Introduction: Exploring Human Potential
I was introduced to Clifton Strengths about four years ago when I first started working at WellDyne. My boss at the time, Barbara, told me about this wonderful tool that provides insights into people’s strengths. She told me the whole idea behind the concept was centered around nourishing what’s “right” with people rather than focusing on what’s “wrong” with them.
Fast forward a few years to late 2021/early 2022, I was more and more interested in personality and behavioral assessments and the idea of implementing them to enhance team rapport at work. I had helped Barbara facilitate several of these types of sessions including both Clifton Strengths and Wiley’s DiSC.
I fell in love with the “aha!” moments trainees had and how much it seems to “crack their shells” and get them to open up and be (sometimes hilariously) honest with each other about REAL THINGS. I was hooked.
In April of 2022, I started my Clifton Strengths Coaching Certification, and met a class full of unique and incredible human beings–all interested in getting to know more about people, just like I was. It was an indescribably uplifting experience.
Understanding Clifton Strengths
Origins of Clifton Strengths
Last spring, the son of the man who roomed with Dr. Donald Clifton (the man who developed Clifton Strengths formerly known as StrengthsFinder) was my facilitator for my coaching certification cohort. It almost seemed surreal hearing his stories and how deep of a connection he had to the research and development of this entire system. I feel so lucky to have been taught by Al Winseman–he was the best!
Anyway, he told us that Dr. Donald O. Clifton, the “father of strengths-based psychology,” developed Clifton Strengths as a tool based around his research of successful executives in the United States over the course of 50 years. His research found out what themes these people all shared and turned them into his 34 Strengths or “themes of talent”. He based this concept to focus on improving what was already working for people instead of remediating their failures and weaknesses.
The Science Behind Clifton Strengths
The Clifton Strengths assessment is based on extensive research and a robust psychometric model, providing insights into an individual’s innate talents and capabilities. Here’s a little about the science behind it:
- Nearly 29 million people worldwide have taken the assessment (as of Jan 2023)
- Multiple studies published in peer-reviewed journals support the construct validity of the CliftonStrengths assessment
- The assessment demonstrates internal consistency and test-retest reliability, meaning the results are consistently accurate over time
- Don Clifton initiated early work on strengths and received a Presidential Commendation from the American Psychological Association (APA) in 2003 as the father of strengths-based psychology and the grandfather of positive psychology for his efforts
- Research conducted by Gallup and others has shown that using CliftonStrengths in workplaces and educational settings leads to improved performance, greater work and life satisfaction, higher levels of well-being, and more robust team dynamics
The Power of Strength-Based Development
The Benefits of Strength-Based Approach
The idea behind a strengths-based approach comes from the root of positive psychology. It isn’t a far stretch from rewarding positive behavior in that you tend to do more of what you’re good at, don’t you? Well, our strengths tell us what we are naturally talented at and also what “fills our bucket”. Knowing this, we can create action plans to move toward our goals KNOWING the tools that will get us there and make us happy along the journey.
Discovering Your Unique Strengths
The Role of Clifton Strengths Assessment
The Clifton Strengths Assessment is widely used in Fortune 500 companies today. Winning awards last year were Estee Lauder, Stryker, Regions Bank, and the University of Tennessee, among others. My company uses it and we give the assessment to all people leaders who are interviewing at our company. Leadership looks at the insights prior to interviewing and sometimes I suggest strengths-aligned questions to ask. It gives us great insights on how candidates go about solving problems and communicating solutions.
Interpreting Your Results
When coaching using Strengths, we work together to help you understand what each theme (strength) really means and more importantly, we discover, together, how that shows up for you. You need to understand how it shows up for you in your everyday life in multiple situations so we know just how to harness it to work more effectively for you.
Leveraging Your Strengths for Success
Aligning Strengths with Goals
Successful people are not just aware of their strengths; they align their goals with these strengths. By doing so, they ensure that they are on a path that maximizes their potential and leads to lasting success.
Overcoming Challenges Through Strengths
This is my favorite part of coaching using Clifton Strengths. It’s like we know the tools in your toolbox that you use every day, are comfortable with, and like using–now for the fun part! We get to create a plan where we figure out how to use what you’ve already got working for you in a way that will supercharge your happiness. It’s about being intentional.
The Impact on Personal and Professional Life
Long-Term Effects of Strength-Based Development
All in all, I would say that the Clifton Strengths system helps individuals to cultivate a growth mindset, enhance their resilience, boost self-confidence, and foster a more fulfilling and meaningful life. It helps people find direction by confirming what they suspected about themselves all along and them harnessing them power to its maximum potential.
Conclusion: Unleashing Your Full Potential
Interested in hearing more? E-mail me today at mdamon21@gmail.com to ask me any questions you have. Believe me, once you know your strengths, no one can take that power away from you. YOU are the person who is going to propel yourself forward. Now, we’ve got the tools 🙂 Let’s do this!
FAQs
- What is Clifton Strengths? Clifton Strengths is a psychological assessment tool that identifies a person’s unique sequence of 34 themes of talent, focusing on individual strengths (what you enjoy doing and are talented in).
- Why should I take the Clifton Strengths assessment? The assessment will help you identify your natural talents, enabling you to focus on what you naturally do best, leading to improved performance and satisfaction. E-mail me at mdamon21@gmail.com to find out more.
- Can I use my strengths to overcome challenges? Absolutely! Recognizing your strengths can provide innovative solutions to challenges and is a secret weapon that you can use to overcome obstacles and I’m happy to help you create an action plan.
- How does Clifton Strengths impact personal and professional life? Embracing your strengths can lead to increased engagement, performance, resilience, and self-confidence, transforming both personal and professional lives.
- What are the long-term benefits of a strength-based approach? A strength-based approach cultivates a growth mindset, promotes resilience, boosts self-confidence, and fosters a more fulfilling and meaningful life. Very helpful with communication and understanding yourself and others better.