitations
Wants to tell stories – use talking to solve problems
Examples
Great at telling stories, share a story to make an impact and deliver a message
Using imagery to help people understand an idea
Ideas for Action
Talk about passionate things and use examples
Do well in roles that require you to capture attention
Collect stories or phrases that resonate with you
Take note on parts of your presentation that people react to
Practice – knowing where you are headed and being prepared will make things natural
Examine the groups that you connect with the best
Frame your ideas – write a book or speak publicly or present
Working with
This person caries on conversation easily
Ask them to come to social events
Let this person tell stories
Use this person to help you communicate ideas
9. Competition
Competition
(INFLUENCING)
Summary
Rooted in comparison – look at the performance
You need to compare and win, you like other competitors, and like winners
Don’t compete for fun, you compete to win
Benefits
Driven by competition
Energized by a realizable goal
Limitations
If you do not win, the achievement feel hollow
Examples
Likes to compete in sports (competitions) that can win
Ideas for Action
Select work environments in which you can measure your achievements
List all the people you currently compete
Turn ordinary tasks into games, you will get more done this way
Let people know that being competitive does not mean feeling good by putting others down, it means deriving satisfaction from reaching new heights
Set up your own competitions
Look for role models
Working with
Use competitive language with this person
Help this person find places where he/she can win – they compete to win
Let them mourn when they lose
10. Connectedness
Connectedness
(RELATIONSHIP)
Summary
Things happen for a reason, you are sure of it
Everyone is part of something larger (collectiveness)
This implies responsibilities
Likes seeing how things are related
Benefits
Value system: Considerate, caring, and loving – sensitive of others
Faith is strong and sustains you
Limitations
Can this person do things alone or operate in an adversarial environment
Examples
Humility is the essence of connectedness
Love to think of the entire group of people involved and contributing
Ideas for Action
Roles in which you listen and counsel
Expand connectedness: start a club or organization
Be a leader in building teams
Move through boundaries
Help people see connections and how they are a part of something bigger
Bring people together and help people look past their boundaries
Working with
Defends social issues strongly – understanding these will develop your relationship with this person
Connect with this person by understanding their point of view
11. Consistency
Consistency
(EXECUTING)
Summary
Balance is important to you
Need to treat people the same – don’t want to see the scales tipped in favor of one or more people
Believe people function best with clear rules and fair and equal opportunities
Benefits
See people as equal
Help everyone get their fair share
Work with ways that rules are applied uniformly across the board
Limitations
Draws attention to people who abuse or take more than their share
You might overemphasize how people get things done and ignore what gets done
Hard to deal with those who bend the rules or individual qualities
Difficulty with change
Examples
Point out when people are being unfair or taking more than giving
Work to make sure everyone gets a fair shot
Give credit where credit is due
Ideas for Action
Make a list of rules of consistencies that you can live from
The clearer you are with these rules, the more comfortable you will be with individuality
Seek to be a force in leveling the playing field
Cultivate a reputation in which you pinpoint those that really deserve credit
Look for ways to accommodate individual differences – partner with maximizer or individualization
Always stand up for what you believe – leverage talents when you need to communicate not so pleasant news
Working with
Be supportive with this person during times of change
Ask this person to pinpoint the accomplishments of others
12. Context
Context
(STRATEGIC)
Summary
You look back to the past to find answers for the present
Think about earlier (simpler) times to understand the meaning, the initial blueprints
Understanding of the past brings confidence (because you understand the beginning)
Benefits
Have strong sense of how things were and should be
Relates to people by their past background
Learn well from precedents
Limitations
Takes time to orient with changes or new situations
Examples
Avoid repeating the mistakes of the past
Relates people to what had happened to the in the past
Connect with a company or people in a group by understanding what they went through
Ideas for Action
Mantra: “Those who don’t understand the past are bound to repeat it”
Help others plan for the future by understanding the past (learn from past)
Collect stories from past
Partner with those with strong future or strategic talents
Fascination with what could be can stop Context from getting mired in the past
Understanding of Context from the Past will stop Futuristic or Strategic from repeating mistakes of the past
Accept change – you don’t need to live in the past; you can identify the aspects of the past that must be discarded; you can also use this information to understand what can be
