Status
Available
Call number
Series
Publication
Free Press (2001), Edition: 1, Hardcover, 272 pages
Description
The authors "have created a revolutionary program to help readers identify their talents, build them into strengths, and enjoy consistent, near-perfect performance. At the heart of the book is the Internet-based StrengthsFinder' Profile, the product of a 25-year, multimillion-dollar effort to identify the most prevalent human strengths. The program introduces 34 dominant "themes" with thousands of possible combinations, and reveals how they can best be translated into personal and career success. In developing this program, Gallup has conducted psychological profiles with more than two million individuals to help readers learn how to focus and perfect these themes. So how does it work? This book contains a unique identification number that allows you access to the StrengthsFinder Profile on the Internet. This Web-based interview analyzes your instinctive reactions and immediately presents you with your five most powerful signature themes. Once you know which of the 34 themes -- such as Achiever, Activator, Empathy, Futuristic, or Strategic -- you lead with, the book will show you how to leverage them for powerful results at three levels: for your own development, for your success as a manager, and for the success of your organization."--Publisher description.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member marijane
this is a recent mailing list post i made about the strengthsfinder that i thought would make a good librarything review. it was in response to someone who was required to do it at their workplace and found it a waste of time because they didn't learn anything new about themselves in the process.
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in 2003 the strengthsfinder inventory was the catalyst that changed my life. my manager's manager bought a copy of the book for his entire team because he found it useful, but didn't require us to take the inventory, we were free to do it, or not. i figured why not, so i did. i had no idea that anyone would think things like "input" and "intellection" are strengths, and while i recognized them as things i did a lot, i thought of them as weaknesses, because they make me a lazy daydreamer who surfs the internet all the time.
it hadn't occurred to me that i might be able to put what i considered my worst tendencies to good use, and that doing so would make me happy, and that maybe i was in the wrong career (i thought i just needed to keep trying and someday i would like my job). it was the kick in the butt i needed to seek out something other than software testing, it was a foundation for seeking a library science degree, and it kept me from staying at a job i hated and eventually driving my car into the median barrier on the highway. (yes, that's right. strengthsfinder saved my life.)
before i took the inventory i would have told you my top strength was communication. that one didn't even make my top five. if you are the rare person who is already well-aware of your personal talents, i can see how it might be a waste of time, and it's probably less enjoyable if you're required to do it, and it is written in a cheesy pop-business-book tone that some find annoying, but as they point out, most folks focus on their weaknesses and struggle to name their strengths, so it can make a person wake up to who they are and what they should be doing with their lives, and that can be really valuable. (holy run on sentence, batman.) that's what happened with me, anyway.
i recommend it to anyone who hates their job and doesn't know what they want to do with their life. it seriously pulled me out of a rut.
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. .in 2003 the strengthsfinder inventory was the catalyst that changed my life. my manager's manager bought a copy of the book for his entire team because he found it useful, but didn't require us to take the inventory, we were free to do it, or not. i figured why not, so i did. i had no idea that anyone would think things like "input" and "intellection" are strengths, and while i recognized them as things i did a lot, i thought of them as weaknesses, because they make me a lazy daydreamer who surfs the internet all the time.
it hadn't occurred to me that i might be able to put what i considered my worst tendencies to good use, and that doing so would make me happy, and that maybe i was in the wrong career (i thought i just needed to keep trying and someday i would like my job). it was the kick in the butt i needed to seek out something other than software testing, it was a foundation for seeking a library science degree, and it kept me from staying at a job i hated and eventually driving my car into the median barrier on the highway. (yes, that's right. strengthsfinder saved my life.)
before i took the inventory i would have told you my top strength was communication. that one didn't even make my top five. if you are the rare person who is already well-aware of your personal talents, i can see how it might be a waste of time, and it's probably less enjoyable if you're required to do it, and it is written in a cheesy pop-business-book tone that some find annoying, but as they point out, most folks focus on their weaknesses and struggle to name their strengths, so it can make a person wake up to who they are and what they should be doing with their lives, and that can be really valuable. (holy run on sentence, batman.) that's what happened with me, anyway.
i recommend it to anyone who hates their job and doesn't know what they want to do with their life. it seriously pulled me out of a rut.
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LibraryThing member mbotos
Too anecdotal and wordy, online quiz didn't work, trait descriptions somewhat useful
LibraryThing member waddams
This is another of the self help books, but has a nice spin by looking at your strengths rather than all the stuff to improve on.
