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Finding your strengths.
Submitted by matt on Sun, 05/24/2009 - 9:49pm.
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I am participating in the Tech Ranch Employee to Entrepreneur eight-week class which just started last week. Part of the homework for this week was to read StrengthsFinder 2.0 by Tom Rath, and to take the associated online test to assess my strengths. But let me back up a minute.
The premise is rather interesting and a point which I had not considered before: Most of our development actions are geared towards fixing our weaknesses rather than developing our strengths. Even from an childhood educational perspective, the author notes,
"Parents and teachers reward excellence with apathy instead of investing more time in the areas where a child has the most potential for greatness."
I don't believe Rath means to indicate that students need not learn the essentials of modern education, but that our system (and stepping back, culture) is setup to focus more on developing personal weaknesses. The author does a more eloquent and thorough job of codifying his assessment of the situation than I can describe in this blog, but that's the basic tenet. Note that this book stems from 40 years of research by Gallup on the topic of finding common strengths amongst individuals world-wide.
With that said, I followed through with the reading, and the subsequent online 30-minute test. The results of the test yielded my "Top 5" strengths (out of 34 possible). I was very surprised by the results, but only because they were right on. Without going into the details of my own strengths, the benefit is the remainder of the book: reviewing each of my "Top 5", and seeing what ideas for action are recommended. Reading the pages associated with each of the five resulted in many "Yeah, that's me" head nods, and ideas for direction, and even other types of people to partner with. In my case, the usefulness is affirming feelings I have had about my own talents, and realizing that certain career directions I am leaning towards are in fact stemming from my own strengths (which explains why I'm excited about going in this direction!) What else will come of this strength assessment -- time will tell. It's only been a day since I read the book and took the test.
As a final thought, I will admit that I'm not the "self-help" book type, nor even the reading type. Though I was surprised by the accuracy of the results, stepping back I was even more surprised that I'm finding such value out of this book at all. I went into the exercise skeptical, and came out pleasantly converted.
(Note: It should go without saying, but I'm not being paid by anyone associated with the book, nor course I'm enrolled.)
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I did this about 6 years ago while at Microsoft, then about 2 years ago when the Strengths 2.0 version came out. Both tests were identical in their results. It's quite amazing to see what our specific strengths are, but the tests real value comes from 1) telling you what areas to watch out for, and 2) telling you what kind of people are complimentary to your basic strengths
Mine are: Activator, Ideation, Input, Learner, and Communication. For what it's worth :-)
Positive self assessment is at the core of growth and improvement. Positive assessment and nurture of our strong points from parents, mentors, teachers, and friends is critical to our success.
Sounds like a worthwhile path and program... looking forward to reading more about your experiences in the coming weeks.
Thanks Matt!
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I work for an Austin networking software company that makes Strength Finder 2.0 a part of the new hire orientation process. A true strengths-based organization. Now that I have ventured out into my own startup, I too will make this required reading for all employees. This concept not only encourages you to discover your strengths but further bucks the system in directing you to do "damage control" on your weaknesses or things you don't do well. It's a given that what you do best are usually tasks you are happiest performing.
I couldn't stop with "Discover Your Strengths". I also read other books in the series "First, Break All the Rules" and "Putting Your Strengths to Work". To attract the right talent and build successful teams I'm offering a 4 day work week and a virtual workplace. How's that for breaking all the rules?
That sounds quite attractive (re: breaking the rules). How is it working for you so far with you start-up?
I, too, have recently taken this instrument. Similar to Myers-Briggs, Insights, and others, its strength (no pun intended) is providing a vocabulary for identifying and articulating what gives me energy (strategizing, learning, creating) versus those activities that I *can* do, but drain me. Like Insights, knowing other's strengths can be helpful in building teams.
Steve
Going well so far. I'm currently attending the Rice Alliance Entrepreneurs Workshop out at MCC every Thursday (thanks for the recommendation) and working on the business plan along the way.
By the way, my strengths are: Learner, Input, Connectedness, Individualization and Ideation.
Kevin Koym recommended that book to me, and I have to say, it was an interesting read... I think Steve hit it on the head when describing it as a way to articulate our most energizing activities.
But knowing your weaknesses is actually pretty important, too, especially for an entrepreneur putting a team together.
Suzy Drapkin has a good course on that for entrepreneurs.
Correction: Learner, Intellection, Connectedness, Ideation and Input. Basically, I'm best at creating a bond and getting to know people on a higher level in order to make them feel my idea is theirs. I then question why they haven't implemented "their idea" already as if this is a new revelation. I'm told this creates a sense of urgency to get things done when I'm successful at it.
Kevin recommended it to me as well, David. I don't feel quite as special anymore. :)
Seriously - Well worth the time to read.
-John
It is amazing that this is just coming to light when you really think about it. Lets make this simple and use a sports analogy. If I am 6'7" I probably will not be a jockey, but most likely play basketball (if athletics is my strength). I am NOT even going into the educational system in this country (I would still be writing two days from now).
Yes, focus on your core competencies in everything you do. This is the EXACT advice I give to customers I work with. You can ONLY do a few things better than everyone else, and if you are lucky enough to have a ready market for it, stop trying to too many things you really are not good at. Let a partner or outsource it.
I think Adam Smith mentioned something about this in "Wealth of Nations" but I could be wrong!
The Profit Prophet
I did this as part of getting hired where I work. Mine are:
Strategic
Responsibility
Restorative
Ideation
Relator
Turns out their dead on.
My most unrealized strength - I also took the Tech Ranch http://techranchaustin.com/ Employee to Entrepreneur course last time around and read Strength Finder. Of most value to me was the strength it identified (connectedness) that I did not previously think of as one of my strengths. Now I am beginning to use this strength more consciously.
For my other four top strengths (ideation, input, futuristic, learner) I had the same reaction, "yea that's me". It has taken longer for me to appreciate and start to think about and use 'connectedness'. Now I think connectedness is the strength that I can most quickly gain from by consciously recognizing and using.
What is possibly almost as interesting to entrepreneurs is the book's business model. A copy of the book contains a unique code to access the strength assessment website. This ensures a book buyer has paid for one and only one test. Once the code is used, I can lend or sell my book to you, but it won't allow you to assess your strengths. Somehow the tangible nature of the book makes it seem more worth purchasing, but the assessment makes it not as re-usable, .. there must be other similar business models waiting to be found.
Interesting stuff, I recommend this book/assessment to anyone. I sent a copy to my neice for her birthday.