What is CliftonStrengths and why do we love it?
Everyone has their own, unique set of talents that can help them in both their personal and professional life. However, looking inward and pinpointing your strengths can sometimes be challenging.
That’s where the CliftonStrengths assessment from the Gallup Institute comes in to help. This test takes a unique approach that, when taken seriously, can help define your natural patterns of thinking and even give you a glimpse into your behaviors and feelings, as well.
At River District Consulting, we have all taken the assessment to help us understand ourselves and our team’s working dynamic. And because of this, we can leverage this knowledge to better serve our clients.
But what exactly is the CliftonStrengths assessment, and why should you consider using it with your team?
What is CliftonStrengths?
As we touched on above, the CliftonStrengths Assessment helps identify “your natural patterns of thinking, feeling and behaving.” The assessment takes about 35 minutes to complete, and to complete it, you’ll need to respond to 177 paired statements.
An example of a CliftonStrengths assessment question
Unlike personality quizzes and other surface-level assessments, the CliftonStrengths method truly makes responders answer based on instinct (the test is timed). Additionally, thanks to the paired method the assessment uses, there is no “right” answer to select. This leads to more accurate results.
Once you complete the test, your natural patterns will be categorized into 34 themes. Typically, people focus on their top five to ten results to get a better idea of where their potential lies.
Your everyday behaviors, defined as talents by Gallup, combine to form themes. These metrics include themes such as Connectedness, Achiever, Analytical, Learner, Futuristic, Empathy, Harmony, and Command. Gaining a better understanding of your themes can help you to strategically aim your natural behavior patterns and turn them into strengths.
This is a great way to learn a bit about yourself, but it is also a valuable tool for teams. CliftonStrengths results paint a clear picture of where your team’s strong points lie, but it can also highlight areas that may need extra attention.
You can find all 34 themes below:
A CliftonStrengths assessment highlighting someone’s top strengths
Why do we love CliftonStrengths?
When looking at the multiple assessment courses on the market, the CliftonStrengths method is an elegant solution to a problem many of these tests run into. It’s often easy to spot or choose the “right answer.” If you’re taking the assessment for work, you’ll of course say you are a highly motivated person on a scale of 1-10.
However, the Gallup Institute’s version makes users weigh in on two topics at the same time. Combine this with the fact that the test is timed, and the end result is test results that better reflect the true nature of the person taking the test.
But, CliftonStrengths is more than just a unique testing method:
“CliftonStrengths helps teams develop a common language around individual thought and behavior patterns. I really believe that language is a bridge to understanding and long-term success.”
- Hollie Adams, RDCG Partner and Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach
“CliftonStrengths empowers the individual and strengthens a team. It really gives specific and unique language to each person’s natural talents and ways of thinking. Understanding what each member contributes to the team helps them maximize their potential and, in turn, helps the team grow and work more efficiently.”
- Elli Whitehead, Project Coordinator at RDCG and Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach (certification pending)
Ready to see your CliftonStrengths results?
For those interested in the test, you can check out the pricing on the official website. Pricing starts at $19.99 for individuals.
If you are interested in using the CliftonStrengths Assessment to improve your team’s cohesion and maximize your potential, River District Consulting would love to speak with you about our personalized Strengths workshop that is catered to your needs, requirements, and organization. You can reach out to us at hello@riverdistrictconsulting.com or click here to fill out our contact form.