Finding Your Strengths: STRENGTHSFINDER
By David Zinger on Nov 28, 2005 in David Zinger
The VIA signature strength test at www.authentichappiness.org is free. The STRENGTHSFINDER test at the Gallup site: www.strengthsfinder.com is the cost of one of their strength books. The book I recommend is Now, Discover Your Strengths by Marcus Buckingham and Donald Clifton.
On the inside cover of the book jacket you will find a 14 digit code that will give you access to the STRENGTHSFINDER test.
Testing is certainly not the only way to discover or uncover your strengths but it provides a good start on knowing your strengths and determining how to leverage them for the maximum benefit of the organization, the people you lead, and yourself.
If you would like some basic information about the 34 strengths that range from Achiever to Woo (yes woo!) I encourage you to read some basic material at the Gallup site: http://gmj.gallup.com/book_center/strengthsfinder/.
By the way, here is a brief description of woo:
People strong in the Woo theme love the challenge of meeting new people and winning them over. They derive satisfaction from breaking the ice and making a connection with another person.
Strength training is not something simply for the body or something you do at a gym. Good leaders know their strengths and leverage their strengths in the service of their followers and the organization.
I would not ask you to do something that I have not done myself. According to the STRENGTHSFINDER report my top 5 strengths are:
1. Maximizer
2. Strategic
3. Positivity
4. Ideation
5. Individualization.
