Take a photo of a barcode or cover
rachelhelps 's review for:
Strengthsfinder 2.0
by Tom Rath
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.