Personal Development for Smart People^TM Forums

Bahadur · 03-12-2008, 04:13 PM

Hello All,

I recently took the StrengthsFinder and have read (most of) Now, Discover Your Strengths. I was a little confused at first as many of the 'strengths' didn't seem to be strengths but inclinations and personal preferences without obvious use. The book clarified this by defining a Strength (I should say talent - the beginning of a strength) as any pattern of thought, behavior, or belief which can be productively applied. Still, it seems the book went a long way to convince me to focus on and build my strengths without actually telling me how to. Especially lacking was advice on specific strengths - each of the 34 themes only got a page.

One of the most importaint things the book emphasized was figuring out how your strengths work together, as they're highly dependent on each other.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Now, Discover Your Strengths

The theme Ideation describes a love of ideas and connections. The theme Context describes an instinctive need to investigate how things came to be the way they are. Together they produce a creative theorist who takes the time to look to the past for clues to explain the present. In the extreme, picture Charles Darwin wondering why the beaks of Galapagos finches varied in shape and size, and starting to see the outline of this theory of natural selection.
Now make one change. Keep Ideation but substitute Futuristic - a fascination with the potential of the future - for context. Ideation and Futuristic together create a visionary dreamer who can distill from the present key trends and then project how these trends will come together ten years hence. Think of Bill Gates, chairman of Microsoft, and his vivid goal of a computer in every household.

We could make this a group activity:

1. Post your strengths.
2. Make suggestions to the previous posters for how to develop specific strengths.
3. Make suggestions for possible meta-strengths - strengths resulting from the combination of strengths.

For those who haven't taken the StrengthsFinder, there's a similar (free) test you can take: VIA Signature Strengths Questionnaire (Scroll down)

My Strengths
Futuristic
People strong in the Futuristic theme are inspired by the future and what could be. They inspire others with their visions of the future.
Strategic
People strong in the Strategic theme create alternative ways to proceed. Faced with any given scenario, they can quickly spot the relevant patterns and issues.
Learner
People strong in the Learner theme have a great desire to learn and want to continuously improve. In particular, the process of learning, rather than the outcome, excites them.
Deliberative
People strong in the Deliberative theme are best described by the serious care they take in making decisions or choices. They anticipate the obstacles.
Significance
People strong in the Significance theme want to be very important in the eyes of others. They are independent and want to be recognized.

Bahadur · 03-12-2008, 04:16 PM

Achiever
People strong in the Achiever theme have a great deal of stamina and work hard. They take great
satisfaction from being busy and productive.

Activator
People strong in the Activator theme can make things happen by turning thoughts into action. They are often impatient.

Adaptability
People strong in the Adaptability theme prefer to "go with the flow." They tend to be "now" people who take things as they come and discover the future one day at a time.

Analytical
People strong in the Analytical theme search for reasons and causes. They have the ability to think about all the factors that might affect a situation.

Arranger
People strong in the Arranger theme can organize, but they also have a flexibility that complements this ability. They like to figure out how all of the pieces and resources can be arranged for maximum productivity.

Belief
People strong in the Belief theme have certain core values that are unchanging. Out of these values emerges a defined purpose for their life.

Command
People strong in the Command theme have presence. They can take control of a situation and make decisions.

Communication
People strong in the Communication theme generally find it easy to put their thoughts into words. They are good conversationalists and presenters.

Competition
People strong in the Competition theme measure their progress against the performance of others. They strive to win first place and revel in contests.

Connectedness
People strong in the Connectedness theme have faith in the links between all things. They believe there are few coincidences and that almost every event has a reason.

Context
People strong in the Context theme enjoy thinking about the past. They understand the present by
researching its history.

Deliberative
People strong in the Deliberative theme are best described by the serious care they take in making decisions or choices. They anticipate the obstacles.

Developer
People strong in the Developer theme recognize and cultivate the potential in others. They spot the signs of each small improvement and derive satisfaction from these improvements.

Discipline
People strong in the Discipline theme enjoy routine and structure. Their world is best described by the order they create.

Empathy
People strong in the Empathy theme can sense the feelings of other people by imagining themselves in others’ lives or others’ situations.

Consistency (formerly Fairness)
People strong in the Consistency theme are keenly aware of the need to treat people
the same. They try to treat everyone in the world with consistency by setting up clear rules and adhering to them.

Focus
People strong in the Focus theme can take a direction, follow through, and make the corrections
necessary to stay on track. They prioritize, then act.

