The Clifton StrengthsFinder and the 34 Clifton StrengthsFinder theme names are protected by copyright of Gallup Inc., 2000. All rights reserved.
We advise you to do three things. First, take a moment to reflect on your Signature Themes -- your "top five" -- as revealed by the Clifton StrengthsFinder. Do you agree with your top five? Are there some other themes within the full list of 34 that, in your opinion, capture your spirit, your essence, more accurately? If there are, good. After all, no one knows you better than you. Incorporate these additional themes into your understanding of who you are and what you do. Remember that the purpose of the Clifton StrengthsFinder is not to "anoint" you with five strong themes, but rather to stimulate focused reflection into the sources of your strengths. If, upon reflection, you feel compelled to add one or two themes to your top five, please do so.
Second, ask yourself this question: How can I use my strongest themes in my current role? A few of us may discover that we cannot -- that we are, in fact, miscast in our current roles. But most of us will probably find that our current roles are sufficiently broad to allow us to recraft them in ways that allow us to play to our strongest themes most of the time.
Third, ask yourself: Is my manager aware of my strongest themes? Most of us find that the answer is "No." If that is the case, meet with your manager to present your Signature Themes and any others you may wish to address. Discuss how, together, you can better cultivate these talents. You might possess strong Analytical talent, and so tell your manager, "I need to see the numbers, the proof. I can't get excited about a project unless you can provide the data that reveals why what we are doing is right." Or you might possess strong Futuristic talent, and so request "the picture of where we are all headed. If you want the best of me, you have to help me see the future toward which we are all striving."
Remember, there is power in your awareness of your talents. But there may be even greater power in increasing your manager's awareness of your talents.
The Clifton StrengthsFinder and the 34 Clifton StrengthsFinder theme names are protected by copyright of Gallup Inc., 2000. All rights reserved.
