I took the Gallup StrengthsFinder test three years ago but decided to take it again, in trying to figure out what on earth it is that I’m good at. Most of the results stayed the same, but the #1 result wasn’t even in my last results–so that’s interesting.
1. Restorative: Instinctively, you regularly energize people with your ideas about what can be changed or done better. You frequently describe how individuals or groups can benefit from your suggestions. Your optimistic approach is apt to inspire people to design improvement plans. You probably rally individuals to support and execute those plans. Because of your strengths, you probably struggle to recall details, names, facts, appointments, numbers, or deadlines. You routinely use one or two techniques to jar your memory when you need to remember key pieces of information. This knowledge understandably guarantees your own, someone else’s, or the group’s success. Chances are good that you gravitate to conversations in which intelligent, unemotional, and reasonable thoughts are freely exchanged. These give-and-take sessions inspire you to consider what you need to upgrade, perfect, or raise to excellence. By nature, you identify skill deficiencies, knowledge gaps, or performance shortcomings. These usually capture your attention. Having discovered these problems, you are determined to conquer them. You probably say you can do anything you decide to do as long as you apply yourself. Driven by your talents, you usually identify problems others fail to notice. You repeatedly create solutions and find the right answers. You yearn to improve things about yourself, other people, or situations. You are drawn to classes, books, or activities that promise to give you the skills and knowledge you seek.
2. Futuristic: Instinctively, you occasionally work seriously at something when you have defined the specific objective you want to reach in the near term or the long term. Remember, your other talents might influence how far into the future you can push certain goals and still give them your undivided attention. By nature, you regularly set aside the majority of your time to contemplate what the world could be like years or decades from today. Ideas come to you when you are in the company of visionary thinkers. These individuals often stimulate your inventiveness. Chances are good that you invest considerable time creating the future of your own choosing. You frequently share your ideas about what will be possible in the coming months, years, and decades. You probably capture people’s attention whenever you describe in vivid detail what you imagine. Because of your strengths, you envision what you can accomplish tomorrow, next week, next month, next year, or in the coming decades. Your goals and aspirations motivate you to keep moving forward. The tension you feel when a deadline is fast approaching forces you to concentrate on the right activities, discard irrelevant information, and not waste time on intriguing distractions. Your one aim is to reach your objectives. It’s very likely that you sometimes like being an individual performer. Why? Maybe working alone permits you to concentrate your energy on what you want to accomplish in the coming months, years, or decades.
3. Strategic: Chances are good that you can design innovative plans. You probably raise issues and identify recurring obstacles as you generate tactical options. Problems and possible solutions become apparent to you. Once you outline action steps, you quickly execute them one by one. You refuse to waste time questioning your ideas after everything has been set into motion. By nature, you generate ideas quickly. You draw clever linkages between facts, events, people, problems, or solutions. You present others with numerous options at a pace some find dizzying. Your innovative thinking tends to foster ongoing dialogue between and among the group’s participants. Instinctively, you generate innovative ideas. You have a unique perspective on events, people and situations. You probably inspire others to start projects and launch initiatives as a result of your perspective. You tend to identify a goal, devise numerous ways of reaching it and choose the best alternative. This explains why you see opportunities, trends and solutions before your teammates, classmates or peers do. Because of your strengths, you are innovative, inventive, original, and resourceful. Your mind allows you to venture beyond the commonplace, the familiar, or the obvious. You entertain ideas about the best ways to reach a goal, increase productivity, or solve a problem. First, you think of alternatives. Then you choose the best option. Driven by your talents, you customarily pinpoint the core problems and identify the best solutions. You artfully and skillfully eliminate distractions. This helps people gain a clear understanding of what is happening and why it is happening. You frequently identify ways to transform an obstacle into an opportunity.
4. Activator: Chances are good that you relieve people of the burden of having to figure out what you think, feel, and need. How? You simply tell them. Your plainspoken approach enhances their understanding of you as a person. Your straightforward expression of your needs and desires usually eliminates any confusion. Instinctively, you pay close attention to intelligent conversations. You have a knack for giving credit to individuals who make key points that advance everyone’s understanding of a theory, concept, or idea. You file away or make a mental note about this information, knowing it will be useful one day. It’s very likely that you rarely avoid telling people about yourself, your experiences, or even your shortcomings. You reflect on what you should do better, more completely, or more perfectly. You are comfortable admitting all sorts of things about yourself. Driven by your talents, you are very decisive about implementing upgrades or making enhancements. You probably realize that great ideas without action are totally meaningless. You occasionally become frustrated with individuals who lack the gumption — that is, boldness — to transform their original thoughts into tangible results. Because of your strengths, you usually declare what needs to be done. You probably rely on others to initiate discussions or small talk. Characteristically you avoid having to explain or defend your choices. You are inclined to move quickly so activity reduces the possibility of time-consuming dialogue.
5. Ideation: Instinctively, you think creatively. You see possibilities. You are inclined to reject traditional approaches to problem solving. You trust your feelings to lead you to the proper solution. It’s very likely that you are an original and innovative thinker. Others frequently rely on you to generate novel concepts, theories, plans, or solutions. You refuse to be stifled by traditions or trapped by routines. You probably bristle when someone says, “We can’t change that. We’ve always done it this way.” Driven by your talents, you automatically think of new and different ways to do things. Your mind is brimming with ideas. You probably are eager to share them with whoever will listen. Chances are good that you occasionally figure out how to get ahead and stay ahead of others. You usually generate more new ideas than anyone else in the group. Sometimes your brainpower gives you the advantage you need to succeed. Because of your strengths, you come to the assistance of individuals or groups that must invent new ways of doing everyday chores and tackling never-before-tried projects. Your imaginative mind creates all sorts of novel ideas. You probably enjoy brainstorming sessions. Why? No one is allowed to render a judgment until all the practical and outlandish ideas have been presented.
Hmm… so… those are my “strengths.” How can I apply these in a way that is productive in the real world? These days I’m drowning in my weaknesses, so it’s nice to be reminded that there are areas of my personality that can be seen as strengths if applied properly. But how?
life with interest 