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The Gallup organization created the Clifton StrengthsFinder to help people discover their unique combination of strengths. StrengthsFinder is an online assessment that measures personal talent and identifies areas where an individual’s greatest potential for building strengths exits. After 40 years of study, Gallup discovered 34 of the most common talents that people possess, and created a unique language around it.

Why It’s Important

According to Gallup, “people who use their strengths every day are six times more likely to be engaged on the job. Teams that focus on their strengths are 12.5% more productive.”

My strengths, in order, are: Harmony, Achiever, Analytical, Focus, and Learner. Unlike the Kolbe A Index assessment, which shows how I would naturally go about doing things, these five strengths reflect the affective part of the mind which shows why I go about doing things in a certain way. In a conversation with my team, most things come back to the question, “How will this affect us as a team?” That question represents my No. 1 strength, Harmony.

Creating a team around individuals whose strengths complement each other makes for a much more dynamic, cohesive and efficient team. My team is fairly diverse when it comes to each of our top strengths. However, we all have one in common: Achiever. Understanding your teammates’ strengths gives each individual the freedom to maximize their unique ability and focus on making their strengths better instead of just enhancing a weakness.

Some strengths of my teammates include: communication, self-assurance, maximizer, and significance. When discussing a new idea or business, one of my coworkers always asks the question, “What significance does this have in the bigger picture?” He is always looking to do things that make an impact and provide value, not things that will just have a monetary gain. That is a result of his top strength being significance.

Combining your StrengthsFinder assessment and your Kolbe A Index score is a powerful tool to use when learning how and why your teammates thrive. Understanding the results of the two assessments allows for the optimization of all levels of work and communication, so each member of your team can think in a way that comes most natural to them and perform in line with their strengths rather than their weaknesses or proficiencies.

StrengthsFinder Assessments

Top 5 Strengths Access ($9.99): This assessment helps you discover your top 5 strengths. This is intended to show how your “signature strengths” help you excel and perform better due to increased engagement.

Beyond Your Top 5 Strengths ($79.00): This assessment will reveal strengths 6-34. This is an addition to the Top 5 Strengths Access.

All Strengths Access ($89.00): This assessment reveals your full strengths profile (1-34) in order of dominance.

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