I took the StrengthsFinder 2.0 test. It asks you a series of questions on how you like to work, how you get along with other people and how you’ve organized your life. You have 20 seconds to answer each question because they want your gut responses, without a lot of thinking. The same kind of questions are asked again and again, in slightly different formulations, to find out how strongly you feel about something. When answering, you choose a range of responses from “agree strongly” to “disagree strongly.”
When you’re done with this online test (it takes 20-30 minutes to complete), you’re presented with a list of your top five strengths. Here’s mine:
- Input
- Strategic
- Intellection
- Maximizer
- Learner
• Brief descriptions of all five of your strengths
• Your Personalized Strengths Insights, which describe what makes you stand out from others with the same theme in their top five
• Some examples of what the theme “sounds like” — real quotes from people who also have the theme in their top five
• Ten very practical ideas for action for each strength
• A Strengths Discovery Activity to get you thinking about how your talents and your investment work together to build strengths that you can apply to your work and personal life
• A Strengths-Based Action Plan for review with a friend, manager, or colleague.
There’s also a simple online tool where you can pick from their suggestions on how to improve yourself and build a custom guide of practical ideas for you to follow.
If you’re a compulsive planner, StrengthsFinder 2.0 is for you. But I think it’s also useful for people going through a career transition or just wondering if they’re in the right job.
I strongly agree with the core philosophy of StrengthsFinder – you should concentrate your efforts on what you’re best at, rather than trying to improve upon your weaknesses. Not only is this a more efficient use of your time, it’s more likely to lead to happiness.
I just finished reading Now, Discover Your Strengths and also took the test. I wasn’t all that surprised with the results after reading the definition. It would be nice if they included 5 more for a total of 10 so I could get better insight. Mine are Responsibility, Individualization, Relator, Empathy and Connectedness. Probably describes why doing accounting isn’t very full-filling unless I’m in a management role or interacting with more people say doing human resources as well. I’m currently looking for work in a new city so it’s help me see that if I stay in accounting then I definitely need to make sure the other things I mentioned are part of my role. Good stuff!
Based on the above, do you think it would benefit me to read StrengthsFinder 2.0? It probably wouldn’t make sense to take the test again a week later, huh?
Thanks,
Michelle
It probably doesn’t make too much sense for you to get the new version of the book. The test is essentially the same. What’s new is that they give you suggestions on what you can do to build upon your strengths. Good luck!
Joe