Strengths Finder 2.0

Having graduated from college with a degree in psychology and then joining the human resources field, I have taken my share of personality profiles. Sometimes they were taken to check my personal makeup, other times they were taken to see what my business profile would turn out like. Since I started taking the Myers Briggs some 20 years ago, I have not strayed far from my initial results: INTP. In the DISC profile, I came out solidly as a C. More recently, I have taken the Strengths Finder profile.

Unlike most personality tests, this one is keyed around specific areas of strength for your personality type rather than finding the type as a whole. I guess it's designed to be more applicable than theoretical. While every personality test will give you an idea of what you can do to better interact with the world, or ways that the world can better interface with you, the Strengths Finder one is specifically geared with that goal in mind.

After taking an online test, you will be given a series of five strengths for yourself. If you took it honestly, you should recognize yourself in those strengths. One of my coworkers just took a brief class on it and was suggesting that our group take it together. I had bought it for myself and Laura a couple years ago for Christmas and we took it together to see how we came out. In order from highest scored, the top five strengths that I came out as are:

Strategic
People strong in the Strategic theme create alternative ways to proceed. Faced with any given scenario, they can quickly spot the relevant patterns and issues. “What if?” and “Then what?” are the definers of those with a strong Strategic theme. They generate numerous options, determine available resources, including people, time money and materials then implement the best choice.

Individualization
People strong 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. They are good observers and listeners, they pickup insights and information and the distinctive qualities that make people unique.

Ideation
People strong in the Ideation theme are fascinated by ideas. They are able to find connections between seemingly disparate phenomena. Innovative concepts, theories, and solutions are the essence of Ideation. People with strength in Ideation are quickly able to find the basic concepts of complex events.

Analytical
People strong in the Analytical theme search for reasons and causes. They have the ability to think about all the factors that might affect a situation. They demand proof. “Show me how what you are claiming is documented and true” is their mantra.

Relator
People who are strong in the Relator theme enjoy close relationships with others. They find deep satisfaction in working hard with friends to achieve a goal. Deep relationships are nurtured and close bonds are maintained.


There are four different categories of strengths with 34 total strengths among them. The categories are Impacting Themes (used to motivate others to action), Relating Themes (used to effectively create, develop and sustain relationships), Striving Themes (push self and others for results and get things done), and Thinking Themes (used to analyze, process and study data and information). Interestingly, my five strengths fell into only two of these categories: two Relating Themes (Individualization and Relator) and three Thinking Themes (Analytical, Ideation, and Strategic).