Rating: ![4 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-4-0.gif) Summary: Interesting insights but weak on a unifying theory Review: This book provides some key insights, but is a bit thin in relevant content - especially for those looking to leverage strengths. Some of the books solid points: 1 - Focusing on strengths is a contratrian idea in many companies, and it is very important for people to know that focusing on their strong spots is up to them. 2 - The online survey is a very informative tool - perhaps the most useful diagnosis I've taken. After using it, you'll say, "Wow, that makes sense!" 3 - The book should open your mind as a manager to staffing, leadership and development opportunities. Weak spots - even if we're not supposed to focus on them :-): 1 - With the descriptions spread over so many strengths, the reader is left with a lot of fluff and unread material if they're focusing on self development. 2 - The book tends to be written as a group of large lists, with detail on each strength. A theory tying them together would be helpful for putting it into practice. The average manager is hard pressed to use such a thick catalogue. 3 - Fixating on 5 strengths seems a bit restrictive. Maybe some people have 3 or 4 or 6? It would be useful if the tool could give relative weights or scores on them as well. In summary, the book is best used as a survey for folks interested in a self assessment. More depth (a follow-up book?) is needed to put the ideas into general practice.
Rating: ![5 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-5-0.gif) Summary: Everyone can benefit Review: NOW, DISCOVER YOUR STRENGTHS is a fitting sequel to FIRST, BREAK ALL THE RULES also by the Gallup Organization. Marcus Buckingham was one of the co-authors of the earlier book. This book provides practical information on how to Individualize management based on each person's Strengths which are related to their talents. Gallup has styled a StrengthsFinder Profiler which can used by organizations and is available for individual evaluation to purchasers of the book. There are 34 Themes identified which suggest broad talent areas. The authors assert that "...you will be most successful when you craft your role to play to your signature talents most of the time." It's also true with managers directing their staff. There are numerous examples of real-life success stories as well as ample information on each of the 34 Themes - both from the individual's standpoint and for the manager. As pointed out in the earlier book also, it's counter-productive to evaluate everyone based on the same criteria and focus on weaknesses. It's far better to recognize what each position's talents are and hire people with those talents; with existing staff, move people around as practical to optimize each person's talents. Another key point repeated in the newer book is not to promote people above where their talent and value is; they are more likely to fail and/or be unhappy. Find a way to reward and challenge them while they're doing what they excel in. NOW, DISCOVER YOUR STRENGTHS is a valuable resource for everyone.
Rating: ![5 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-5-0.gif) Summary: You are stronger than you think Review: This book is strong. This book is alot like my favorite book, The Little Guide To Happiness, in that it encourages one to think grand thoughts.
Rating: ![5 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-5-0.gif) Summary: Mentoring, not hand-holding Review: I've read quite a few of these kinds of books starting way back when with "What Color is Your Parachute," through "The Acorn Principle" and "Please Understand Me." This has been a long-term process of discovering my interests, talents, abilities, skills, knowledge, preferences, and potential - always with the intention of finding my true calling in life. But this book is not just another addition to that list; this is a superior method for focusing in on very specific talents and strengths and clarifying your own thinking about your life choices. The assessment and categories of strengths are more straightforward than taking the Meyers-Briggs or other similar tests. The book confirms some of what I already knew, but completely clarified the concept of natural talent combined with skills and knowledge creating the strengths that one can use throughout their life. People have complained in other reviews that some of the book is "fluff" or that it doesn't tell you what job to go get. This is only true for people who want one 250-page book to answer some of the greatest of life's questions. I greatly appreciate that the authors give simple, straightforward examples and their own theories quickly and pointedly. They leave it up to ME to make decisions based on that information. If you are prepared to do the work over the course of time and use this book as a mentor (not a nanny who tells you what to do) you will gain great insight into yourself and your path.
Rating: ![5 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-5-0.gif) Summary: Implications for Education Review: On its own, "Now, Discover Your Strengths" is a very interesting read for anyone in a leadership position, but paired with its prequel, "First, Break All the Rules," one can be armed with a self-awareness and understanding of others to create paradigm shifts in nearly any organization. As an educator, I recognized immediately the implications of exploring the thirty-four talents outlined in this text for all levels of an educational organization. Teachers would do well to read this book to help bridge students' natural talents with curricular knowledge and skills (multiple intelligences), building-level administrators would do well to tap into various staff members' talents in order to develop and manage a school culture where each staff member is valued and, therefore, serves with a common goal of helping students reach their full potential. Central office administrators would do equally well to understand the talents outlined in this text as they go through their recruiting and hiring routines. Working from the text's premise that it is best to develop people's talents into strengths instead of trying to 'fix' weaknesses, evaluation and professional development practices in schools have the potential to be dramatically improved. Overall, this book, either alone or with its predecessor, would be a valuable read for any aspiring or practicing instructional leader.
