Dear Reader,
‘Now Discover Your Strengths’ may be an extremely important book to read, because in agreement with the authors (Marcus Buckingham & Donald O. Clifton) I argue that it might be necessary for us
‘To become experts at finding and describing and practicing and refining our strengths if we want to truly excel in our chosen fields and find lasting satisfaction.’
Importantly, the authors have formed their view based on a systematic study of excellence over the last 30 years (as members of the Gallup Organisation), involving the interviewing of more than 2 million people about their strengths.
We are told that these interviews allowed the world’s best teachers, doctors, sales-people, lawyers, professional basketball players, stockbrokers, accountants, housekeepers, leaders, soldiers, nurses, pastors, systems engineers, chief executives, and many others; to describe in their own words, what they do best.
Although The Gallup Organisation accumulated a tremendous amount of diverse information, they also detected 34 patterns or themes, believed to be the most prevalent themes of human talent. In light of this, after chapter 3, the authors ask us to pause and take an online profile called Strengthfinder, as they claim it will reveal our five dominant themes or talents (signature themes).
Our signature themes are believed to be the most powerful source of our strengths. And will put us in the best possible position to use our strengths to maximum advantage, if we identify and refine them.
Providing a definition, the authors define a strength to be
An activity we must be able to do consistently with near perfection, which is a predictable part of our performance and provides us with deep-seated satisfaction.
In addition to the above definition, it is argued that all strengths consist of three components:
- Talent
- Knowledge
- Skill
With talent being the most important element, because knowledge and skill can be acquired through learning and practice, whereas, in contrast, talent is innate or God-given. Significantly, a talent is defined as
A naturally recurring pattern of thought, feeling, or behaviour that we can productively apply, which has been created by the connections that have formed in our brains.
It is stated that beyond a certain age we cannot entirely re-create the connection that have formed in our brains and these connections have the affect of giving our talents an enduring quality – making them influence every decision that we make. As a result, our talents come to dominate our decision-making process to such an extent that we, instinctively, do things in accordance with them, making each of us uniquely different. Therefore, although it is occasionally possible to build a strength without acquiring the relevant knowledge and skill,
It is never possible to possess a strength without the requisite talent (p. 25)
In support, despite spending over 15 years learning, identifying, focusing, and developing my talents and strengths, after completing the 35 minutes Strengthfinders profile, I was truly amazed and astonished to find that my five signature themes were completely accurate and consistent with what I had learnt about myself, during all those years.
Furthermore, the description and explanations of my themes, provided within the book, drastically improved my understanding of self and allowed me to gain greater clarity regarding my future potential. As a result, this book receives my highest recommendation.
In further development of the authors’ main message, we are told that there are numerous, substantial studies, which reveal that excellent performers are rarely well-rounded individuals. Instead, they reveal that excellent performers are sharp, finding ways to work around their weaknesses while freeing themselves up to hone their strengths to a sharper point. However
‘…Many people do not appreciate what talents are, let alone what their talents are (p. 25);’
And, neither school nor work seems to allow us to pursue a focused hunt for our true strengths or areas of greatest potential, as both are preoccupied with transferring knowledge and plugging skill gaps. Therefore,
The burden may fall on us as individuals, to lead the search for our own talents, if we intend to excel and find lasting satisfaction in our chosen field.
In agreement, as a personal life coach, my studies have revealed that most people are unaware of their talents and strengths and severely underestimate their true potential.
The life coaching profession emerged in the 1980’s, in part, to help people to become aware of their talents and strengths so that, generally, they could think creatively, create solutions, live a balanced life, and enhance their performance and achievement. Significantly, the profession continues to evolve therefore, now, remains exceptionally useful as a tool to be used against the challenges that we face today.
CONCLUSION
As revealed by the studies mentioned throughout this review, those who excel in their chosen fields, and achieve a real sense of satisfaction, appear to be the same people who have identified, developed, and refined their talents and strengths.
By reading this book and completing the Strengthfinders profile, I was able to identify my dominant talents (signature themes), which in turn allowed me to practice and refine my strengths, and only time will reveal whether I am able to excel in my chosen field, and experience real satisfaction in my life.
Importantly, this book could not show me how to form a vision of excellence for myself or tell me how to learn, but it did increase my awareness of my talents, which may lead me to unlock my future potential or uncover my genius (see book review: ‘The Einstein Factor’: www.tommyoffe.com). In light of this, conscientiously, the authors ask us to remember that
Our natural talents are gifts from God or accidents at birth;
Therefore, if we take the profile, we should not take pride in our signature themes, as we did not create our talents or, fundamentally, design the nature of our brains.
As a final concluding point, helpfully, the authors managed to convey their arguments and findings in a pleasant, persuasive, and easy to read style, making this book an uplifting and thoroughly enriching reading experience. In light of the above, I strongly recommend this book, especially, if you have an intention to make any future career decision, as arguably
The burden falls on us to excel and find lasting satisfaction in our lives.
As always, should you have any comments, or wish to discuss any aspect of this review, please feel free to contact me.
In the meantime and until my next recommendation, I hope you choose to read strategically!
Truly yours,
Tom