Monday, March 27, 2006

My Strengths According to Gallup

Per the Gallup Organization's Web-based talent assessment tool StrengthsFinder. When you purchase "Now, Discover Your Strengths" by Marcus Buckingham, you are provided with a key to take the exam online.

Per StrengthsFinder, my top five strengths are:

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

I have had several of my staff take the exam as well. Not only are we finding that the results are incredibly accurate, but the seeing strengths of my team so clearly has helped me to adjust the work so that they are fulfilled, challenged, better utilized and more productive.