Futuristic
People strong in the Futuristic theme are inspired by the future and what could be. They inspire others with their visions of the future.

Harmony
People strong in the Harmony theme look for consensus. They don’t enjoy conflict; rather, they seek areas of agreement.

Ideation
People strong in the Ideation theme are fascinated by ideas. They are able to find connections between seemingly disparate phenomena.

Includer (formerly Inclusiveness)
People strong in the Includer theme are accepting of others. They show awareness of those who feel left out, and make an effort to include them.

Individualization
People strong in the Individualization theme are intrigued with the unique qualities of each person. They have a gift for figuring out how people who are different can work together productively.

Input
People strong in the Input theme have a craving to know more. Often they like to collect and archive all kinds of information.

Intellection
People strong in the Intellection theme are characterized by their intellectual activity. They are
introspective and appreciate intellectual discussions.

Learner
People strong in the Learner theme have a great desire to learn and want to continuously improve. In particular, the process of learning, rather than the outcome, excites them.

Maximizer
People strong in the Maximizer theme focus on strengths as a way to stimulate personal and group excellence. They seek to transform something strong into something superb.

Positivity
People strong in the Positivity theme have an enthusiasm that is contagious. They are upbeat and can get others excited about what they are going to do.

Relator
People who are strong in the Relator theme enjoy close relationships with others. They find deep
satisfaction in working hard with friends to achieve a goal.

Responsibility
People strong in the Responsibility theme take psychological ownership of what they say they will do. They are committed to stable values such as honesty and loyalty.

Restorative
People strong in the Restorative theme are adept at dealing with problems. They are good at figuring out what is wrong and resolving it.

Self-Assurance
People strong in the Self-assurance theme feel confident in their ability to manage their own lives. They possess an inner compass that gives them confidence that their decisions are right.

Significance
People strong in the Significance theme want to be very important in the eyes of others. They are
independent and want to be recognized.

Strategic
People strong in the Strategic theme create alternative ways to proceed. Faced with any given scenario, they can quickly spot the relevant patterns and issues.

Woo (winning others over)
People strong in the Woo theme love the challenge of meeting new people and winning them over. They derive satisfaction from breaking the ice and making a connection with another person.

Bahadur · 03-12-2008, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bahadur

My Strengths
Futuristic
People strong in the Futuristic theme are inspired by the future and what could be. They inspire others with their visions of the future.
Strategic
People strong in the Strategic theme create alternative ways to proceed. Faced with any given scenario, they can quickly spot the relevant patterns and issues.
Learner
People strong in the Learner theme have a great desire to learn and want to continuously improve. In particular, the process of learning, rather than the outcome, excites them.
Deliberative
People strong in the Deliberative theme are best described by the serious care they take in making decisions or choices. They anticipate the obstacles.
Significance
People strong in the Significance theme want to be very important in the eyes of others. They are independent and want to be recognized.

I'm very interested in the future of Science and Technology. I've considered becoming a Science Fiction writer, but decided I'd rather work on the real thing and go into applied science. At 6 I was constantly taking apart my toys and any appliances I could get my parents to sign a death warrant on.

What I've figured out so far:
My theme of Futuristic means developing a very comprehensive and vivid plan or vision statement would probably be very motivating. I've already started working on it.

Strategic and futuristic would seem to be a powerful combination - seeing possibilities and multiple paths to them. I'd love to hear specific suggestions on using this.

Kaspian · 03-14-2008, 02:34 PM

I took the test several years ago, probably in 2002. After some digging, I found my results!

Learner
People strong in the Learner theme have a great desire to learn and want to continuously improve. In particular, the process of learning, rather than the outcome, excites them.

Activator
People strong in the Activator theme can make things happen by turning thoughts into action. They are often impatient.

Strategic
People strong in the Strategic theme create alternative ways to proceed. Faced with any given scenario, they can quickly spot the relevant patterns and issues.

Command
People strong in the Command theme have presence. They can take control of a situation and make decisions.

Self-Assurance
People strong in the Self-assurance theme feel confident in their ability to manage their own lives. They possess an inner compass that gives them confidence that their decisions are right.

I feel that Strategic and Activator combine well so that when I start a project without a clear plan for how I'll finish, I am able to plan as I go.

