Rating: 
Summary: Looking In The Right Places
Review: I enjoyed the authors book "First Break All The Rules", and this sequal is great also. I always assumed companies built their teams on peoples strengths, but after being in the workforce I now know that most managers spend time trying to make workers something they are not. Find out what someone does well, place them in the proper position and let them do the job. Not rocket science, but I would love to work for a company that used these principles. Check out Rat Race Relaxer: Your Potential & The Maze of Life by JoAnna Carey for more workplace survival tips.
Rating: 
Summary: beware of used copies
Review: An integral part of this book is the online profile. Each copy of this book comes with a unique PIN number inside the book jacket. If you buy a used copy, the PIN number may be already used, and thus will not allow you to use the online profile. However, the book is still interesting if you enjoy reading through the signature themes and guessing what your profile would have uncovered. It is also fun to read each theme and think of people you know who come to mind, and consider ways in which you can support their strengths.I would give this book 5 stars if an unlimited number of people could use the online profile with each book purchase.
Rating:
Summary: A must read for professionals in any field
Review: In summary, I am in full agreement with all of the positive reviews posted here, however, I also agree with the various criticisms I have read - hopefully they will be noted by the authors and incorporated into a revised and improved next edition.
I found myself enlightened, inspired but unsatisfied after reading this book and wanted more real-life story examples and advice for how to apply the knowledge in my career and personal life. I particularly liked reading examples of how some people overcame their weaknesses with their strengths and would have liked more of this inspirational material.
I would suggest hunting around and reading the various other strengths-related books from Gallup in order to fill-in the gaps and provide other perspectives. Also, "Unique Ability" by Catherine Nomura and Julia Waller is rather complementary.
Rating:
Summary: Solid book, only suffers by comparison to its predecessor
Review: After Marcus Buckingham wrote "First, Break All the Rules," my favorite management book of all time, he was beseiged by people asking him one question. "You told us to focus on our reports strengths and our own strengths, but how do we figure out what they are?"
This book is his answer to that question. The book includes the password to a website that allows you to take a clever little test that tells you your five primary strengths (out of 25 or so) or those of your subordinates if they take the test.
In reading the book, you learn about the different attributes, what work best fits the various skill sets and how best to manage people with the various characteristics. This really is a very useful book, but Buckingham's first book was so strong that this one suffered a little bit by comparison.
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting but insufficient information
Review: The main concept of the book, based on lots of research, is that it it a waste of time to work on your weaknesses; instead, focus on your strnegths--if you know them. The test you take on the computer gives you your five strength; however the terminology left me cold and wondering what to do with them and how such strenghs work together in my profession. Most of the web site and the book is aimed at management and HR people and not individuals seeking personal answers. As it goes the book is a decent start but for folks to capitalize on it, they will need another book that is more specific and with more examples than the petty few in this work.
Rating:
Summary: Play to your strengths
Review: I have taken many of the various "quadrant personality tests" that evaluate your responses to the various questions and then tells you your personality type. So I didn't hold out much hope of learning a lot that was new when I picked up this volume. However, I was pleasantly surprised by a couple of things. First, there is a password assigned to each book. With that password you are able to access a web site, establish an account, and answer a questionnaire which does in fact give you your top five strengths.
But what is most useful is that armed with the survey results and this book, you are not only able to know your strengths but also how to build on those strengths. What is new here, is that the authors break the mold of "work on eliminating your weaknesses." Instead, the advise us to pay attention to building up our strengths, to always find ways to use those strengths instead of worrying so much about our weaknesses. Sure, we do have to try and mitigate any negative attributes we may have in order to work with others, but the really successful person will work to play to his or her own strengths.
You will learn why strength is defined as "consistent near perfect performance in an activity." You will see why it makes sense to "manage around your weaknesses." And you will be given clear, concise guidelines on how to manage others through their strengths and help them manage around their weaknesses. I will definitely be using many of the principles and ideas put forth in this book as I go about helping my clients shape their corporate cultures and improve their effectiveness.
Rating:
Summary: Truly motivational....
Review: I was recommended by a friend to read this book. infact, I borrowed it.
When it comes to discover personal strenghts, I think this book has really done a wonderful job. And it also touches psychological aspects.
Rating: 
Summary: zzzzzzzzzz
Review: Not only was this book not a page turner, but it help me fall asleep.
Rating:
Summary: More motivated to lead through strengths
Review: This book was a fascinating experience for me. I am amazed that at nearly 60 years of age, I was unaware of some of my strengths. I am motivated to pursue new projects as a result of the assessments in this unique book. I disagree with the author about weaknesses. Sure, we all have weaknesses. If the consequences of avoiding them are too high, then we must deal with them. I recommend Optimal Thinking: How To Be Your Best Self, a realistic powerful book that teaches the reader how to maximize strengths, and make the most of any situation.
Rating:
Summary: Not very deep, but empowering
Review: If you are used to reading about complex topics, you will have no trouble reading this book in two hours--it is not exactly intellectually thoroughgoing, and indeed some of its sidelines, such as the one on neurology, are so shallow that they could just as well have been left out. But apart from that criticism (or is it a criticism that a book can be read in two hours?) I only can recommend this book for its simple, but important and empowering insights.
Firstly, there is the observation that much of our vocabulary to describe personal differences is about weaknesses and defects and that it is high time to talk about strengths as well. Secondly, we have the insight that in order to develop what corporate strategists would call competitive advantage it is more efficient to develop strengths than to eliminate weaknesses. Both insights are quite common-sensical once you've read them, but utterly lacking in our culture. These two insights alone well justify the purchase price of the book. Together with the code for an online personality profiling of your strengths, the purchase price, the two hours it takes to read the book, and the 30 minutes to take the test will be an excellent investment for almost anyone.
|
