Discover Your Strengths
Ranked #3,458 in Healthy Living, #63,363 overall | Donates to Squidoo Charity Fund
Take the Strengths Finder Quiz
Research from the Gallup organization shows that the most effective leaders are those who understand and focus on their strengths. That is why they developed the strengths finder quiz.
Strengths in this case refer to your natural talents, which you develop by adding knowledge and skills.
There is nothing wrong with adding knowledge and skills in areas that are not your natural talents but you won't get as much bang for your buck. Building on your natural talents will help you to soar!
On this page, I will point out books that offer the strengths finder quiz and also tell of my own personal experience with the quiz.
Marcus Buckingham, the co-author of the book Now, Discover Your Strengths, spent many years as a researcher for the Gallup Organization and is now a speaker in great demand.
The Gallup Organization offers a similar book by Tom Rath, called StrengthsFinder 2.0.
Image Credit: talent feedback cards by cliveawilson
How to Discover Your Strengths
At the back of each Discover Your Strengths book is a code that can be used once to take an online 45-minute test. You must buy the book to take the test!
For each question you are asked to rank two statements according to which one you relate to most and you have 20 seconds to answer. The time limit helps in not over-thinking the answer. We were told by our facilitator that if we did not relate to either of the statements to leave the question blank. If we related to both equally, give a neutral answer. The scores take into account both situations.
Once you are finished the test, you will receive a Signature Themes report which presents your five (out of 34) most dominant themes of talent. They are ranked in order. The book then explains the themes in detail. For a list of the 35 themes and a short description of each, visit Wikipedia.
If you are interested in taking the test, you will need to buy this book or Strengthsfinder 2.0, which can be found further on this page. Strengthsfinder 2.0 is an updated book by the Gallup organization that gives a little more extensive final report.
Now, Discover Your Strengths
Amazon Price: $7.98 (as of 05/31/2012)
List Price: $30.00
Do You Know Your Own Strengths?
My Top 5 Signature Themes
Out of 34 themes,
these were my top 5.
Connectedness
One of the signature themes
People with this theme believe that all things happen for a reason and that we are all connected.
While we are all individuals, at the same time, we are part of something larger. This something larger may be God, the collective unconscious, spirit, or energy, depending on your own belief system. Feeling connected implies certain responsibilities. We believe that whatever we do to others we also do to ourselves. This awareness defines our value system.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jurvetson/ / CC BY 2.0
Maximizer
One of the signature themes
Maximizers strive for excellence in everything they do. They are fascinated by strengths in themselves and others. And once a strength is discovered, they nurture it.
These people are selective about who they spend time with. They like to be around others who are developing their strengths too. They avoid those who focus on weaknesses, which they feel is an unproductive use of time.
Intellection
One of the signature themes
These people really like to think. They like mental activity of any kind, and tend to have a multitude of interests. Time alone is important to these types for contemplation and reflection. They get along quite well by themselves and are never bored.
Deliberative
One of the signature themes
These people are private and careful. To them, the world can be unpredictable and they sometimes worry too much.
They take life seriously and have a certain reserve about them. They are not ones to talk about personal matters except with very close friends and really don't care what others think of them.
Input
One of the signature themes
These types are curious and inquisitive, constantly collecting information-words, facts, books, and ideas. This comes from their many interests. There are so many things to learn, and although the information they collect may not be immediately useful, there may come a time when they need it.
TALENT + KNOWLEDGE + SKILLS
= STRENGTH
How am I putting my strengths to work?
The best thing about taking this test was looking back on my life and seeing the invisible thread leading me to where I am now.
I seem to take on projects that allow me to use the vast quantities of information I collect and connect it in a way that is useful for others. To me, this confirms that I am working with my strengths. I need to continue to have time for collecting information and for contemplation. Then I need to share what I have learned. No wonder I love writing on Squidoo!
I plan to focus on these strengths and continue to develop them through writing and marketing online.
Strengthsfinder 2.0
by Tom Rath of the Gallup Organization
StrengthsFinder 2.0
Amazon Price: $10.37 (as of 05/31/2012)
List Price: $24.95
More Book Recommendations
for discovering your strengths
Vote for your favorites!
