Strengths Finder 2.0

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“At work, I have the opportunity to do what I do best every day.” –‘Strongly Agreed’ to by only 1/3 of the 10 million Gallup surveyed people worldwide on the topic of employee engagement.

The story of Rudy, a 23 year old football die-hard, tirelessly working to achieve his dream of gaining admission into Notre Dame and having a chance to play for the Fighting Irish football team, is a heartwarming tale of the underdog beating the odds by making up for his lack of talent with heart and hard work. While the film is inspirational, the overarching principle that “you can be anything you want to be, if you just try hard enough,” is covering up the underlying problem that, as potential is concerned, Rudy was completely ‘misdirected’. On a larger scale, many students and workers are required to spend hours and hours working to develop skills that they have no interest or natural ability in and, therefore, will never become very good at, meanwhile, losing valuable time, opportunity, and energy that could be spent developing there true talents and interests.

This month’s book review is on Tom Rath’s Strengths Finder 2.0. Rath, leader of the workplace consulting company Gallup, has sold more than 4 million copies of his books, making him one of the most influential authors of the last decade. Strengths Finder 2.0 is all about figuring out which five of 34 possible dimensions people have the greatest natural ability in and, as a result, have the highest potential for success. The benefits of learning and understanding this information are perhaps limited only by the imagination of those using it. Employers will have a method of checking workers’ compatibility for a position and will be better able to predict long-term success. Employees will have a better opportunity to find a job they both excel in and enjoy performing. Students will have clearer guidance down educational paths that fit their strengths, while teachers and parents will be able to provide more informed support.

With an estimated 70 percent of people not working in their strengths zone there is definitely a great need to read this book and take this test. These people are six times less likely to be engaged in their job. “So why isn’t everyone living life with a strengths approach? One big problem is that most people are either unaware of, or unable to describe, their own strengths . . . or the strengths of the people around them” (Rath, 13).

I recommend this book for anyone looking for guidance figuring out and verbalizing their strengths, anyone struggling to find a career they are truly passionate about, and anyone interested in a tool to help take their business, relationships, or life to a higher level.

Enjoy this review?  Get a copy of Strengths Finder 2.0 in the Self Made® Book Store!

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