Reading historical novels or biographies will give you valuable insights and information
Working with
During meetings, the Context person will be able to help the team understand what has been done – thinks in terms of case studies
Allow them to talk about their backgrounds
13. Deliberative
Deliberative
(EXECUTING)
Summary
Careful, vigilant, private person; the world is an unpredictable place (there are risks)
Carefully understand a situation and understand where things can go wrong
Life is a minefield; Walk with care
Benefits
Draws risks out in the open where they can be assessed and reduced
Asks questions, looks at variables, gets things done right
Limitations
Others may not like the carefulness or time that it takes to tread lightly
Others may think of this as a fear of action or tentativeness
Examples
Reducing the number of variables
Negotiation – likes to get all the small variables out of way
Prone to asking questions like, “How is this going to work? How will this play out?” – asking questions helps everyone prepare better
Double check everything – need to know things are solid
Ideas for Action
Good judgement – legal work, consulting, help others see through their decision
Explain process of careful decision making
Use these talents to handle things cautiously – there are advantages of carefully taking steps especially in times of change
Build friendships slowly, but take pride in this – check people out carefully
Partner with Activator, Command, or Self Assurance talents; together make decisions (sound decisions) – call a “consideration period”
Give yourself permission to withhold your opinion until you get all the facts
Working with
Put this person with teams that seem to be impulsive
Ask this person to identify land mines or problems that could arise
This person will not likely have many friends, so don’t take it personally if they keep you at arms length
14. Developer
Developer
(RELATIONSHIP)
Summary
See the potential in others (this is all you see)
No one is fully formed
Always looking for people to grow (you can clearly see signs of people growing)
Benefits
Goal is to help people experience success, and help them grow
People will seek you out for assistance and encouragement
Limitations
You will be compelled to help more people than is possible to do
You may also over-invest in losing causes (people not progressing)
Examples
Love to see people reach their potential
Derive pleasure in watching people discover their talents and do things they never thought possible
Help people move in the right direction
Ideas for Action
Make a list of people you have helped learn and grow
Seek roles where you can identify and encourage growth
Tell people ways they have succeeded – thank people that have helped you develop
Partner with strong individualization challenge (so you can identify where people actually have talent) – Encourage people to find roles that fit
Acknowledge that you can’t mentor or help people – just take advantage of short opportunities to make a difference
Pay attention to your own development, so you can help others grow, too
Working with
Point out to this person where he or she has helped others excel
Find out from this person who has developed and deserves praise
Ask this person how you have grown
15. Discipline
Discipline
(EXECUTING)
Summary
Your world needs to be orderly and planned. Everything is broken down and ordered
You want to feel control, routines, timelines, and methods
Benefits
Instinct ability to maintain progress and productivity
Limitations
Others may resist your need for order
Dislike of surprises
Controlling behaviors that box people in
Mistakes may depress you
Others will confuse discipline and order with rigidity
Examples
Time management courses (personal development)
You use tools (lists, reminders, schedulers…) to get things done
Use lists to keep on track
Love efficient filing system – works well
Keep track of everything, so you can do your work
Ideas for Action
You can help others understand that maintaining order helps you get things done more efficiently
Don’t hesitate to check as often as you want to make sure things are right
Must find ways to move through failures and the lack of others’ methods
Move beyond annoyance – focus on the results of others, not their methods
You love looking over details; allow yourself to – you are a perfectionist at heart (use it)
Create systems and methods to improve efficiencies – look for opportunities to create this
Invest in furniture and organization systems
Timelines are important; create a step by step plan – help keep everyone on task
Help others understand that your discipline helps you pack more into your day, be more efficient, and get more done
Working with un-disciplined people: ask them to clarify deadlines and expectations, so you can accommodate them
Seek roles and responsibility with structure – create systems: people will appreciate predictability
Working with
Let them know deadlines early – they will likely start getting to work early
Don’t surprise them with sudden changes (keep them in the loop)
Disorganization will annoy this person
16. Empathy
Empathy
(RELATIONSHIP)
Summary
You can sense the emotions of others and feel what they are feeling, see the world from their eyes
You don’t necessarily agree with, condone, or support (that’s sympathy) – you merely understand
Benefits
Instinctive ability to understand, hear the unvoiced words
