Billed as ‘the revolutionary program that shows you how to develop your unique talents and strengths – and those of the people that you manage’ this book electrifies the way we think of ourselves and our teams. Based on a Gallup study of over two million people, the authors proceed to lay out two basic themes. First, our culture raises us to focus on our ‘weaknesses’ and therefore we use too much energy ‘fixing’ ourselves instead of expanding and growing our natural strengths. Secondly, we can train and enhance our talents to achieve consistent competence and greater results and satisfaction. Intuitively simplistic, it isn’t as obvious as it seems.
How many of us come out of our annual reviews with a developmental plan for our strengths? In the future more of us will, according to the authors. We all know what our strengths are and yet we take them for granted. Unconsciously we acknowledge them and move on. Consciously we ignore them, assume they are a given and blithely engage our energies to improve our weaknesses. That’s what we are supposed to do, right? Instead of applying remedial activity to our weaknesses, we should be doing this for our strengths. If we develop our strengths, if we enhance our natural tendencies and natures we end up in jobs and roles that are best suited to our strengths. This ultimately leads to better performance and greater sense of accomplishment.
If you purchase the book it includes a secret code so that you can take The Strengths Finder Profile Assessment on the web. This is truly a fun way to interact with a book with such a positive, remarkable thesis. This reviewer wasn’t surprised by the strengths that were revealed yet I was fascinated by the twist of perspective that the book provides. Instead of thinking: ‘I’m good at the big picture but I need to focus more on the details’, you think instead: “I’m good at the big picture, how can I get better at it”? Equally important, if you manage people, you learn how to structure your teams and develop your staff around their skills and talents instead of wasting time on trying to make everyone well rounded.
Buckingham and Clifton detail thirty-four ‘themes’ that include names such as, ‘achiever, competition, inclusiveness, restorative, and self-assurance'. These labels include types of people, categories of features and personal qualities. The book explains each theme and shows you how to see it in yourself and others. A significant portion of the book details how to manage teams and employees to their strengths.
This is a book you must read if you are a manager or a leader. Even if you traditionally think of your employees and teams in terms of their strengths and weaknesses, the move to identify, enhance and build upon only strengths will overhaul and revolutionize your management and team’s performance. Even if you aren’t a leader in the workplace, you can still apply these concepts to your own talents, those of your peers, significant others and children. This reviewer says go ahead, NOW, Discover Your Strengths!
Terry Wilson-Malam is a coach, consultant and facilitator who coaches leaders and teams who are ready to express outrageous, courageous leadership. She has a background in managing large software development projects, executive coaching and team facilitation. www.wilsonmalam.com 978-456-9902
