I may have written about this topic before, but I was reminded recently about StrengthsFinder 2.0 and decided to take a look back at my results.
My top 5 themes (strengths) according to the test are:
- Deliberative – best described by the serious care they take in making decisions or choices.
- Ideation – fascinated by ideas…able to find connections between seemingly disparate phenomena.
- Adaptability – prefer to “go with the flow.”
- Empathy – can sense the feelings of other people by imagining themselves in others’ lives or others’ situations.
- Intellection – introspective and appreciate intellectual discussions.
It’s helpful every once in awhile to go back and remind myself of these things and read the descriptions. There is also actionable advice about how to handle certain situations in work and general life, which is also useful.
Some highlights for my future self:
Deliberative
- Driven by your talents, you are a no-nonsense person.
- People soon figure out you prefer to work or study by yourself.
- You aim to understand the basic “whys” and “hows” of a situation, problem, or opportunity.
- People trust you to be cautious.
Ideation
- You have a rich vocabulary upon which to draw.
- By nature, you are concerned about what individuals think of you. (need to remind myself of this because I often deny it)
- You are likely to archive — that is, preserve — your discoveries so you can use them later. (like blogging?)
- You derive satisfaction from mental activity.
Adaptability
- It’s very likely that you need to have time to rest and unwind.
- The arts or nature itself enhances your sense of well-being.
- You do your best work when you are allowed to deal with the day’s challenges as they arise.
Empathy
- By nature, you help individuals feel safe enough to risk sharing their most personal thoughts and feelings.
- Because of your strengths, you typically want to capture first place and be the champion. (This is true, oftentimes to my own detriment)
- Many people are comfortable talking at length with you. Why? You refrain from interrupting them.
Intellection
- Conversations that involve a lot of questions and answers stimulate your mind.
- Instinctively, you are mentally quick and highly resourceful.
- You constantly consider how you can upgrade all sorts of things in your personal or professional life.
- You speak theoretically — that is, you talk about things that have not been invented, proved, produced, or put into practice.
- It’s very likely that you wrestle with questions about who you are and the reason for your existence.
I took this test in 2010. I wonder if it would look similar or different if I took it again now. Either way, it’s a helpful reminder of what I should be focusing and meditating on that will benefit my daily life.
So now you know a little bit more about me.
What are your strengths?