Help people find the right words to express their feelings, give words to their emotional life
People are drawn to you
Limitations
Temptation to allow empathy (good) turn to sympathy (not necessarily good)
Others may see you as a bleeding heart
These feelings of empathy may overwhelm you
Examples
Are able to really hear someone, and often act as an intermediary, and help people be heard
Likes to ask, “What would this person feel about this, or what would she like to say about…”
Can feel whether people are engaged or connected
Ideas for Action
Help others understand when someone is having a difficult time
Understand someone’s emotional estate
Partner with someone with strong command or activator talents to take action
Help you to take action even though it might hurt other’s feelings
Act as confidant and allow people to bring their problems to you – use your discretion and desire to be helpful
These feelings of empathy may overwhelm you
Create boundaries and something at the end of the work day to signal that work is over
Buffer your emotions by putting up time off
Partner with another Empathy to check your feelings and gauge the feelings of others
Empathy is especially important in trying times
Witnessing happiness in others brings you pleasure
Intuitions may be very valuable – take note of them
Working with
Ask this person to help you understand others
Before making changes, ask this person how he and others he knows will help
This person may be able to sense how others feel and what they are missing
17. Focus
Focus
(EXECUTING)
Summary
Need a clear destination
Set goals each year, month, week, and day – goals serve as the compass
Focus forces you to evaluate whether actions help you move toward your goal
Benefits
Focus forces you to become efficient
You keep everyone on point
If something doesn’t help you move to your destination, it is not worth your time
Limitations
Feel frustrated with delays or things that get in the way
Getting things done is sometimes allowed to take priority over feelings or sensitivities of others
Examples
Efficiency is important – getting things done quickly is valuable
Always sorting out priorities – figuring out the quickest route to the end goal – getting rid of unessential things
Able to keep people focused on the vision and keep bringing people back to the goal
Surgical shopper
Ideas for Action
Include timelines and measurements with your goals – proof of progress
Function independently – need little supervision
Help others set goals
At the end of meetings summarize what was decided and what actions need to be done
Allow others to act, think, or talk differently – allow this and pay attention
Set goals for your personal life to create balance in life
Schedule priorities and stick to that schedule
Reject tasks and projects that do not align with your mission
Write down your aspirations – take more control of your life
Working with
Involve a Focus person in projects with critical deadlines
When this person is in a meeting, try to follow agenda (idle talk annoys this person)
Be aware that getting the work done for this person takes priorities over people’s sensitivities
18. Futuristic
Futuristic
(STRATEGIC)
Summary
The future fascinates you (it pulls you forward and inspires you)
Wouldn’t it be great if…
You get energized by visions of the future
Benefits
People look to you to get a vision of the future – you can paint it for them and help inspire them
Make your vision of the future as vivid as possible, it will make people latch on to that inspiration
Inspirational visions of what could and should be
Limitations
The present is sometimes too frustrating and sometimes people are too pragmatic
Examples
Always says, “Did you ever think about… I wonder if we could…”
No such thing as the status quo – you either move forward or backward – need to free from traditions and create a new future
Envision ideas and visions for a better future – redefining how things should be done
Ideas for Action
Roles in which you contribute your ideas of the future to others
Share your ideas about the future
Keep describing the vision of the future to others
Partner with Activator – helps remind you to create the future by today’s action
Describe the future in vivid details for others to see
Break down lofty visions into models, steps, and actionable links to where we are now
Need to provide logical support in real possibility
Surround yourself with people who are eager to put your ideas in motion
Read articles about science, tech, etc. to fuel imagination
Working with
This person lives for the future – ask them to share their vision with you
Talk with this person often about what could be
Help this person make the visions of the future as VIVID as possible
19. Harmony
Harmony
(RELATIONSHIP)
Summary
Look for areas of agreement (hold conflict to a minimum)
Steer people toward harmony and look for consensus and support (belief)
Hold your peace in the higher goal of consensus
Benefits
You help others come together and get along
Limitations
Tempting to give in to all your own objectives and allow others to overrun you
Avoid temptation to run away from conflicts and leave matters unresolved
Examples
Likes and gets along with people
Doesn’t irritate easily – take the form of the vessel in which she is poured
Just allows difference of opinions and understanding to form a consensus
Peacemaker
