Clifton StrengthsFinder, StrengthsFinder, and CliftonStrengths Assessment — these terms all refer to the same strengths assessment tool! That tool used to go by “StrengthsFinder” and the official name is now “The CliftonStrengths Assessment”.
What is the CliftonStrengths assessment? (sometimes called Clifton StrengthsFinder or StrengthsFinder)
The CliftonStrengths Assessment is an online tool that helps you discover what you naturally do best, where you have the most potential, and what makes you exceptional. In other words, it helps you discover areas of natural strengths.
It is a terrific tool for ambitious perfectionists who tend to go hard on themselves because it highlights areas of strength and potential.
You can use the customized results of this assessment to make meaningful choices, address challenges, and enhance your quality of life. I know that might sound too-good-to-be-true, but my own experience of using the assessment results has been incredibly positive and helpful in my day-to-day– hence the reason I’m keen to share it with others. And, also the reason I became a Gallup-Certified Strengths coach.
Official definition: An “online assessment of personal talent that identifies areas in which an individual has the greatest potential for building strengths” (Asplund, Agrawal, Hodges, Harter, & Lopez, 2014, p.1).
How long it takes, language options, and reports
- 177 items/questions
- 20 seconds to respond to each item
- Available in 20+ languages. It is best to take the assessment in your native language or in the language you are most fluent in.
When you take the Top5 assessment, you will have access to two different reports; these will help you both deepen your understanding of the results and provide concrete ideas for taking action so that you can advance your goals, address challenges, and develop your strengths.
Reasons I trust the results of the CliftonStrengths Assessment
One of the reasons I recommend the CliftonStrengths Assessment is because I trust it and the results. That’s in part because:
- The items are derived from a 30-year research study of human strengths
- It has been developed through a rigorous empirical process
- The assessment has strong reliability (both internal consistency and test-retest reliability) and strong validity and has been repeatedly subjected to psychometric examination.
- More than 25 million people have taken the assessment and Gallup (the organization that deploys this assessment) studies that data extensively–this then allows them to provide valuable information to users, like us, to grow our awareness of strengths.
Have more questions? If you want to really dig deep, read The Clifton StrengthsFinder 2.0 Technical Report. Feel free to contact me directly!
What is the philosophy behind the CliftonStrengths assessment?
The assessment is grounded in positive psychology.
The strengths philosophy, specifically, is the assertion that individuals can gain far more when they expend effort to build on their greatest talents than when they spend a comparable amount of effort to remediate their weaknesses (Clifton & Harter, 2003). In other words, developing your strengths “pays off” more than focussing on trying to “fix weaknesses”.
I’m not interested in the technical stuff. What benefits have YOU found from doing this assessment?
Though I consider myself quite self-aware, the results of this assessment have given me even more insight into myself. I am now more adept at recognizing my natural behaviours, thoughts, and feelings and much better able to use these productively. Prior to learning about how to use the CliftonStrengths results, I might have ignored these or wished them away, thereby losing the ability to apply these talents in ways that help me achieve my goals and lead a more meaningful life.
In addition to giving me a better grasp on who I am, I have developed an increased appreciation for others and am able to ‘strengths spot’ (i.e., identify other people’s strengths) more easily.
Oh, and please let me re-emphasize that learning about my CliftonStrengths themes also give me more appreciation about my own self.
Ok! I want to do this! What’s next?
You can access the assessment as follows:
- Purchase an access code to the assessment online at the Gallup Site. You will be given a choice of the Top5 or CliftonStrengths 34. I recommend starting with the Top5.
OR - Dig deep into your strengths and themes through coaching!
Take action on your CliftonStrengths results to get the most out of the assessment!
Reading the assessment results will give you insights into yourself. That’s great. But, I have found that individuals who get the most out of the CliftonStrengths results are those who learn how to apply the information to meet their goals. That learning can happen in a few different ways: by reading up on strengths, using the action-planning prompts provided when you take the assessment, and/or working with a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach.
Do you want to use your strengths and experience greater career fulfillment? I work with people from around the world who are excited to apply their strengths at work and in their career. Book a complimentary consultation at isabeauiqbal.com/contact .
References
Asplund, J., Lopez, S. J., Hodges, T., & Harter, J. (2007). The Clifton StrengthsFinder® 2.0 technical report: Development and validation. Princeton (NJ): Gallup Inc.
Clifton, D.O., & Harter, J.K. (2003). Investing in strengths. In A. K.S. Cameron, B. J.E.. Dutton, & C. R.E. Quinn (Eds.), Positive organizational scholarship: Foundations of a new discipline (pp. 111-121). San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Inc.