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3.65 AVERAGE
3.65 AVERAGE
Enjoyed the paradigm shift that this book suggests. I initially was skeptical about the idea of not focusing on improving weak areas, but understand after reading the book that it doesn't mean that you cease developing your knowledge base, but rather, that your core set of talents are uniquely yours and that you should play them up instead of attempting to create a version of yourself that may be inauthentic, and ultimately ineffective. I think my 5 identified talents align pretty closely to my self-perceived strengths.
reflective
slow-paced
Strengths Finder is helpful. Specifically, the descriptions of the talents (aka strengths) were insightful, which is why I gave the book 3 stars.
If you purchase the book, in the back there's a code to redeem an online test that corresponds to the book. If you get the book at a library or borrow it from a friend, you'll have to purchase the code ($15) to take the online test.
However, a number of things were frustrating.
1) The online test seemed to focus on selling you things, often more than you wanted to buy. I only spent the $15, which I felt was a little more than it was worth. It consists of 171 questions that must be answered within 20 seconds. Each question paired two statements which may or may not have any relation to one another. And you have to choose which of the two fits you better. I thought the results were helpful but I have my doubts about 2 of the 5 strengths they outlined. And others I've talked to felt the same way. In other words, the testing format is frustrating and could be more accurate.
2) I was annoyed that they only gave information about your top 5. No doubt the 6th or 7th highest strengths would be notable, especially considering they may have gotten the top 5 wrong. But there was no way to gain any further information without, of course, spending more money.
3) Lastly, the follow-up information about those strengths was underwhelming. The book is short. Each strength included a half page, single paragraph description, followed by three quotes by others with the same strength. They then included about 10 action ideas for how you might develop or practice that strength (the best part of each section), and then end was three short suggestions for working with others who had that strength. The online resources were a regurgitation of the book -
really nothing added online. The videos were sad - formatted too big and lagged in loading. Overall, the feedback was disappointing.
The book is written mostly to aid in learning about group dynamics and seemed geared toward the business community - no doubt they've made a ton of money selling it to the corporate world. But it's marketed to individual self-exploration and discovery. And there's little doubt that when we take the test, our results are mostly a projection of how we already see ourselves. If I were to do it again, I'd borrow the book from the library, read the description of all the strengths, and pick out the top 10-ish I felt most described me. Then I would discuss those with friends who knew me well.
As we (in the US) grow in expecting instant gratification and individual expression, they sell it well. But I found more insight and help reading on the Enneagram and the Big 5 personality tests, which you can do for free. Here a great link for a free Enneagram test: https://www.eclecticenergies.com/enneagram/test.php
Blessings!
If you purchase the book, in the back there's a code to redeem an online test that corresponds to the book. If you get the book at a library or borrow it from a friend, you'll have to purchase the code ($15) to take the online test.
However, a number of things were frustrating.
1) The online test seemed to focus on selling you things, often more than you wanted to buy. I only spent the $15, which I felt was a little more than it was worth. It consists of 171 questions that must be answered within 20 seconds. Each question paired two statements which may or may not have any relation to one another. And you have to choose which of the two fits you better. I thought the results were helpful but I have my doubts about 2 of the 5 strengths they outlined. And others I've talked to felt the same way. In other words, the testing format is frustrating and could be more accurate.
2) I was annoyed that they only gave information about your top 5. No doubt the 6th or 7th highest strengths would be notable, especially considering they may have gotten the top 5 wrong. But there was no way to gain any further information without, of course, spending more money.
3) Lastly, the follow-up information about those strengths was underwhelming. The book is short. Each strength included a half page, single paragraph description, followed by three quotes by others with the same strength. They then included about 10 action ideas for how you might develop or practice that strength (the best part of each section), and then end was three short suggestions for working with others who had that strength. The online resources were a regurgitation of the book -
really nothing added online. The videos were sad - formatted too big and lagged in loading. Overall, the feedback was disappointing.
The book is written mostly to aid in learning about group dynamics and seemed geared toward the business community - no doubt they've made a ton of money selling it to the corporate world. But it's marketed to individual self-exploration and discovery. And there's little doubt that when we take the test, our results are mostly a projection of how we already see ourselves. If I were to do it again, I'd borrow the book from the library, read the description of all the strengths, and pick out the top 10-ish I felt most described me. Then I would discuss those with friends who knew me well.
As we (in the US) grow in expecting instant gratification and individual expression, they sell it well. But I found more insight and help reading on the Enneagram and the Big 5 personality tests, which you can do for free. Here a great link for a free Enneagram test: https://www.eclecticenergies.com/enneagram/test.php
Blessings!
I read this short book on the Clifton Strengths system for my work at the BYU library. We were encouraged to take an assessment to find our strengths. The test gives you a bunch of dichotomies and asks you which one you feel more inclined towards, requiring you to answer within a time limit (I think 30 seconds?). Mine were Learner, Input, Intellection, Context, and Connectedness. However, I feel skeptical of the test because I'm skeptical of every personality test, haha. Also because I didn't resonate with the description of the "Connectedness" strength (everything is connected? come on. Things are connected in unexpected ways though.). I'm interested in both futurism and history, but on those questions I chose the history stuff since it's more relevant to my research, though futurism is relevant for getting people excited about Wikidata.