Ideas for Action
Ask two disagreeing parties to share their thoughts – get the issues out, so you are more likely to come to a consensus
At times allowing others to speak may actually create disharmony
Some people with Achiever may get frustrated with all the talk and no action – for instance
Don’t hesitate to jump in and turn the conversation around to a practical track
Avoid roles that are confrontational or adversarial
Partner with command or activator person – this person can help you confront conflicts head on
Help others be more engage in team projects
Working with
Steer this person away from conflict
Keep conversation on practical matters
This person will help others who are in disagreement find common ground and get along
20. Ideation
Ideation
(STRATEGIC)
Summary
You are fascinated by ideas, concepts, connections
Looking at the world through new angles, views, and find
Derive a jolt of energy when a new idea comes to you – ideas are thrilling
Benefits
Driven by ideas – they give you energy
Limitations
Can be distracted by thinking
Tend to get bored easily
Examples
Comes up with explanation to describe why the world is the way it is
The idea of each piece of a whole, function something fills, needs to fix problems
Ideas for Action
Seek roles where you can contribute ideas
Overcome boredom with games stimulations
Finish thoughts and ideas before you communicate them – others will dismiss the ideas not fully formed
Edit or filter ideas before sharing them discard ideas that won’t work or are impractical
Understand when and where you get your new ideas (read, think, and ponder to grow ideas and materials for ideas) – brainstorm with others
Partner with Analytical – they will question and test your ideas
Working with
This person enjoys the power of words that captures ideas – these stimulate their thinking
Make the most of this person’s ability to create
Feed this person information to come up with new ideas
21. Includer
Includer
(RELATIONSHIP)
Summary
Philosophy – stretch the circle wider. Expand the group, so that as many people as possible can enjoy the support
Each of us should be included
Avoid people and groups that exclude people
Cast few judgments
Benefits
Instinctively accepting person
Looks for ways to include people – fundamentally, we are all the same
Engages people who are quiet
Natural capacity to truly care for all people
Limitations
Avoids groups that exclude people
Becomes friends with people almost too fast – including some people who have issues
Examples
Invite others to play or participate
Makes quick friends and works out ways to see the good in those people
Good at finding opportunities to bring people together
Finds people on the sideline and pulls them in
Ideas for Action
Good in roles representing people who are not being heard – satisfaction comes from helping them be included
Good in roles working with people and making everyone feel important
Look for opportunities to bring people together and help people get to know other people
Help everyone find common ground
Let others know they can call on you to step in to help with problematic individuals
Partner with activator or command talents to deliver bad news that may hurt someone’s feelings
People relate to each other through you (you keep people connected to each other’s)
Working with
Group functions – ask this person to make sure that everyone is included
This person might discover potential markets not being reached or served
This person will make sure you are a part of the conversation
22. Individualization
Individualization
(RELATIONSHIP)
Summary
Intrigued by the distinct qualities of the person – focus on the differences, style, motivation, ways of thinking
Hear one-of-a-kind stories of each; tailor everything differently to others
It is appropriate, just, and effective to treat everyone differently
Benefits
Keen observer of everyone’s unique strengths – can help pull out the best in people
The secret to great teams is casting to individual strengths, so that everyone can do a lot of what they do well
Ability to see people as unique individuals
People will look to you to explain the motivations and actions of others
Limitations
Some may see you as playing favorites, treating people unequal, or being unfair to some
Examples
Personally, takes care of people’s individual needs – meet with people when they need it
See what is in people’s minds – what makes them tick or what they are thinking of
Can easily identify what kind of a person someone is
Ideas for Action
Ideal roles are those where the individualization talents can be used and appreciated: counseling, teaching, or selling
Become an expert in describing your own strengths and styles
Help others plan and design a future tailored to them and what they do best by asking them questions
Help others understand the benefits of treating others differently to those who like equality – explain your rationale and philosophy
Can relate to people’s stories, and use these stories when expressing ideas to others to make your point more effectively
Use your gift to identify differences in data, individuals, opportunities
Working with
This person can help you see the world through the eyes of another
This person can help you identify actions tailored for different individuals
Finds so many things interesting – the world is exciting because of its infinite variety
