Are you a StrengthsFinder Skeptic who don’t agree with their results?
While the Clifton StrengthsFinder assessment is proving to be one of the most revolutionary developments in organizational psychology, there are still plenty of StrengthsFinder skeptics. They will either never take the assessment, or they will agree to take it under duress, or pressure.
The greatest StrengthsFinder skeptics are those who take the assessment and find that their Top Five are not what they anticipate. Even if most fit, if one or two seem very out of place, this could leave someone thinking that the assessment must be incorrect.
There may be something to learn for a StrengthsFinder skeptic!
It Happened to Me
My Top Five Themes are Restorative, Context, Empathy, Communication and Intellection. Four of them seem to fit even if they are not yet strengths. I am interested in history, and I am often inspired to write and have no fear of speaking in public. I try to be empathetic because I learned this from my father, and I’m always thinking about ideas even if I use circular reasoning.
It was Restorative that confused me. I’m not a problem solver. I might like to be able to solve problems, but I’m so mechanically and technically illiterate that I’m more likely to cause a problem than solve one!
Strengths Skeptic Meets Strengths Disciple
Fortunately, my wife is a Strengths disciple who has examined all the themes. She helped me see that Restorative does not necessarily involve mechanical and technical problems, but can also involve fixing personal, relationship, or social problems.
That began to resonate. I remember a time when I was talking to a woman who was in a failing marriage. At the time, I was energized by asking questions and offering solutions. Whenever there is some debate about a contentious social or political issue, I always try to take the other side. At first, I thought this was only Empathy, but now I see it as Restorative as well because I’m trying to find solutions.
I finally had a turning point and stopped being a StrengthsFinder skeptic!
The Turning Point for a StrengthsFinder Skeptic
The turning point in me no longer being a StrengthsFinder skeptic was when my wife also shared that people with Restorative can be very self-critical. Along with being self-critical, I see the brokenness in social and economic concerns. I’ve experienced anxiety that once prevented me from thinking the problems through. Thankfully, that anxiety has been tempered.
How They Work Together
Now that I know my Signature Themes, I have an idea how to employ them toward a specific goal. I can write about issues of social justice, using my Communication and Intellection talents, too. I get to examine how certain problems came about and how similar problems were handled using my Context. And through my Empathy, I also get to discover how these problems and potential solutions may affect diverse types of people.
Your talents work together to help you be your best!
To the StrengthsFinder Skeptic
So, if you’re a StrengthsFinder skeptic and one of your talents seems out of place to you, learn as much as you can about it. Then, set out to connect it with the ones you understand. Visit the Gallup Strengths Center to learn more!
And come join the rest of us who are learning how to grow and develop our talents in The Very Best YOU group on Facebook!
Latest posts by Rhonda Knight Boyle (see all)
- Strengths Activation Show 60 – Guests Sakira Baez and Dr. Shauna T Sobers - April 5, 2019
- Develop Your Empathy Talent - November 23, 2018
- Develop Your Adaptability Talent - November 20, 2018