How (and Where) to Use StrengthsFinder Results
Time: 8:20 minutes
Let’s talk about how to use your StrengthsFinder Results? What can you actually do with your CliftonStrengths Assessment? But when we have this conversation, let’s think about more than just school or work topics.
Most people are introduced to StrengthsFinder through work or some sort of professional development. They hear stats like More than 90% of Fortune 500 companies have used CliftonStrengths and they categorize this as a workplace tool. They build a wall limiting what they’ve learned to only one part of their life.
In this video, I invite you to consider each of these topics in all arenas of your life: work, home, family, community, hobbies, beliefs, goals, dreams.
Let’s break through the walls with some examples of where you can apply what you learn from your results:
Relationships
How do your Talent themes affect how you relate to the people around you? Yes, this could mean bosses and co-workers which is why CliftonStrengths is heavily used in team development. But what about your personal relationships, like family, your partner, your parents, your children, your friends, even your neighbors?
- What kind of people are you drawn to?
- What kind of people repel you?
- Who do you work well with?
- Who should you date?
- Who should you stay away from?
- What do you bring to relationships?
- What do you expect from others?
A lot of times, we expect others to treat us the way we want to be treated because we think our way of thinking is common and obvious to all.
Working on your Talent themes in your Relationships will open doors to understanding and cooperation. It will drastically improve how you relate to others, and you’ll feel better about yourself in the process.
Activities
What kinds of things do you do?
Not, what do you do for work? What do you do… when no one’s looking? What are you drawn to?
Your Talent Themes can reveal WHY you’re drawn to certain activities and indifferent to others.
- Do you like adventure, going out an exploring?
- Do you enjoy mysteries, collecting details to get to the bottom of a question?
- Do you like learning, listening, discussing or exploring new ideas?
You can tell me: “Hey, I like sitting on my couch and watching movies”.
OK, are you doing that by yourself, or sharing that with others? And, what kind of movies are you watching? Are they adventures, mysteries, or educational?
Growing up, I was a big movie buff. I have all of my movie stubs since the 90’s. And even though I watch all kinds of movies, my favorites are usually based on true life stories. They’re inspiring. They require the characters to dig deep, band together, be vulnerable, and grow.
It wasn’t until I dove into my Talent Themes that I realized that the stories I’m drawn to are obvious mixes of my predominant Talent themes.
I didn’t realize how my results touch each aspect of my day.
Blind Spots
What don’t you see? You can’t tell me because you don’t see it.
Even when you know your blind spots, you keep forgetting because they’re not natural to you. Our Talent Themes give us insight to what our thoughts and feelings naturally gravitate towards.
My themes tend to be in CliftonStrengths’ Relationship-Building and Executing Domains, so I’ve observed that my brain immediately runs towards: “How are people being affected?” and “How do we do what needs to get done?”
I don’t tend to think about strategizing, influencing, or abstract concepts. I gravitate towards tangibles: people, things, and actions.
So as I’m speaking with others and give examples, my immediate thoughts tend to be people or action-oriented. I’m biased in those directions.
Blind spots are important for us to recognize our biases.
What don’t you see? What perspectives do you neglect that can surprise you or hurt you (or others)?
Problem-Solving
I’m curious what kinds of problems are you trying to solve in your life?
- Is it trying to create a new habit – maybe breaking an old one?
- Are you trying to increase your income?
- Have more free time?
- Are you trying to connect with others?
What are you doing to address your problems? Chances are you’re trying to do more of the same things, maybe even turning up the volume on methods that aren’t working.
Why not lean into your Talent Themes – explore them in new ways?
There was someone who was in one of my classes who approached everything from the lens of her #1 Talent Theme: Achiever. This theme dominated what she did, how she did, and how she even measured her self-worth.
When we had met, she had just changed careers, so she was starting from the bottom. She wasn’t getting her highs from achieving like she used to from her old career where she was an expert. Then the pandemic hit. She was at a low.
Part of what we worked on was how to lean into her other Talent Themes to build her confidence and give her wins. She leaned into her Learner Talent, and started contributing at her new workplace by creating systems for her and others who would benefit.
Not only was she learning new approaches to give her a sense of accomplishment at work, she was learning that she can lean into other Talent Themes to have more options when trying to deal with problems – and again this could be a work, home, etc.
Decision-Making
Why do you gravitate towards certain options? Is it the safe thing to do? Is it pushing towards your goals?
Again, we’re thinking more than just school or work.
- Where do you want to live?
- What do you want to do?
- Who do you want to spend time with?
- Do you want to be in a relationship?
- Do you even want a family?
- What do you want to believe?
- How do you want to live your life?
- How do you want to be remembered?
What do you think is influencing the answers to those questions? You guessed it... your Talent themes.
Your Talent Themes give you insight to your Needs and Values. They color how you perceive things, which impacts your Decision-Making.
I talked earlier about Relationships, Blind Spots, and Biases… these topics are all interconnected, so impact what options you feel are even available to you.
Conclusion
Your CliftonStrengths results aren’t professional. They’re personal. Take whatever you’re learning about yourself and apply it to all aspects of your life.
These were just a few examples of other arenas (beyond work) where you can apply your results. I’m sure you can think of others