Like doing things where you learn or collect new things
Stores these things away – never know when or why you might need them – not comfortable with throwing anything away
Benefits
Collects tangible things and information
Naturally soaks up information like a sponge
Limitations
Could collect far too many things – collects garbage and trivial information
Examples
Wants to know everything – makes a game of finding the answers to questions
Loves the internet and finding information to almost anything
Ideas for Action
Jobs involving collecting new information every day: teaching, journalism, research…
Devise a system to store and easily recall/locate information
Partner with dominant focus or discipline talents to stay on track
Remember input needs output. Find groups or individuals that can benefit from the information and things you collect – be intentional about sharing them (don’t be afraid to position yourself as an expert)
Information needs to be leveraged, turned into knowledge, and taken advantage of
Identify areas of specialization and actively seek more information about that
Schedule time to read information that stimulates you (collect new vocabulary words)
Working with
Keep this person posted on the latest news – Find common interests, share information and build a relationship with this person that way
In meetings, ask this person for related information to leverage his knowledge
24. Intellection
Intellection
(STRATEGIC)
Summary
You like to think, mental activity, exercising muscles of the brain
Enjoys time alone for musing and reflection – you are your own best companion
Benefits
Mental activity may be focused
Mental Hum: Introspection may lead to pragmatic maters, goals, tasks of the day…
Limitations
Mental activity may lack focus
Discontent may come from comparing what you are doing with the thoughts you conceive
People may think you are disengaged when you close the door or spend time alone
Examples
Love people, but like lots of solitude to allow focus to simmer with something
Need to have noise around him to occupy brain in order to concentrate better
Solitary confinement calmed and strengthened this person – time to think about things that are important to you
Ideas for Action
Let ideas simmer
Begin or continue studies in philosophy, literature, or psychology – enjoy subjects that stimulate your thinking
List ideas in a log or diary
Deliberately build relationship with other big thinkers
Help others understand that valuing time alone is simply your thinking style not a reflection on the value placed on relationships
Get involved in the beginning of projects so you can see the thought train and progression from start to finish (you enjoy seeing things begin and the ideas travel along)
Engage people in intellectual debate – but reserve debate for people who are keyed to it. Find people who like to talk about the same issues you do. Encourage others in dialogue and encourage them to use their full intelligence. There will be some that find this intimidating, and will need time before put on the spot
Schedule time for thinking – this can be energizing for you. Take time to write.
Working with
Don’t hesitate to challenge this person’s thinking – they will take it as a sign that her ideas are valuable and you are paying attention to her
When you need things to be evaluated, ask this person to read them and ask them what he or she thinks
Capitalize on the fact that thinking stimulates this person, when you need something thought through or figured out, ask this person to think it through and uncover a detailed explanation
25. Learner
Learner
(STRATEGIC)
Summary
You love to learn – (the subject is determined by other things)
Loves the process of learning (ignorance to competence)
Don’t need to be an expert, it just the joy of getting there (learning more important than knowledge)
Not necessarily the most intelligent, just loves to soak up information and skills
Not curious in broad sense – just likes to hone in on topics and learn more
Benefits
Takes advantage of adult learning experiences
Limitations
May not necessarily be focused or useful
May lose track of time when immersed in something you are learning
Examples
Not feel like learning enough on the job. Take up a new hobby and learn a new skill.
Get a reputation for voraciously soaking up information – learning new things (being an expert is not important, just the joy of learning new stuff)
Ideas for Action
Loves assignments that take on new subjects and requires to learn a lot in a short period of time
Find learning time, schedule learning sessions that will not be interrupted by important and urgent things
Develop ways to track your learning
Seek roles that require technical competence, especial in a field that changes and where your knowledge needs to be updated
Might excel in consulting role, where you need to learn lots quickly
Honor desire to learn – take advantage of adult learning opportunities wherever you can get them
Working with
Help this person find new ways to learn and feed off the motivation that comes from learning more in the target area
Help this person track their learning and even consider rewarding milestones
26. Maximizer
Maximizer
(INFLUENCING)
Summary
Excellence is the measure
Below average to above average is not rewarding
Transforming from Strong to Superb takes less effort and is more rewarding
Strengths fascinate you. You search them out.
