*
NOTE: Per cease & desist letter from Ken L. Andersen @ Gallup, this site, test, and all works are in no way associated with any Gallup, Clifton, or StrengthsFinder product. I recommend going to strengthsfinder.com if you are looking for the official StrengthsFinder line of tests.
You won’t begin to understand the world until you have a better understanding of yourself. I believe that’s easy enough to accept.
But then some people come along and say, “Well, you really should focus on your biggest weaknesses and get them in order.” While still another crowd of folks will chime in with an equally interesting, “I think really honing your top strengths would move you toward your goals most!” While still others say, “Sucker – you bought the book used and are out of luck!”
So who’s right?
I’ll leave that up to you to decide what works best for you in order to standout. I know, for me, as I focus in on ultimate goals and really start to understand the path that I was born to take, I am seeing how much of a real battle for improvements this is. Do I strengthen strengths or overcome weaknesses? But then comes the obvious question: Do you even know your strengths and weaknesses?
Finding Your Strengths and Weaknesses is a Quest
What is an aptitude? Some skill or innate quality.
What is a strength? Something you’re good at.
What’s a weakness? Something that could be holding you back.
Through research and personal experience, I’ve found the best way to get things done right is to overcome the really bad weakness AND really focus on using your tip-top strengths. Stop thinking either/or and do a little of both.
Is it that hard to find your biggest weaknesses? Probably not. What do you really like not doing? List 5 things that really just make your skin crawl with anxiety. For instance, some of mine used to be:
- Risk Management
- Leadership
- Salesmanship
And you know what I did about those? That’s right! I dove right in and got down to business. It’s something I continue to do as I’m reading my books, taking company sponsored training, and attending community college sponsored seminars. It may take a while, but my big baddies are going down!
Now, How do I Discover My Aptitude Strengths and Weaknesses?
Simple. Come over and take the (free) RichardStep Strengths and Weaknesses Aptitude Test (RSWAT).
Here are a few reasons why taking the RSWAT is a good idea:
- It’s free for life and does not require an access code
- It doesn’t ask for or need any personal data (nope – not even your email)
- It will give you your top 3 strengths (with a percentage ranking / score)
- It will give you your 1 biggest weakness
- It might just help you on your next job, goal, project, or life mission
You actually get all of your results ranked by score for all strengths and weaknesses, but I emphasize just the top 3 strengths and bottom 1 weakness. Take the RichardStep Strengths and Weaknesses Aptitude Test (RSWAT), get a grasp on understanding yourself and your vision, and prepare for a focused future. A future where you only do those things aligned with your goals and vision.
I can’t wait to hear about your future successes.
Please share this with your friends!
Nicely done, Richard. I like you already. :)
I just came across the strengthsfinder stuff in some other blog, clicked on the amazon link and checked out the associated books. Can’t say the book blurbs did a ton for me, but when I read about the site and assessment I thought “w00t!” and I totally got that warmish buzzy flippy feeling I get when I’m about to learn something cool about myself or some other aspect of the universe.
Went to the site, saw “click here if you have the special access code for the 2.0 version”. “Hmm. No code, but no problem”, I thought. Clicked on the 1.0 version only to find it wanted a code too! And I thought “Oh. It’s not really about sharing, it’s about profit.”
Did a search for free equivalents and what do I find but your deal and freshly created too. Just for me, it feels like. So now I’ve got my top five and have them printed off for a little think time tonight after work.
Connectedness
Belief
Inclusiveness
Deliberative
Developer
I really and truly hope the pay us guys don’t threaten you to take the thing down. I’ve added your site to my reader and looking forward to journeying alongside.
Hello Salty! (may I call you salty? :) )
Ahhh so you went down the same path I did sans putting some money down. Well, I’m glad you did a bit more research than I did! Yeah, I know they’re in business to make money, but man oh man… I was pretty excited to find out some self-discovery goodies, too, only to come crashing down in a burning let-down flame.
I just had to do something about it – I mean I could sleep and all, but it was bugging me! :)
I’m glad it worked out and helped narrow down some strengths for you. I think (the way the test is now), the StrengthsFinder books are still needed to more appropriately use the data/results (though I do plan to fix that, too, in the next month… shhhh – don’t tell anyone! hehe) so the “pay us guys” shouldn’t be too worried about it.
I mean, the only real tie to their work is the use of the terms (everything else was born of that space between my ears). And well… I can make my own terms up if I really need to. :) But seriously; I don’t want to be in competition – but I do want to help people. If I have to take it down, so be it. I’ll make something else. As long as I can continue to rightly help people – we’re good!
Thanks for all of the feedback salty – it’s fun! Have a good one!
Hey Richard. Thanks for the reply. You can call me Salty, or if you want to go way out on a limb, you can even call me Dan.
So, is there an add on for your site that will allow readers to know when you’ve replied to a comment left? (Like blogger’s “Subscribe to comments for this post” check box?)
Yeah, I figured I’d still need the book to run through all the “and this means that and you should do this” stuff. I can always get the book at a library if I want to go that route. But I really just wanted, initially, to get an idea of my personal strength areas as it related to work (and not related to work) as an exercise in self awareness.
