All of us are
born with talents. The Irony is that most of us travel from cradle to cubicle
and from cubicle to casket without realizing our true potential.
Research
suggests that people who build their life around their natural talents are
successful and happier. Successful because they know what they are doing and
happier because they are emotionally involved and satisfied with what they are
doing.
But how will you come to know what you are
good at? This is where Clifton strength finder can help.
Recently, I
read this interesting book and took the Clifton Strength Finder assessment. In
this, blog I will share with you about the book and how exactly the Clifton
strength finder can work for you.
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What is Dan Clifton Strength Finder?
Dan Clifton
Strength Finder is named after Donald Clifton who is known as the father of Strengths-based
psychology.
He was an
American psychologist and researcher. He studied what makes people successful and
found that people who can leverage their strengths can really live a happy and
successful life.
He further researched
strengths and found that they can be derived from innate talents. In order to
develop a common language to understand these talents, he set up a team of scientists
and developed 34 themes of talents. These 34 themes are personality traits each
individual possesses.
Dan Clifton
Strength Finder helps you find your natural talents with the help of a
psychometric test and introduces you to your top 5 talent themes.
Currently, this
assessment is managed and maintained by Gallup. https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/252137/home.aspx
How does Clifton Strength Finder work?
After taking
the Clifton assessment you will get your strength report. This report would contain
a description of your top 5 dominant themes. These are the talents you are born
with; things you are naturally inclined to.
Now that you know
your talent you must work to convert it into a strength.
For this, the
book gives you a formula.
Talent *
Investment = Strength
Here Talent is
your natural talent and Investment is the knowledge and skill you must develop
to improve your talent. Once you do that it will become your strength.
How to take the assessment?
The assessment
can be taken online. Here is the URL of
the assessment.
The assessment is also combined with this book. The book contains a packet with an access code that can be used only once. A word of caution here, never buy a copy of the book whose packet is already open.
What to expect from the book?
The book is
divided into two parts.
The first part
introduces the concept of talent and strength through examples and analogy. Here
the author also talks about the strength assessment, and how to take it and
take maximum advantage of it.
In the second part, the author lists down all 34 themes. There is a chapter dedicated to each theme where each theme is explained in detail which includes an introduction, some examples of how people in each theme think, and 10 things for action for people who belong to these themes. Also some pointers on how to deal with people who belong to these themes.
My recommendation
When I took
the assessment and saw the report my first reaction was “How do they know me so
well?”.
I was surprised to see how well the report pinpointed
my behavior and thoughts. As I read the report I could remember the instances
where my behavior was exactly like the description of my talent theme.
I wish I would
have taken this assessment earlier in life. Nevertheless, better late than
never.
Have you ever
wondered about your behavior or thoughts and asked yourself why do I behave like
that? Why cannot I think like him or her? Or how did this idea occur to me? After
reading this book I realized that your ideas, thoughts, or behavior are all coming
from your natural talents. It cannot be changed as you are born with it. Your talents
make you unique so treasure them.
This book has
the potential to make you fall in love with yourself. As you discover your
talent themes and go deeper in understanding them you will start enjoying every
bit of yourself and your gift of talents.
I think the assessment
can do wonders for the life of students and help them choose a career path
they can build on their natural aptitude.
For someone
like me who has already chosen a career path, the assessment can help
acknowledge personal strengths and show ways to progress.
It is also important
to reveal your talents to your team and manager so that they can help you reach
your full potential. If your manager knows your strength she can engage you in
activities in your strength zone so that the project can get maximum advantage out of it.
In families,
if people know each other’s talents and encourage each other to develop them
imagine what a brilliant life everyone would have.
Take the
Clifton strength assessment and decide for yourself. Do let me know how it helped
you.
Check out the book-buying link below.
Did you like
this blog? Let me know by commenting in the comment box below.
Thank You for the Info...
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