Benefits
You can identify strengths – rapid growth, learning, un-tutored excellence
Feel compelled to nurture the strength to excellence – polished to a shine
Limitations
Others see your focus on strengths as discriminating (you choose to spend time on strengths)
Don’t want to work on being well-rounded or grow in areas where there is little or no talent
Don’t like working with people who are so far away (would rather work with people who are closer to excellence)
People might think you are complacent when you ignore areas where you don’t have strengths and focus on areas where you do
Examples
Ask people what they like about themselves – what they are good at “Let’s focus on the attribute you like about yourself.”
Excited to work with people and projects that just need refinement and adjustments to be amazing
Like working in roles where you use the strengths and avoid the things that you are not good at
Ideas for Action
Seek roles where you are helping people succeed: coaching, mentoring, teaching, consulting…
Help people describe what they do best – measure the performance in others to identify strengths
Focus on your greatest talents – keep working on strengths in your greatest areas
Partner with a problem solver (or anyone else who has a strength you don’t) – Partner with Restorative
Explain to others why you spend time working on things you are good at rather than improving what you are not good at
Don’t try to fix what is broken, strengthen what is working well
Keep focus on long-term relationships and goals
Study Success – spend time with those who have found success
Working with
This person is interested in making the most of things that work
Rather than continual problem solving, look to improve systems and people
Focus on strengths with this person
27. Positivity
Positivity
(RELATIONSHIP)
Summary
Generous with praise and light heartedness
It is good to be alive, work can be fun
Never lose your sense of humor
Benefits
You make the world of others look better
You lighten the spirits of others and celebrate achievement
So passionate about talking and sharing things with people
Limitations
Some cynics reject your positivity as unrealistic
Some negative people will unload on you
Examples
Single out one or two people and make them feel particularly special
Loves creating buzz – tells everything about some new or awesome thing
Love being a positive person
Ideas for Action
Will excel in any role that paid to highlight positive: teacher, leadership, sales, entrepreneurial
Enthusiasm used to provide impetus to keep others moving
Plan celebrations to capitalize on positive outlook and support others
Explain to others that enthusiasm is not naivety – positivity is grounded in reality
Show appreciation of other in specific, tangible ways – help others see what is going well with them
Insulate yourself from whiners and complainers and negative people
Working with
Tap into this person’s enthusiasm, positivity, drama, and energy
Although this person is not always in a good mood, he can make others enjoy their work
Does not fix negative people – just energizes positive people in need of a spark
28. Relator
Relator
(RELATIONSHIP)
Summary
Attitude toward relationships – brings you toward people you ALREADY know
Derive pleasure and strengths from being around close friends
Understand feelings, goals, and dreams of people near you
Benefits
Gift for developing relationships and connecting with others – enjoy the company of good, close friends
Trust yourself to the other person, takes risks, and move steps toward other people
Values genuine relationships
Becomes a catalyst for trusting relationships
Limitations
People might take advantage of your wiliness to connect and serve
Examples
Selective about relationships – not looking for new friends
When reaches past the threshold – feels compelled to go deeper and deeper
True friends are different than acquaintances
Ideas for Action
Find workplace where friendships are encouraged (not a formal workplace)
Learn as much as you can about the people you meet –
Become a catalyst for trusting relationships
Let your caring show – find people to mentor others, stay in contact with friends, arrange events to grow together – put yourself out there
Make time – quality moments, schedule activities for those close ones
Working with
This person enjoys developing genuine bonds
Tell this person that you care about them – they will want to know where they stand
Trust this person with secrets – they will not betray your trust!