I’m currently in a job that focuses almost exclusively on my weak areas. O___o It was a job that focused on my strengths when I began there but has totally changed in the six plus years I’ve been there. On the other hand, I just interviewed for a job that is really similar to how my current job was back in the day when I really enjoyed it. So we’ll see where it goes.
Interesting, these five strengths the test came up with, on the surface, really fit with my schooling and first career–social work. But I found that the reality of being a social worker was much different; bogged down in laws and rules that actually worked against the goals that the field proposes to embrace. So I found that the jobs i had were really quite antithetic to the strengths listed for me. Currently I’m working in software QA, and that’s what the one I just interviewed for is as well.
Thanks for the reply! ^_____^
Howdy Dan!
Eepp!! I thought the “reply notification” thing was already on! Thank you for bringing it to my attention! I just found a robust plugin and am giving it a whirl… looks good so far – let me know what you think!
Ahhh, this self-awareness journey is quite a trip, eh?! I’m quickly finding out similar things as you… for instance, NASA is a whole heck of a lot less exciting from inside the fence. And, well, engineering isn’t all that …um… related-to-my-original-schooling-interests at this level of involvement.
So it seems as if those top strengths that are coming to the surface seem to have, in the past, drawn me to the places I *thought* would fulfill them best. I’m thinking we need another test or are missing a puzzle piece here.
How to find the right industry, right business, right management, right environment, right interests-aligned spot for us to make the most impact on the world… even if it’s only one person at a time?
I think there really is no choice but to find a “best fit” for now (actively choosing to make every action we take further strengthen our strengths while we work for someone else [yes-even scrubbing toilets]) – and get to crackin’ on making the ultimate vision come to life for the “perfect fit”.
I grow restless of trying to fit into other places. I want to make my own place.
I know one thing’s for sure – I just moved to a new company and went in with an entirely different approach. I will do my best to make as much useful change in the company, but making sure the major paths and actions enhance my skills and strengths. Before, I just worked for a paycheck. Now, I work to make a difference in others’ lives while creating a force multiplier effect on my own abilities.
…with the ultimate goal of having a world-enhancing organization in the future.
One little baby step closer every day.
I took the original DISC and strengthfinders.
This is VERY close…….Thanks so much!
HOO HOO! :-)
That is some awesome corroborative feedback, Dawn! Thank *you*!
I did get screwed. I bought Strength Based Leadership at my campus bookstore used. I called them to ask about the code and they were less than helpful. Thank You, Thank You, Thank You for your website.
Some things I knew. At the top- Discipline. I am after all a former military girl. A big surprise- Communication #17 (ouch). I love to talk to people and share what I know. Again, Thank you.
Oh my pleasure Karol! I know I was super bummed after getting 3 chapters into a book that was hyping me up to find out about some juicy bits of information about myself. Total let-down. Glad I could give back!
That’s one of the best things I like about this test (and some others)… it kind of removes us from the ‘labels’ and gets us on the qualities that make them up. Time to get to work! :)
Thank you very much for this test. I bought the Strengths Finder book on the kindle for my wife and I. The issue is, she wanted to take the online assessment first and then I couldn’t get access. She was also frustrated with the 20-second limit on each question and with the fact that you had to pay more to get the rest of her results.
Thanks again for this tool. I know that any personality test/quiz is not 100% guaranteed to accurately describe a given person’s personality but, is good in getting a general idea.
My strengths:
Learner
Developer
Recognition
Fairness
Input
God Bless,
Chris
Howdy Chris!
Thank you so much for sharing your story! I figured there were a few more frustrated people out there that could use a hand. And, as you’re mentioned, there’s no sure-fire way to compare these results to the “real-deal” toe-to-toe… but it’s a start! Anything that helps us get a bit more focused on where we can apply our energies is tip-top in my eyes.
Thank you again for sharing this with me – it means a lot!
May God Bless you and yours, Chris!
-Richard
Thanks Richard,just finished the test.1) What I liked most about the test is the achiever feeling that I kept on getting after every 5 questions.2) I think it is a well-designed ‘no-non sense’test. I have not taken the original Strength-finder test but I am very impressed with your test and sound-analysis. Infact it is the 1st test that I have come across which gives what it promises.Moreover,other tests promise a lot before starting but soon after 3 lines of explanation we need to buy the rest report for full explanation.Tell u what even 3 lines also do not make much sense for layman like me.
Howdy Divya!
Your kind words and the fact that you found the test useful makes it all worth-while! You’ve provided some great (and specific!) feedback – thank you so much! I tried to make the test to fix all of the things I didn’t like with OTHER tests (like the things you mentioned). Hope the information serves you well on your discovery! :)
-Richard
Hi there Richard. I took the test last week and found it great.
I was wondering if you where interested in getting it translated, I used it with friends and family and translated all the questions. But after they finish answering it I have to fill all your test with their answers and then give them their results.
