Marcus Buckingham ‘Now, Discover Your Strengths’

I found this book very helpful in focusing more on what I AM GOOD AT, and developing those skills further, rather than always trying to improve at my ‘weaknesses’.

The following are my five top strengths:

Achiever

• Has a great deal of stamina
• Works hard
• Takes great satisfaction from being busy and productive
• Driven to achieve
• MUST achieve something tangiable by the end of the day, needs to measure cumulative production.
• “Every day” includes weekends/holidays - feels driven to achieve
• Has to learn to live with the ‘whisper of discontent’ which accompanies the relentless need for achievement - it drives you, it gives you stamina for long hours, inspires you to start new challenges, keeps you moving.
• Likes recognition for past achievement and the setting of new goals.

Ideation

• Fascinated by ideas, able to find connections between seemingly disparate phenomena
• An idea is a a new perspective on a familiar challenge, or a concept, which offers the best explanation of MOST events. It is delightful to find below a complex surface a simple explanation for WHY things are the way they are.
• The mind is always looking for connections, however obscure.
• Revels in taking the world we know, turning it around and viewing it from a strange or enlightening angle.
• Others label you as creative, original, conceptual or smart, you are particularly effective as a designer.
• All ideas are thrilling, for whatever reason. Need these ideas to be valued.
• Uses ideas already written within focus of the organisation to generate new insights and discoveries.
• Enjoys words - especially when they perfectly capture a concept/idea/pattern.
• Needs to understand how things fit togehter, and any exceptions pointed out.

Learner

• Thrives on learning and continual self-development, this keeps the motivation going - wants to continuously improve.
• The PROCESS of learning, rather than the outcome is exciting. Enjoys developing a growing confidence as skills are mastered.
• Engages in adult-learning experiences. Subject matter of interest depends upon other themes (listed here) and past experiences.
• Energised by the steady/deliberate journey from ignorance to competence.
• Learns by teaching others, through presentations, etc.
• Thrives in a dynamic work environment, where are asked to take on short project assignments and are expected to learn a lot about the subject matter in a short period of time, then move onto the next one. Generally not seeking to become an expert - the outcome is less significant than ‘getting there’.
• Good to work with someone who will push you to achieve more.
• Needs to have learning recognised through certificates, etc.
• Needs to celebrate milestones, which have been pre-identified.
• Needs to stay current in a fast-changing field.

Arranger

• Can organise, but this organisation is accompanied by a flexibility.
• Likes to figure out how all the pieces/resources can be arranged for maxiumu productivity.
• Enjoys managing the variables - aligning/re-aligning until are sure has the best configuration possible. See this as nothing special, just the best way of getting things done. Is very resourceful.
• Effectively flexible - changes quickly for a better deal; mulling over the combination of people/resources to accomplish a project.
• Thrives with many things going on at the same time.
• At best in dynamic situations - the unexpected has you diving in, devising new options, looking for the path of least resistence because there MIGHT be a better way.
• Thrives on responsibility, like to make a good manager, seeing how the team works together, especially through trust & relationships.

WOO

• Loves the challenge of meeting new people and winning them over. A good person to be the contact for the outside world, needs to refine a system for remembering names, etc.
• Derives satisfaction from breaking the ice, making a connection with the other.
• Strangers are not intimidating to you, you want to learn about them, ask questions, find common ground so can strike up a conversation/build a rapport.
• Rarely at a loss for words.
• Once the connection is made, are happy to wrap it up and move onto the next connection. Not so good at building close relationships, prefers to meet & move on.
• In the world, there are no strangers, only friends you haven’t met yet.
• A good person to build good will in your community.