29. Responsibility
Responsibility
(EXECUTING)
Summary
You take ownership to anything you commit to
You feel emotionally bound to see things through to completion – your reputation is on the line
Apologies, excuses, rationalizations are not acceptable
Every worthy project needs someone to accept responsibility for it
Reputation is very important
Benefits
You always seek to follow through on your word (and if need be, make it up when you can’t–restitution)
People know that things will get done when given to you – people will come to you
Limitations
Willingness to volunteer will lead you to take on more than you can handle
May bend backward making things right for everyone involved (can’t separate business ethics from personal ethics)
Examples
When something happens not according to what you promised, you seek to make good on your promise by fixing things
Tend to volunteer for everything, but must realize that God (or others) are responsible for some things
Difficult to live two standards when personal ethics clash with business ethics
Ideas for Action
Describe your sense of responsibility, need to finish things, drive to keep promises, and desire to always make things right
You thrive on responsibility and you can deal with it
Align with others who also thrive on responsibility
Tell your manager, he/she doesn’t need to check in with you until the end
Be selective – Learn to say no. Ask for more responsibility for those things that are important to you (carefully manage your responsibilities and balance them with your resources)
Partner with Focus or Discipline. They can help you stay on task and avoid being overloaded.
Create metrics and goals to make sure you deliver on expectations
Working with
Living up to commitments is important to this person, so this person may not work well with those who don’t value keeping commitments.
This person doesn’t like to trade quality to speed. Don’t rush him/her.
Talk about quality first.
Help this person not to take on too much.
30. Restorative
Restorative
(EXECUTING)
Summary
You love to solve problems. It energizes you. You love finding solutions.
You enjoy bringing things back into life, discovering the issues, solving them, and fixing it.
Benefits
You have a skill of fixing things, and solving problems
A rush in fixing things
Limitations
Hard to resist fixing things for others and creating dependency
Feel defeated when a problem remains unresolved
Examples
Likes things like writing and working on programs
Likes jobs where you solve problems
Working on projects might lead to satisfaction or frustration
Ideas for Action
Might enjoy jobs where things need to be solved: programmer, medicine, consulting, customer service (a field that requires exceptional skill or knowledge)
Let others know you enjoy fixing problems
You can help those who shy away from problems
You can fix yourself – build and develop yourself
Let other people solve their own problems, this can hinder their learning
Leverage your talent to prevent problems before they occur
Working with
Ask this person for insights when a situation or problem arises – this person will respond in a professional resourceful way
This person may feel defeated when a problem remains unresolved. Help him/her through it.
31. Self-Assurance
Self-Assurance
(INFLUENCING)
Summary
Similar to self-confidence (deep belief that you are able, able to take risks, take on challenges)
You have faith in your strengths – you are able to deliver…
Benefits
Confidence in both abilities and judgment
Sees your contribution to the world as distinct
Authority and Accountability – you alone have the final say on how to do and act in your world
You have an aura of certainty – not easily persuaded
Limitations
Can be stubborn
Hard to put your point of view into words
Others might see you as self-righteous
Examples
Makes decisions and sticks to them – likes decisions they make
Confidence provides support and encouragement to others
Ideas for Action
Look for situations where no rule book exists
At your best when called upon to make many decisions. It can sometimes
Help others see your point of view – let others know that even if you are confident, you still want to hear their ideas
Self-confidence can be VERY persuasive – seek roles in leadership, sales, coaching, etc. …
Partner with others who have strong strategic, deliberative, or futuristic strengths
Can be decisive in the midst of chaos – your confidence can set others at ease
Set ambitious goals and don’t hesitate to reach for goals others see as impossible
Don’t need lots of direction and support from others
Working with
Give this person leeway in making decision – doesn’t want or need hand-holding
Let this person be in control of his/her world
If this persons is overstepping or over claiming, point it out to them immediately
32. Significance
Significance
(INFLUENCING)
Summary
You want to be very significant in the eyes of other people
Want to be recognized, heard, stand out, and be known
Need to be admired as credible, professional and successful
Benefits
Associates with others that are credible, professional, and successful
Intense yearnings
Life is filled with goals, achievements, and qualifications
These yearnings drive you onward – this keeps pulling you upward and keeps you reaching
Limitations
Might seem conceited and egotistical
Others might label you as a big-talker if you don’t deliver on your goals
Self-esteem is in other people’s hands – problems that arise with the need to be liked or admired
You tend to fear failure
Examples
Believes that it’s okay to have power, pride, and a big ego – just drive it in the right direction
Has a feeling that you are special – loves the pressure of standing out (people will notice and pay attention to you)
Feels like they are on stage – want to stand out as the best, win awards, etc.