One of the things I appreciate most about this book is that it emphasizes that our traits are strengths. When I was a kid, my brothers often accused me of being bossy. As I grew up, I figured out how to interact with people in ways that didn't drive them away, but still felt self-conscious about being a bossy person. By the time I was in college, the Command trait clearly was a strength: I could easily lead a section of horn players, organize a recital involving several students, take charge in small groups when no one else stepped forward, and so on. But it wasn't until I read this book that I let go of my self-consciousness about it and saw it as the strength it is.

Dave Kaminski · 03-14-2008, 03:04 PM

I've got a whole thread on this from last year. I'm gonna post my results now, as well as the job I excelled in, and the job I hold now which I'm less motivated to excel in.

Woo- People strong in the Woo theme love the challenge of meeting new people and winning them over. They derive satisfaction from breaking the ice and making a connection with another person.

Intellection- People strong in the Intellection theme are characterized by their intellectual activity. They are introspective and appreciate intellectual discussions.

Connectedness- People strong in the Connectedness theme have faith in the links between all things. They believe there are few coincidences and that almost every event has a reason.

Communication- People strong in the Communication theme generally find it easy to put their thoughts into words. They are good conversationalists and presenters.

Focus- People strong in the Focus theme can take a direction, follow through, and make the corrections necessary to stay on track. They prioritize, then act.

Because of my Woo, Intellection, Communication, and Connectedness, I kicked ass in a phone tech support role where I helped people to troubleshoot their issues hands-on. This was a simple tier one position that I was quickly promoted out of into a remote virus removal team that charged on a per-cleaning basis.

I left that job to take my current job as an IT Manager, where I now program for a big ERP, help support end users, manage a few win2k3 servers, etc. I'm essentially a DEW Master + a network administrator. I feel I don't get to communicate as much as I'd like to which is probably what makes me feel like this isn't the job for me. It's going well, but I'm not a superstar like I was when I was doing the support role.

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03-12-2008, 04:16 PM	#2 (permalink)
Bahadur Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: CA Posts: 4	Achiever People strong in the Achiever theme have a great deal of stamina and work hard. They take great satisfaction from being busy and productive. Activator People strong in the Activator theme can make things happen by turning thoughts into action. They are often impatient. Adaptability People strong in the Adaptability theme prefer to "go with the flow." They tend to be "now" people who take things as they come and discover the future one day at a time. Analytical People strong in the Analytical theme search for reasons and causes. They have the ability to think about all the factors that might affect a situation. Arranger People strong in the Arranger theme can organize, but they also have a flexibility that complements this ability. They like to figure out how all of the pieces and resources can be arranged for maximum productivity. Belief People strong in the Belief theme have certain core values that are unchanging. Out of these values emerges a defined purpose for their life. Command People strong in the Command theme have presence. They can take control of a situation and make decisions. Communication People strong in the Communication theme generally find it easy to put their thoughts into words. They are good conversationalists and presenters. Competition People strong in the Competition theme measure their progress against the performance of others. They strive to win first place and revel in contests. Connectedness People strong in the Connectedness theme have faith in the links between all things. They believe there are few coincidences and that almost every event has a reason. Context People strong in the Context theme enjoy thinking about the past. They understand the present by researching its history. Deliberative People strong in the Deliberative theme are best described by the serious care they take in making decisions or choices. They anticipate the obstacles. Developer People strong in the Developer theme recognize and cultivate the potential in others. They spot the signs of each small improvement and derive satisfaction from these improvements. Discipline People strong in the Discipline theme enjoy routine and structure. Their world is best described by the order they create. Empathy People strong in the Empathy theme can sense the feelings of other people by imagining themselves in others’ lives or others’ situations. Consistency (formerly Fairness) People strong in the Consistency theme are keenly aware of the need to treat people the same. They try to treat everyone in the world with consistency by setting up clear rules and adhering to them. Focus People strong in the Focus theme can take a direction, follow through, and make the corrections necessary to stay on track. They prioritize, then act. Futuristic People strong in the Futuristic theme are inspired by the future and what could be. They inspire others with their visions of the future. Harmony People strong in the Harmony theme look for consensus. They don’t enjoy conflict; rather, they seek areas of agreement. Ideation People strong in the Ideation theme are fascinated by ideas. They are able to find connections between seemingly disparate phenomena. Includer (formerly Inclusiveness) People strong in the Includer theme are accepting of others. They show awareness of those who feel left out, and make an effort to include them. Individualization People strong in the Individualization theme are intrigued with the unique qualities of each person. They have a gift for figuring out how people who are different can work together productively. Input People strong in the Input theme have a craving to know more. Often they like to collect and archive all kinds of information. Intellection People strong in the Intellection theme are characterized by their intellectual activity. They are introspective and appreciate intellectual discussions. Learner People strong in the Learner theme have a great desire to learn and want to continuously improve. In particular, the process of learning, rather than the outcome, excites them. Maximizer People strong in the Maximizer theme focus on strengths as a way to stimulate personal and group excellence. They seek to transform something strong into something superb. Positivity People strong in the Positivity theme have an enthusiasm that is contagious. They are upbeat and can get others excited about what they are going to do. Relator People who are strong in the Relator theme enjoy close relationships with others. They find deep satisfaction in working hard with friends to achieve a goal. Responsibility People strong in the Responsibility theme take psychological ownership of what they say they will do. They are committed to stable values such as honesty and loyalty. Restorative People strong in the Restorative theme are adept at dealing with problems. They are good at figuring out what is wrong and resolving it. Self-Assurance People strong in the Self-assurance theme feel confident in their ability to manage their own lives. They possess an inner compass that gives them confidence that their decisions are right. Significance People strong in the Significance theme want to be very important in the eyes of others. They are independent and want to be recognized. Strategic People strong in the Strategic theme create alternative ways to proceed. Faced with any given scenario, they can quickly spot the relevant patterns and issues. Woo (winning others over) People strong in the Woo theme love the challenge of meeting new people and winning them over. They derive satisfaction from breaking the ice and making a connection with another person.

