My Top 5 CliftonStrengths®

May 14

When Michael Trautmann suggested I take the test, I was skeptical. I’ve taken many such tests, and they all seem more like zodiac signs or party tricks than useful development tools. Some were interesting in the moment (“I’m an ENFP!” “You’re the fire element!”), but none of them led to any sustainable change or improvement. Why would this test be any different?

Yet he persisted. Michael explained how he uses his own test results as a diagnostic tool, one which helps him explain past challenges and gives him a map for how to handle new projects. He gave me specific examples of how he learned to take advantage of his strengths and be mindful not to overuse them; of how he navigates his weaknesses by partnering with people who complement him.

Finally, I took the test. 200 questions, each of which you answer in 20 seconds or less. At the end, you get a list of strengths and much more. You get analysis that feels insightful and in-depth.

I read the report quickly, and then…filed it away and forgot about it.

The next time I saw Michael, however, he said, “Give me twenty minutes.” He sat me down and walked me through my results. As a certified CliftonStrengths Coach, he’s done this over a thousand times. His explanations, combined with our talking through applications of my strengths and weaknesses, helped me see how useful the tool could be.

Suddenly, I believed. I became convinced that I—and the 35 million people who’ve taken the test—can “use their CliftonStrengths to thrive at work and everywhere else” as Gallup claims. Like me, people just might need help to bring their test results to life, to practice applying it every day. And so Michael and I have begun working on a method to do just that.

Here are my top 5 results. (Click on the image for more details on each one.)