In a world that often pushes us to fix our weaknesses, what if the key to a more fulfilling and successful life is embracing and refining our natural strengths instead? StrengthsFinder is a great resource designed to help you identify and develop those innate strengths. If you haven’t explored it yet, here’s everything you need to know!
You’ve probably been asked to identify your strengths at many points in your career – starting from resume writing as a young graduate. Many people really struggle with this activity. They feel put on the spot, exposed and afraid of appearing boastful or out of touch.
But identifying our strengths is vital for personal growth, career satisfaction and overall well-being. The great news is that there’s a resource to clearly identify and expand on them! If you aren’t familiar with StrengthsFinder, here’s a quick guide.
What is StrengthsFinder?
StrengthsFinder, now officially rebranded as CliftonStrengths offers a fantastic method to help individuals understand the top talents or characteristics that come naturally to them. When recognized
and actualized, these strengths become sources of potential excellence. Instead of focusing on areas of weakness, the tool emphasizes harnessing strengths to improve personal and professional effectiveness.
How Does it Work?
The tool consists of a series of questions that measure recurring patterns of thought, feeling and behavior.
After completing the online assessment, participants receive a personalized report highlighting their top strengths out of 34 possible themes, such as “communication,” “strategic,” “empathy” and “adaptability.”
Each theme represents a core strength that can be leveraged for better performance, stronger relationships and a deeper understanding of oneself. If you do this as a team exercise, it can also help understand strengths across your group which can open up so many possibilities. I’ve done this assessment several times over my career and it’s always enlightening to see the results. My most recent top five were learner, restorative, developer, empathy and achiever. Here’s an example of the description that comes with each of your top five themes:
Learner
You love to learn. The subject matter that interests you most will be determined by your other themes and experiences, but whatever the subject, you will always be drawn to the process of learning. The process, more than the content or the result, is especially exciting for you. You are energized by the steady and deliberate journey from ignorance to competence. The thrill of the first few facts, the early efforts to recite or practice what you have learned, the growing confidence of a skill mastered—this is the process that entices you. Your excitement leads you to engage in adult learning experiences—yoga or piano lessons or graduate classes. It enables you to thrive in dynamic work environments where you are asked to take on short project assignments and are expected to learn a lot about the new subject matter in a short period of time and then move on to the next one. This Learner theme does not necessarily mean that you seek to become the subject matter expert, or that you are striving for the respect that accompanies a professional or academic credential. The outcome of the learning is less significant than the “getting there.”
Benefits of StrengthsFinder
Self-awareness and confidence: Immediate benefits of StrengthsFinder results are enhanced self-awareness and self-esteem. Think about it: If a person has always had a knack for understanding others’ perspectives, seeing “empathy” as a top strength can validate and reinforce that talent. The assessment provides a vocabulary and framework to articulate what one is good at, which can significantly boost confidence.
Career progression: When people lead with their strengths in the workplace, they can experience higher levels of job satisfaction. It also allows workers to better advocate for themselves and engage in rewarding tasks, leading to better performance. Plus, it can help one steer their career in directions that are more aligning, motivating and energizing. (This is how work should feel!)
Enhanced team dynamics: StrengthsFinder has been used in team settings to help people understand each other’s strengths and improve workplace communication. If one office member is strong in strategic thinking while the other is great at execution, the duo would be wise to pair up to plan and implement projects.
Better personal relationships: If those are the results at work, imagine what understanding the strengths of others can do for home and personal life. When people in a community understand what lights each other up, they can communicate better and resolve conflicts more easily.
Growth and development: StrengthsFinder serves as a springboard for continuous personal development and professional development. The insights gained from the assessment can guide a personal growth journey, offering direction on how to cultivate your strengths further. Unlike other assessments that might label a person as a certain “type,” StrengthsFinder encourages ongoing growth, allowing individuals to use their strengths in purposeful ways.
“Each person’s greatest room for growth is in the areas of his or her greatest strength.” –Dr. Donald Clifton
How to Apply StrengthsFinder Insights
To take the online assessment, you do need to purchase the book to get the online access code. Fortunately, it’s not a big investment. Knowledge is power, but integration is vital. Here are some practical ways to apply StrengthsFinder results in various areas of life.
Career advancement: Knowing your innate strengths can help you decide what is needed to excel in your career. For instance, someone with strengths identified as “achiever” and “discipline” in StrengthsFinder may thrive in roles with high productivity and organization, such as project management. On the other hand, someone with “connectedness” as a strength might suit roles in counseling or community building.
Goal-setting: Instead of setting goals based on external expectations, Strengthsfinder results can help one consider what aligns with their natural talents. For example, if “focus”a defined strength, one may be particularly effective at achieving long-term goals that require sustained attention. If “ideation” is a top strength, that person might lean more into their creativity.
Improving productivity: Applying strengths can make the workday feel less like a chore and more like an engaging activity. If “adaptability” is a key strength, for instance, one might excel in environments that require flexibility and quick decision-making. One can use this information to take on roles or tasks that are unpredictable, like event planning or crisis management.
Team collaboration: A team that understands each member’s strengths can work more strategically and harmoniously and reduce misunderstandings. Gallup even offers workshops and resources specifically for teams who want to integrate StrengthsFinder into their daily operations.
Personal development: StrengthsFinder can be a guide for personal growth beyond professional settings. If a person’s top strength is “empathy,” they might find it rewarding to volunteer in community organizations where they can help people on a personal level. Or, if they have “strategic” as a key strength, they can consider ways to develop problem-solving skills by tackling complex challenges in their communities. It can also help a person set boundaries around their gifts to share them when, where and how feels best.
Additional Resources to Learn More
Strengths-Based Leadership by Tom Rath and Barry Conchie
StrengthsFinder 2.0 by Tom Rath
Online communities such as Reddit
StrengthsFinder is more than just a personal assessment—it’s a refreshing tool for unlocking potential and fostering growth by embracing one’s natural abilities. By understanding and applying individual strengths, one can improve self-confidence, career goals, relationships and overall well-being.
Whether one is looking to make the most of their talents or a manager aiming to build a strengths-based team, StrengthsFinder offers practical insights and strategies that can make a real difference.
If you haven’t already, consider taking the StrengthsFinder assessment. It could be the first step toward a more rewarding and strengths-focused approach to life and work, helping you set realistic and fulfilling goals for personal improvement. You can make better decisions about how to spend your time and energy, ensuring that you’re working in ways that feel authentic and satisfying.
Thank you for reading!
Love strengthfinders! It’s been another one of those great tools that have provided insights about myself, but specifically helping me lead others in their strengths.