BNA Magazine

Have you ever wondered about the qualities that make you unique? Did you ever wish you could develop your natural strengths instead of constantly trying to overcome your weaknesses? I often wondered the same thing about myself until I took the "Strengthsfinder 2.0" test a few years ago. After reading the results, I was excited to learn about my strengths and how they could positively impact my life. Let me share with you some of the insights from this book.

"Strengthsfinder 2.0," written by Tom Rath and published by Gallup Press, outlines 34 strengths that are common to most people. They include qualities such as "adaptability," "communication," "discipline," "harmony," and "responsibility." Available in Spanish and many other languages, the book informs you, the reader, about the uniqueness of your most prominent (or "Top Five") strengths and ways that you can utilize these strengths for self-improvement. Each book contains a unique access code that will allow you to log onto www.strengthsfinder.com. You spend approximately 30 minutes answering questions about yourself in order to determine your top strengths. The questions are designed to evaluate areas unique to your personality. Immediately after taking the test, you will receive a printout of a detailed evaluation of your top five strengths and the important role that each could play in your life.

After receiving the printout of my top strengths, which include "Achiever," "Learner," and "Focus," I read each of the corresponding chapters in "Strengthsfinder 2.0." Each chapter gave incredible insight into each trait. Although I understood the meanings of the strengths-based words, I wanted to discover their significance in my life and how I could best use them in my job and in relationships with others. From reading about my "Achiever" strength, for example, I learned details about why I feel the need to accomplish goals and work hard in areas of interest to me. I also read about the challenges associated with this character trait, which include overly focusing on work instead of spending time with family members.

I encourage you to purchase "Strengthsfinder 2.0" and take the test to learn more about this type of learning. The book usually is available for under $15 at online retailers such as barnesandnoble.com and at some local bookstores. After doing this, you may want to learn more about using your strengths by checking out other resources, such as, "Now, Discover Your Strengths" and "Go Put Your Strengths To Work," both written by Marcus Buckingham. These books offer clear strategies for using your top five strong points to your best advantage. Your children also can learn about their strengths by reading "StrengthsExplorer for Ages 10 to 14."

Learning about my strengths has helped me learn to utilize them in a positive way. Please take the opportunity to do this for yourself. You will not be disappointed!