LibraryThing member duckieyazi
A very thought-provoking book which brings the focus back into one inner self. The authors advocate that strengths = talents + knowledge + skills. Instead of spending time perfecting skills which one don't have an innate talent for, why not focus on skills which you are born for? The best thing
However, the book provided limited insight about how to hone the talents into strengths. So reader is left hanging in the air. Although there's no standard procedure, the authors could have highlighted some areas where the reader can start to take actions.
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about this book is that it has a extensive questionaire which helps you discover what talents you have. I did the test and it was quite accurate. :)However, the book provided limited insight about how to hone the talents into strengths. So reader is left hanging in the air. Although there's no standard procedure, the authors could have highlighted some areas where the reader can start to take actions.
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LibraryThing member jpsnow
The strong empirical methodology resulted in a valid and useful structure for assessing strengths. I believe their dimensions are distinct from anything else like this, although the 34 categories are possibly concentrated only in the strengths required for managerial success. For example, I'm not
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sure the strengths of a genius technical writer or mechanic are present. Show Less
LibraryThing member RAP-BIG-ICP1
Better than "First, Break All The Rules"
LibraryThing member jmchshannon
If you ever have the opportunity to read this book and take the StrengthsFinder quiz, I HIGHLY recommend that you do so. I read this book as part of a leadership development program that I am in for work. I learned more about myself from this book and the quiz results than I have in the first
More importantly, I learned that these are strengths rather than shortcomings. Of even greater importance, I was given helpful hints how to make these strengths work for me on the job and in my personal life. This blog is an excellent example of something that is using my strength of the need to reflect and think about things thoroughly. The fact that I read so many books of almost every genre is due to my passion for learning, which I can channel into my now-complete MBA studies and my CMA studying. I also discovered that my ideal job is ideal because it perfectly suits each one of my top five strengths.
What was of interest to me was that each one of the other twenty-three members of my leadership group had just as profound experiences as I did. When it happens to all of us, when we all feel empowered by the information learned about ourselves, you know that this is a life-altering book.
I am so thankful that I took the time to read this book for my program. It was recommended but not required, but I feel I got more out of the quiz results and the list of my top five strengths because I read the book. (Of course, it is a book, and I'm not someone to turn down reading one.) I cannot stress enough how much my perception on who I am has changed as a result of reading this and getting my top five themes. It was worth every minute of reading.
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twelve months of the program. I learned why I have issues with losing my train of thought when speaking, why I feel this incessant need to constantly achieve and learn something, why I value my alone time.More importantly, I learned that these are strengths rather than shortcomings. Of even greater importance, I was given helpful hints how to make these strengths work for me on the job and in my personal life. This blog is an excellent example of something that is using my strength of the need to reflect and think about things thoroughly. The fact that I read so many books of almost every genre is due to my passion for learning, which I can channel into my now-complete MBA studies and my CMA studying. I also discovered that my ideal job is ideal because it perfectly suits each one of my top five strengths.
What was of interest to me was that each one of the other twenty-three members of my leadership group had just as profound experiences as I did. When it happens to all of us, when we all feel empowered by the information learned about ourselves, you know that this is a life-altering book.
I am so thankful that I took the time to read this book for my program. It was recommended but not required, but I feel I got more out of the quiz results and the list of my top five strengths because I read the book. (Of course, it is a book, and I'm not someone to turn down reading one.) I cannot stress enough how much my perception on who I am has changed as a result of reading this and getting my top five themes. It was worth every minute of reading.
Show Less
LibraryThing member PastorBob
When I first read through the Strengthsfinder material in this book, I took guesses at what I thought described me. Then I took the online test. What I found not only surprised me, but revealed to me some insights about who I am. Over time, I've found these descriptors to be useful not only in
You should know that each book allows for one test. Like other personality profiles, the results need to be interpreted and thought through, but with this text that process remains engaging and revealing. Worth the experiment and reflection.
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self-reflection, but in the practice of leadership and, in my case, ministry. You should know that each book allows for one test. Like other personality profiles, the results need to be interpreted and thought through, but with this text that process remains engaging and revealing. Worth the experiment and reflection.
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LibraryThing member mawls
I'm returning this to the library without finishing it because I decided to buy the updated version: Strengthbuilders 2.0. I'm excited to start reading that one because I found this one very interesting.
LibraryThing member jlapac
I have to read this for work which immediately lessens its appeal. I finally started to read it and, thought I am skeptical about whether or not it is cult-ish, I think they make a lot of sense. The premise of the book is to manage your weaknesses and capitalize on your strengths. You might think
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that this concept is a given, but after I thought about it, I realized that most organizations try and improve employee weaknesses. Show Less
LibraryThing member T_Renee
Great book!
Language
Physical description
272 p.; 9.3 inches
ISBN
0743201140 / 9780743201148
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