Now, Discover Your Strengths by Marcus Buckingham, Donald O. Clifton
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Book Reviews of Now, Discover Your Strengths
Book Review: How to identify and develop skills and talents
Summary: 5 Stars
In Now, Discover Your Strengths, readers learn how to identify and develop their skills and talents, as well as those of your employees. Effectively managing behavior, our own as well as that of others, is an extraordinarily complex task, but the mastery of which is an essential prerequiste for success in the workplace. Now, Discover Your Strengths proposes a new and somewhat radical approach as Marcus Buckingham and Donald Clifton place their focus upon the enhancing of people's strengths rather than eliminating their weaknesses. The authors articulately describe thirty-four positive personality themes (included "Achiever", "Developer", "Learner", and "Maximizer") while clearly explaing how to build what they called a "strengths-based organization" through capitalizing on the fact that such traits are already present within ourselves and those we are responsible for which we have a management responsibility. It is also available in abridged Audio Cassette and Audio CD formats.Book Review: A valuable tool for individuals and for managers
Summary: 5 Stars
After decades of addressing weaknesses and focussing on negatives, it is energising to read about identifying and nurturing strengths.
Don't get me wrong, as a manager with over 25 years experience, encouraging people to address any weaknesses they may have in order to achieve their goals is rewarding. But constantly focussing on weaknesses or areas where improvement is required can be demoralising and destructive.
I first read this book not long after publication. I've added it to my library as one of the better tools for effective management.
In my own case, I found that knowing my own strengths explained why addressing some particular weaknesses was always going to be very hard.
The strength of this book is the insights it gives, and the examples reinforce the assessments.
The danger with tools such as these is if organisations adopt them blindly as the new best thing in contemporary management it undermines the very real value of self discovery.
Book Review: Excellent Book
Summary: 5 Stars
First, allow me to warn you to not buy this book used. There is a special code that you use, only one per book. This is a strengths finder test. You will go to the strengthsfinder website and take the test. The test doesn't take long, just 30 min. Once the code for the book is used, you cannot take the test again. The code is done. So, do not purchase a used one, because you will not be able to take the test. This test will give you your top 5 strengths. This is the most accurate strengths test I've taken. This test identifies not only the strengths that you have, but also the strengths that are in you that you can develop. I am in a college class right now, and we all thought it could benefit our class community so all 60 of us took the test. So far, it has helped greatly in understanding how each other thinks and looks at ideas. Knowing your strengths is very encouraging, and no it doesn't identify your weaknesses. Why focus on those? I highly recomment this book! You will be glad that you did!Book Review: helps you avoid the wrong job or role
Summary: 5 Stars
Studies have shown that more people suffer heart attacks on Mondays, and less people die during a recession. These two facts might seem irrelevant at a glance, but it points to the fact there are a lot of unhappy people trying to do jobs that they hate, or are unsuited to perform. Once people are forced to leave the jobs, they miraculously get healthier. Go figure. I first took the strengthsfinder on-line test when I was working with the corporate education dept of a large insurance company a few years ago, and it really revealed why I was so unhappy at my job. The report pretty much confirmed everything that I already thought about my strengths, but it was good to have an impartial company documenting everything. I have also got some interviews for potential jobs when I emailed my strengthsfinder report along with my CV, so a lot of people know about this. Anyone can learn a skill to perform, but ultimately the value you bring to a organization is the collection of strengths that make you an individual.Book Review: High School Jrs/Srs - Buy this book!
Summary: 5 Stars
We have a friend who is madly in love with this book and it's accompanying strengths test. She convinced many of us to buy the book, read it (a must - before taking the test), and take the test. Our family members have gained so much insight into each other's strengths, and it has been all good! We were particularly interested in helping our High School-aged son understand his strengths before launching into college and the wide world. Now we understand how he processes information, how he connects with people, and why he handles situations the way he does. He now knows what might be easy for him to adapt to in college, and which adjustments might have to be more deliberate. It is amazing how much better we all communicate with each other. I also understand how my husband's different strengths (we are SO opposite) are actually valuable assets to our life together, rather than "annoying traits" as I had self-centeredly regarded them. This is a very, very helpful book!