03-14-2008, 02:34 PM	#4 (permalink)
Kaspian Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Washington State Posts: 501	I took the test several years ago, probably in 2002. After some digging, I found my results! Learner People strong in the Learner theme have a great desire to learn and want to continuously improve. In particular, the process of learning, rather than the outcome, excites them. Activator People strong in the Activator theme can make things happen by turning thoughts into action. They are often impatient. Strategic People strong in the Strategic theme create alternative ways to proceed. Faced with any given scenario, they can quickly spot the relevant patterns and issues. Command People strong in the Command theme have presence. They can take control of a situation and make decisions. Self-Assurance People strong in the Self-assurance theme feel confident in their ability to manage their own lives. They possess an inner compass that gives them confidence that their decisions are right. I feel that Strategic and Activator combine well so that when I start a project without a clear plan for how I'll finish, I am able to plan as I go. One of the things I appreciate most about this book is that it emphasizes that our traits are strengths. When I was a kid, my brothers often accused me of being bossy. As I grew up, I figured out how to interact with people in ways that didn't drive them away, but still felt self-conscious about being a bossy person. By the time I was in college, the Command trait clearly was a strength: I could easily lead a section of horn players, organize a recital involving several students, take charge in small groups when no one else stepped forward, and so on. But it wasn't until I read this book that I let go of my self-consciousness about it and saw it as the strength it is.

03-14-2008, 03:04 PM	#5 (permalink)
Dave Kaminski Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Toronto, ON Posts: 795	I've got a whole thread on this from last year. I'm gonna post my results now, as well as the job I excelled in, and the job I hold now which I'm less motivated to excel in. Woo- People strong in the Woo theme love the challenge of meeting new people and winning them over. They derive satisfaction from breaking the ice and making a connection with another person. Intellection- People strong in the Intellection theme are characterized by their intellectual activity. They are introspective and appreciate intellectual discussions. Connectedness- People strong in the Connectedness theme have faith in the links between all things. They believe there are few coincidences and that almost every event has a reason. Communication- People strong in the Communication theme generally find it easy to put their thoughts into words. They are good conversationalists and presenters. Focus- People strong in the Focus theme can take a direction, follow through, and make the corrections necessary to stay on track. They prioritize, then act. Because of my Woo, Intellection, Communication, and Connectedness, I kicked ass in a phone tech support role where I helped people to troubleshoot their issues hands-on. This was a simple tier one position that I was quickly promoted out of into a remote virus removal team that charged on a per-cleaning basis. I left that job to take my current job as an IT Manager, where I now program for a big ERP, help support end users, manage a few win2k3 servers, etc. I'm essentially a DEW Master + a network administrator. I feel I don't get to communicate as much as I'd like to which is probably what makes me feel like this isn't the job for me. It's going well, but I'm not a superstar like I was when I was doing the support role.

Personal Development for Smart PeopleTM Forums

Personal Development for Smart People^TM Forums