One of the reasons we don’t delve into our own self discovery more is that we feel it may be too time consuming and difficult to really find the answers about ourselves that we are looking for. While I do think this is an ongoing process, there are some simple things that will help identify what you do best.
If you’ve heard of StrengthsFinder, you know it gives you your Top 5 Themes that best describes who you are, how you think, live and process your life. The people at the Gallup Organization have identified 34 core Strengths. After you read the intro chapters of the book, you will take an online assessment that identifies your top 5 Strengths. One thing that I really like about how they present the information is that they give real world examples of what your gift looks like through the lens of other’s experiences in a wide range of different industries. My Top 5 really helped me understand how I work and it also made me appreciate my friends and co-workers more.
My top 5 Strengths are listed below:
Analytical
People who are especially talented in the Analytical theme are logical and rigorous. They see their self as objective and dispassionate.
This one was surprising because I don’t really consider myself as dispassionate or shall we say calm or cool person.
However, it does make sense when I think about it. When everybody is hesitating, I’m usually the one who steps up and take’s control of the situation. I also have this intimidating aura around me that makes people become wary about my presence.
Another thing about Analytical is that it challenges other people, I am not afraid to disagree with other people or get into conflicts when something is on the line. “Prove it. Show me why what you are claiming is true.”
Yeah, I guess I’m that kind of person.
Discipline
People who are especially talented in the Discipline theme are instinctively imposing structure, set up routines and it should be ordered and planned.
This isn’t a surprise especially to the people who have worked with me in the past. I probably wouldn’t have survived in a company that considers 50-60 hours of work a week as normal for over two years without this talent.
Individualization
People who are especially talented 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.
The idea behind this strength is the belief that every situation and every person should be dealt with according to the context of the situation.
Thinking about it more, I have used this talent for a long time. I’m picky about friends because I know that I eventually have to treat each one of them differently unlike other people who are fine about treating “friends” equally.
The dead giveaway is my habit of gift giving: I never give non-personalized gifts.
Strategic
People who are especially talented in the Strategic theme have a distinct way of thinking, a special perspective on the world at large. They gather and make selections until it arrives at the chosen path.
This fourth strength didn’t come as a surprise to me; I know that I play out alternative scenarios, always asking, “What if this happened?” “Okay, well what if this happened?” it’s my strategy to see each path leading to the right way.
Learner
People who are especially talented 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.
The last didn’t come as a surprise to me; I’ve known since college that given the proper environment (School and Family) I absorb knowledge a lot faster than most people.
According to the Marcus Buckingham books on talent, the key to success is to focus on one’s strengths and not on one’s weakness. I think I did a good job focusing this talent in the past half decade: the main reason I took the job offer from my previous company was for the training, not the money. Even after I left, I still focus on this talent by continuously learning new stuff.
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Overall, the assessment was slightly unpredictable. I was expecting to have Strengths like Competition and Developer (a woman who wants to make others succeed), and I was expecting Learner to be higher on the list.
Discovering your top 5 Strengths can get you well on your way to better self-knowledge and help along the path to utilizing your gifts for a greater purpose. The above Strengths don’t solve everything but they definitely are a quick way to get you going on the path.