Rating: ![4 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-4-0.gif) Summary: This book has strengths . . . and a weakness or two. Review: Before I begin, first let me state that this is an excellent book. It is valuable for everyone to read. STRENGTHS: Like most programs of this sort, the StrengthsFinder inventory repeats back to you just what you told it. It doesn't create your profile, it reveals it. This book will help you become more self aware. This book is written in a simple style with easy to read "bullets" that will help you get the most out of your particular make up. The strengths covered by this book are phrased differently than the typical personality profile, a welcome relief for those who know only the Myers/Briggs format. WEAKNESSES: First, I am not convinced that we are predisposed with a particular make up. There is truth to our makeups, but we can also be changed by outside influences. I took this inventory and read the book as part of a training seminar in a room filled with religious people. You might imagine the internal struggle that took place in that room when the instructor reported that some people are more religious than others, not because they really have a religious belief, but because their make up was predisposed toward religion. The book is not so blunt as that instructor, but this will be one idea you may wrestle with. Second, as with all such books and inventories, they sometimes become self-fullfilling prophecies. It is possible to act a certain way because that is the way we BELIEVE we are wired. I've taken MANY inventories through the years and taken them many times. I am not so impressed with how similar they all turn out, as by how different I am. My opinion: This book is interesting and refreshing. Do not let my negative comments stop you from reading it. I would not have given it **** had it not been worth the read.
Rating: ![5 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-5-0.gif) Summary: Worthwhile New Framework On Your Self Review: "Now, Discover Your Strengths" is a refreshing break from the standard Myers-Briggs evaluation of your personality. Instead of the old Introvert-Extravert, Thinking-Perceiving, etc. framework we've all enjoyed, here we have 34 different themes to identify our strengths. Examples are Discipline, Fairness, Analytical, Competition, Learner, Strategic, and Futuristic. By discovering which themes resonate with your own strengths, you can determine what sort of work you should be doing. As a person who enjoys reading about personality profiling, I've been through quite a bit of material. This book may well be my favorite, even over the classic "Do What You Are." Your book will come with a code that allows you to take the test online, which is a nice bonus and works much better than having to mark up your copy and turn pages to figure out a score.
Rating: ![4 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-4-0.gif) Summary: Now, Discover Your Strengths Review: The main theme of this book centers around the fact that we focus so much on our weaknesses that we sometimes don't realize what our strengths are. Essentially, our strengths are usually neglected, while we work to correct our obvious weaknesses. As the title states, this book will help you identify your strengths via a strengthfinder Profile that you take over the internet. (You will receive a identification number that allows you access to the Strengthfinder Profile) This Web-based interview analyzes your answers and then presents you with your five most powerful signature themes. Once your themes have been identified, you can then utilize the book to show you how to most effectively work utilizing those identified strengths. Equally important, reading this book will help you gain an understanding of other people's strengths as well. This alone could make you a more effective team member. The book's purpose is to help both your individual development and your managerial development if applicable. This book shows how a total of 34 dominant "themes" can best be translated into personal and career success. You will learn a lot about yourself by completing the Strengthfinder Profile. That, alone, is well worth your time. Yet, the book is a tremendous compliment to the profile. Where else can you receive the opportunity to identify your strengths and then learn to use those strengths effectively?
Rating: ![4 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-4-0.gif) Summary: "Tap your talents--learn your strengths!" Review: This book is best described as a 'formula' for finding your strong points, skills and talents. I found it helpful--intriguing at times, but the results of what it suggests are fully dependent on how you answer various questions. It is helpful to know your strengths--especially when trouble happens. In this genre, I really like 'With Joseph in the University of Adversity', but would be hard pressed to pick between the two.
Rating: ![5 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-5-0.gif) Summary: Lead through five strengths Review: Now Discover Your Strengths is an excellent book for managers, employees and entrepreneurs in the workplace to determine optimum job placement and task preferences. I have been involved in self improvement and professional education for many years. This book offers a new perspective. By focusing on strengths, we gain most. The online assessment is excellent and is worth the price of the book. Another book, Optimal Thinking-How To Be Your Best Self is also worthy of recommendation. Optimal Thinking takes the reader above the old "think positive" motto and shows us how to be our best in any situation and make the most of it.
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