Focusing on talents, or fighting weaknesses?
- How to get to know your talents?
The Gallup test, also known as CliftonStrengths, is a tool that helps you identify individual talents and strengths based on a series of questions. The test result is available in two versions – Top 5 talents or 34 strengths. What is very useful, along with the result, the user receives a report with a description of its uniqueness.
- How to get to know your talents?
The Gallup test, also known as CliftonStrengths, is a tool that helps you identify individual talents and strengths based on a series of questions. The test result is available in two versions – Top 5 talents or 34 strengths. What is very useful, along with the result, the user receives a report with a description of its uniqueness.
- What did taking the Gallup test give me?
First of all, confirmation of the career path I want to progress on. Seeing my result and reading the description of subsequent talents, I felt an incredible power and a large dose of understanding for my feelings. It is worth emphasizing - both positive and negative feelings! Why also the negative ones? Izabela Antosiewicz in her book TalenTY interestingly shows how a strong point can become a weakness and vice versa - "when we have something in excess, it can be troublesome for our surroundings and that is why we should work on it".
At the beginning of my report I read: "you have an internal fire burning inside" – what a motivation to act! One of my Top 5 talents is 'Arranger', thanks to which I successfully lead projects and teams, while 'juggling' many topics at once. The Gallup report not only accurately describes the environment and style in which I like to operate, but also draws attention to how a given talent fits in with others and in which areas it is good to use it. I like to make data-driven decisions, and the result of the report shows me "on paper" what I am most effective at. I think that these results can be safely written in the CV as a hint for potential employers as well as for ourselves!
- What can the Gallup test give each of us?
For many generations, people have grown up in a culture focused on finding, improving, and eliminating weaknesses rather than talents. I believe that knowing your own talents is very helpful in professional development, especially when looking for a job! Why? Because it allows you to better understand your natural predispositions and strengths. This allows you to:
- Consciously choose the positions and work environments that best suit your skills, which increases the chances of satisfaction and success. By making deliberate professional decisions, we can also avoid jobs that can cause you frustration and lead to burnout. In the previously mentioned book TalenTY , the author gave a great example: A man who has a predisposition to make prudent, balanced decisions will burn in a very dynamic environment, and flourish in an area that requires diplomacy and slow movements. Just being aware of why we feel frustrated is a very important clue!
- Present your competences to potential employers more precisely, which can distinguish you from other candidates. Who among us has not been asked about their strengths during a job interview? Being aware of your talents allows you to better argue why you are the right person for the position. Employers appreciate candidates who know their strengths and can use them effectively at work.
Author: Anna Warzyńska
