StrengthsFinder 2.0 by Tom Rath (Gallup, 2007)
A few years ago for his birthday, my dad decided that, instead of giving him presents, he wanted us all to read the book Now, Discover Your Strengths and take the accompanying online assessment. He had just finished the book and was obviously excited. Marcus Buckingham and Donald Clifton explain the ideas behind the “strength revolution.”
Instead of this book, I ended up reading Tom Rath’s StrengthsFinder 2.0, a shorter continued text explaining the different strengths identified when the reader takes the online assessment. Rath explains the necessity to rethink how we view ourselves:
“At its fundamentally flawed core, the aim of almost any learning program is to help us become who we are not.”
For example, even if students don’t excel in certain areas of study, they are still required to pursue it with the same vigor as for their strengths. While learning from mistakes is a valuable process, too much time focused here can be stifling.
Rath continues, “In every culture we have studied, the overwhelming majority of parents think that a student’s lowest grades deserve the most time and attention. Parents and teachers reward excellence with apathy instead of investing more time in the areas where a child has the most potential for greatness.”
I took the quiz and read the whole book the day I got it. With the assessment, you get your top five strengths, each coming with plans of action. It’s a useful tool in helping you identify a few major skills to pursue instead of halfway chasing things that aren’t bolstered by your strengths.
I found out that my weird habits don’t have to be a detriment. For example, one of my “strengths” is Input.
“You are inquisitive. You collect things […] Whatever you collect, you collect it because it interests you. And yours is the kind of mind that finds so many things interesting […] If you like to travel, it is because each new location offers novel artifacts and facts. These can be acquired and then stored away. Why are they worth storing? At the time of storing it is often hard to say exactly when or why you might need them, but who knows when they might become useful? With all those possible uses in mind, you really don’t feel comfortable throwing anything away […] Its interesting. It keeps your mind fresh.”
What a more dynamic way to look at a group of habits than to simply conclude them a disadvantage (like, “You have too much stuff!”)
Readers of this book will find new ways to consider their personalities and daily habits. By identifying and pursuing areas of strength, a person can ultimately lead a more fulfilled lifestyle. -Peyton
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