I feel conflicted about the system, because it's based on capitalizing a person's strengths instead of trying to improve their weaknesses. I understand that it's more efficient in theory. But it results in having "strengths" that are rooted in neuroses. I have worked hard to tame my "Achiever" and "Significance" "strengths". I feel like the book and system are capitalizing on unhealthy ways people cope with poor self-esteem. Employers should encourage people to have a healthy work-life balance! At the same time, I understand that no HR person can force a person to change, and that accepting them how they are is the reality for a lot of people who work together. However, I think that promoting those unhealthy habits as strengths is wrong.
The book itself is written in a concise and accessible way.
I feel conflicted about the system, because it's based on capitalizing a person's strengths instead of trying to improve their weaknesses. I understand that it's more efficient in theory. But it results in having "strengths" that are rooted in neuroses. I have worked hard to tame my "Achiever" and "Significance" "strengths". I feel like the book and system are capitalizing on unhealthy ways people cope with poor self-esteem. Employers should encourage people to have a healthy work-life balance! At the same time, I understand that no HR person can force a person to change, and that accepting them how they are is the reality for a lot of people who work together. However, I think that promoting those unhealthy habits as strengths is wrong.
The book itself is written in a concise and accessible way.
I was given this book at work. Interesting if only to provide a framework for discussion about strengths.
slow-paced
This book is strange cause you have to go online to take this quiz then come back to the book to analyze your results. I mean it just seems really tedious for a book.
I read this books as part of a reading group at work. It is a mediocre book with highly valuable information if you are willing to dig through the business speak and find it. As such, reading it in a group worked well. At our meetings, we were able to weed out the valuable information.
The theme of this book is that people do best when they focus on their strengths. This flies in the face of much popular wisdom which says that you should work to improve in your weakest areas. Instead, the authors of this book are of the opinion that focusing on your weaknesses will, at best, bring you up to mediocre. Focusing on those areas where you have natural talent and passion will bring success. They say that successful teams are balanced, but successful individuals invest in developing their unique talents.
Strengths Finder 2.0 has the word "strength" in the title, but it is actually about talent themes. A strength is what you get when you combine a talent theme with certain skills and knowledge. Strengths change over the years but talent themes tend to be fairly stable. The book has a brief introductory section followed by a catalog of talent themes. The catalog describes the talent themes.
To help you determine your talent themes, this book comes with a one time use code (i.e., never buy these books used) which gives you access to an online quiz which determines your strengths. Unlike some personality tests, this one is based off of years worth of research by Gallup. The result of the quiz is your type five talent themes. If you want to know how the other 29 talent themes rank, you have to pay Gallup a whole lot of money. Annoying.
Each talent theme is highly specific and actionable. This list of the short descriptions gives some idea of their specificity, but the descriptions in the book have more information that make it clear that some talent themes fit you well and others are terrible (even though you might want to have it). My top five talent themes are, in order, Input, Intellection, Learner, Harmony, and Responsibility.
Like any program, the real value is proportional to the amount of time you are willing to put into it. The answers the books give you are just a start. I found my talent themes to be valuable starting points in figuring out how I could really apply my strengths to my job.
The theme of this book is that people do best when they focus on their strengths. This flies in the face of much popular wisdom which says that you should work to improve in your weakest areas. Instead, the authors of this book are of the opinion that focusing on your weaknesses will, at best, bring you up to mediocre. Focusing on those areas where you have natural talent and passion will bring success. They say that successful teams are balanced, but successful individuals invest in developing their unique talents.
Strengths Finder 2.0 has the word "strength" in the title, but it is actually about talent themes. A strength is what you get when you combine a talent theme with certain skills and knowledge. Strengths change over the years but talent themes tend to be fairly stable. The book has a brief introductory section followed by a catalog of talent themes. The catalog describes the talent themes.
To help you determine your talent themes, this book comes with a one time use code (i.e., never buy these books used) which gives you access to an online quiz which determines your strengths. Unlike some personality tests, this one is based off of years worth of research by Gallup. The result of the quiz is your type five talent themes. If you want to know how the other 29 talent themes rank, you have to pay Gallup a whole lot of money. Annoying.
Each talent theme is highly specific and actionable. This list of the short descriptions gives some idea of their specificity, but the descriptions in the book have more information that make it clear that some talent themes fit you well and others are terrible (even though you might want to have it). My top five talent themes are, in order, Input, Intellection, Learner, Harmony, and Responsibility.
Like any program, the real value is proportional to the amount of time you are willing to put into it. The answers the books give you are just a start. I found my talent themes to be valuable starting points in figuring out how I could really apply my strengths to my job.
i dont get why this book is so popular - just a way for the author to get you to purchase an $$ personality test
Great resource for helping you discover & develop your strengths