Soaring on Your Strengths: Discover, Use, and Brand Your Best Self for Career Success by Robin Ryan
Robin Ryan's groundbreaking new book is designed t more...0 points
Discover Your Inner Strength by Kimberly Alyn, Stephen R. Covey, Brian Tracy, Ken Blanchard
Discover Your Inner Strength brings together twenty more...0 points
MotherStyles: Using Personality Type to Discover Your Parenting Strengths by Janet Penley, Diane Eble
The antidote to perfection mothering-an innovative more...0 points
Go Put Your Strengths to Work: 6 Powerful Steps to Achieve Outstanding Performance by Marcus Buckingham
Beginning with the million-copy bestsellers First, more...0 points
First, Break All the Rules: What the World's Greatest Managers Do Differently by Marcus Buckingham, Curt Coffman
The greatest managers in the world seem to have little more...0 points
Links to Strengths Finder Resources
- Clifton StrengthsFinder Center
- See all 34 themes here.
- Clifton StrengthsFinder Blog
- See how organizations can match up people with complementary strengths for maximum impact.
Who is Marcus Buckingham?
Marcus Buckingham
A sampling from his talks...
He took this experience and put it into two best-selling books: Break All the Rules: What the World's Best Managers Do Differently and Now, Discover Your Strengths. In Now, Discover Your Strengths, Buckingham introduces the Strengths Finder profile, allowing readers to discover their five signature themes of talent.
Marcus Buckingham website
What are they saying on Twitter?
about Marcus Buckingham
What are bloggers saying?
about Marcus Buckingham
- Chick-fil-A Leadercast
- The day-long event featured speakers such as Tim Tebow, Soledad O'Brien, John Maxwell, Andy Stanley, Dr. Roland Fryer, Marcus Buckingham, Angela Ahrendts, Urban Meyer, Dr. Sheena Iyengar and Patrick Lencioni. This year's Leadercast was focused on ...
- The Week Ahead in Religion for May 4-10
- ... CNN anchor and special correspondent; Patrick Lencioni, best-selling author and president of The Table Group; John Maxwell, author of ?The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership;? Tim Tebow, NFL quarterback; Marcus Buckingham, best-selling author; ...
- The Genius Behind Steve Jobs' Ability to Innovate
- In a previous post, I summarized Marcus Buckingham's perspective on leadership: Great leaders are restless for change, impatient for progress and deeply dissatisfied with the status quo. The possibility of a better future burns them and propels them.
- Tools for the coach
- You quote Marcus Buckingham, 'The corporate world is appallingly bad at capitalizing on the strengths of its people.' Why is that? The corporate world makes two mistakes. One, the complete focus is on the gaps and what is missing, and in the process we ...
Thank You for Visiting my Page on Discovering Your Strengths
Tell me what you thought.
-
-
WeCarryThePower
Feb 29, 2012 @ 10:06 am | delete
- A great pleasure reading this colorful, and motivativating lens. Put together in such an organized way, and a truely meaningful topic for anyone, at any level of life to read up on. Connecting with our strength's takes some work. Sometimes we need to read something like this to get on the forward path towards self discovery.
-
-
-
DeannaDiaz
Feb 23, 2012 @ 3:58 pm | delete
- I totally believe in working with your strengths and outsourcing the rest of your life to someone that is great at what I hate doing!!!
-
-
-
Donnette
Feb 17, 2012 @ 12:54 am | delete
- Another great lens, full of inspiration and wonderful concepts.. I only wish I could actually put everything into perspective and then into practice!
-
-
-
Margaret_Schaut
Jan 15, 2012 @ 4:34 pm | delete
- Its got me thinking, alright. Thanks!
-
-
-
Inkhand
Jan 9, 2012 @ 6:00 am | delete
- An interesting lens on how to find your strengths.
-
- Load More
About the Author
More Pages
on Discovering Your Strengths
by kimmanleyort
Mother, wife and photographer who never stops learning. Squidoo allows me to explore my interests and the fabulous community is an added bonus. Writing... more »
- 132 featured lenses
- Winner of 23 trophies!
- Top lens » 25 Ways to Teach Kids Compassion
- This lens »
Won purple star
Explore related pages
- Mary Oliver - The Journey Mary Oliver - The Journey
- Mindsight - A Book Summary Mindsight - A Book Summary
- Kim Manley Ort on Squidoo Kim Manley Ort on Squidoo
- 25 Ways to Teach Kids Compassion 25 Ways to Teach Kids Compassion
- The Nature of Photography The Nature of Photography
- Marcus Buckingham Marcus Buckingham
The Latest from Marcus Buckingham
on Amazon
StandOut: The Groundbreaking New Strengths Assessment from the Leader of the Strengths Revolution
Amazon Price: $10.72 (as of 05/31/2012)
The Catholic Edition of Discover Your Strengths
Living Your Strengths: Discover Your God-Given Talents and Inspire Your Community
Amazon Price: $8.25 (as of 05/31/2012)
Visit my blog, Be Inspired