Ideas for Action
Choose jobs where you can decide you own direction and determine your own tasks
Reputation is important – decide what it will be and tend to it
Share your dreams and achievements with others
Stay focused on performance
Look for opportunities that put you on the center stage
Leading teams puts you at your best
Make a list of goals and dreams and review it often – it will inspire you
Accept that you might fear failure – use this as a motivation to make sure your performance matches your claims
The need to be liked or admired can be problematic, but there is nothing wrong with being liked or admired
Working with
Be aware of this person’s need for independence
This person thrives on meaningful recognition
Give this person the opportunity to stand out and be known
33. Strategic
Strategic
(STRATEGIC)
Summary
Enables you to sort through the clutter and find the best rout
Not a skill that can be taught, it is a distinct way of thinking (special perspective)
Benefits
See patterns when others see complexity
You can see around obstacles (discard paths that don’t get you there)
Build a strategy after analyzing the paths
Can predict what others do and plan how to deal with each move
Limitations
May be too focused on goals to the exclusion of important things
Awareness of possible danger might be viewed as negativity by some
Others might feel strategic thinking is an attempt to belittle their ideas
Examples
Can always see the consequences and what’s around the bend (while others are focused on inconsequential marker or data points)
Loves logic problems – always playing out things to see where they lead
Able to see an opportunity where others don’t, and easily gets ready
Ideas for Action
Fully reflect on goals you want to achieve – schedule musing time
Can see things that others can’t – plan your range of responses in detail
Contribute your strategic thinking to a group that does important work – you can be a leader
Strategic thinking is necessary to keep ideas moving toward goals rather than deteriorating
Because you can see obstacles, you can provide these warnings to help others
Be a resource for consultation for those that are stumped or hindered
When others think you are focusing too much on obstacles, share with them not only the presence of a potential problem, but also a solution
Help others understand that your strategic thinking is not an attempt to belittle, but to understand the situation
Trust your insights and intuition and use them to secure your future
Partner with strong activator to put action to ideas – be involved with innovative projects
Working with
Involve this person in planning sessions
Give this person ample time to think through the situation
Share successful strategies and case studies that have worked in your field with this person
34. Woo
Woo
(INFLUENCING)
Summary
WOO stands for Winning Others Over
You enjoy the challenge of meeting other people and getting them to like you
Benefits
Strangers (are not intimidating) they are energizing – you want to strike up conversations with people and learning things about them
Enjoy breaking the ice and learning about new people – you get to know them and move on
Can easily find the common ground with people they meet
Limitations
Might not have many friends, but friendly to many people
Others might mistake your need to be friendly with insincerity
Quick to meet and greet and move on might strike others and phony or not genuine
Examples
Make friends with even the most random of strangers
Not really have lots of friends, but has lots of connections
Can even be a bit shy at time, but rather like putting people at ease
Ideas for Action
Choose a job where you can interact with people daily
Tend to your personal network by interacting with people often – create a file of people you know, etc. Include details about that person
Join organizations where you can network, committees, etc.
Find the words to explain to people that networking is part of your style
Partner with dominant relator or empathy talents – this person can solidify the relationships that you begin
You have the ability to take the pulse of your surroundings and open doors – start conversations that engage others
The first moments of social engagements are crucial – try to be the first person that people meet, which will help put them at ease
Practice ways to charm and engage others – even researching people before you meet them so you can build on their common interest
Working with
Help this person meet new people every day
She can put strangers at ease and help them feel comfortable
This person can help you extend your own network
This person values having a wide group of friends – don’t take it personally when this person meets you then quickly moves on
VFAQ (VERY Frequently Asked Question)
Having taken 1.0, should you take 2.0? – Both results are valid – 2.0 just has more resources
If you take the same version of Strengths Finder, you may have slight variations, but most of them will remain the same.
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