It’s a lot of work and I’m planning to use it more often with my employees so we can work on our strenghts as individuals.
Could we share our info, I’ll give you the translation of all the questions and the 34 themes in exchange for the database or the script you used, or to upload the translated version of your test so I can have a link from my site to yours so my employees can do the test themselves.
I dont have de 34 themes yet, in case you accept for me to translate could you send me that text too :) thanks man and keep up the good work.
By the way my strenghts are:
1. Belief (100%)
2. Command (100%)
3. Activator (100%)
4. Fairness (100%)
5. Intellection (95%)
greetings from Mexico everyone!!!
Howdy Bruno! I’m glad you and folks you’ve been helping out have found the test useful! I hope ya’ll can put the results to good use! I am not currently looking for translation services, but I do appreciate the offer. In the mean time, you might be able to get bulk discounts with the Clifton guys’ version of the test. I believe they have several translations available:
http://sf1.strengthsfinder.com/es-ar/homepage.aspx
Greetings back to you and yours an have a good one!
I took the Gallup Strength Finders Test at a job I had in the past and found it helpful. Now I would like to use it with my church leadership but don’t want each person to have to buy the book just to take the test. So, I’d like to have each one take your free test online. However, what follow-up is there to help them interpret their strengths and next steps? Will the Gallup book Living Your Strengths be of any help?
Good evening Ellen!
That’s a very valid concern and I’m glad you brought it up! The results page of my free online strengths finder test has 4 to 7 suggestions to improve each strength. More than enough to keep someone working on their strengths for some time!
Now if that’s not enough detail to go by, then I would suggest the Improve Your Strength series of articles here. The terms aren’t direct matches, but they overlap well:
http://richardstep.com/category/self-help/improve-your-strengths/
As far as book purchases go, then the only Clifton-related books I can point to are linked in my test’s results page, and this post:
http://richardstep.com/self-tests/candy-self-help-and-the-strengthsfinder-access-code/
I’m not familiar with the “Living Your Strengths” book, unfortunately.
Hope it helps and good luck to you and your folks! Oh and it’s not mentioned on these tests and results… God first and always – their trust in Him will determine what good they get out of any of this. I know you know this but I wanted to make sure He is in the Top 5 somewhere. :) God bless!
Dear Richard,
Enjoyed your test and the results…Thanks so much for doing all that work! Let’s hope that the future of mankind will improve, one way or another. Cheers, regards, L
So glad you enjoyed it, Lambert. I really do get a deep satisfaction for at least trying to help folks out. And here’s to hoping the world get better, one person at a time! :) Cheers, friend!
If you don’t have access to the book you may look at your strengths descriptions and recommended actions in the Gallup Management Journal (http://gmj.gallup.com/). I’ve been able to find mine without major problems (note: all of the definition articles are dated 12th September 2002).
Just as an example I will put my top strengths:
Intellection (http://gmj.gallup.com/content/691/intellection.aspx)
Relator (http://gmj.gallup.com/content/703/relator.aspx)
Developer (http://gmj.gallup.com/content/661/Developer.aspx)
Fairness (http://gmj.gallup.com/content/652/Consistency.aspx) – they use Consistency term
Belief (http://gmj.gallup.com/content/637/Belief.aspx)
Oh well look at that – what a great find! Thank you for pointing this out to us, Alberto!
Hey how to get that Alberto pls tell me.
Hey! I was wondering how the (RSSF) compared the the original but I saw that Dawn from a previous comment had answered my question. I’m taking a college career communications class and I’m broke (like Ramen every day broke). So this helped me a lot however my professor wants us to buy it. I say NO! On the website they provide you can buy just the code for $19 and you can buy the book via amazon for .75 cents So for my fellow classmates I’ll be secretly suggesting the RSSF.
Oh yeah and that 75 cents vopy will be used = code no good. So I appreciate you looking out for your fellow classmates. :) Hope it helps ya’ll! (for learning and maybe a few extra packs of Ramen! I remember those days… spring for some frozen veggies and throw a bit in there – it helps!)
Any chance that you’ll be doing SPANISH LANGUAGE version?
Hello Mary! Yes, I do plan to do a Spanish version in the future. I’ll make a post when it finally comes around. Thanks for the comment!
Thank you! ^^I enjoyed your test and found the results are really interesting and helpful. My quirks make more sense now. Here are my top strengths:
1. Learner – i think this motivated me to learn more and then I came across the link to your page :)
2.Input
3.Activator
4.Belief
5. Relator
Awesome Danielle! That’s what this journey’s all about: making more sense so we can do more and do it better. Putting some more pieces in life’s puzzle. Thank you for sharing your strengths – learners will change the world. :)
A friend emailed the link to your free test to me.
I am amazed at the affirmation of what I am growing to believe my strengths are. The questions are insightful and I was able to more or less react to them from my gut instincts.
Thank you for the gift of this important information. I have just sent the link to my nearest and dearest – husband, sons, daughters in law and a friend.
I’m so glad it’s helped you out! I hope it helps your loved ones, too!
Unfortunately, I just received a cease and desist letter from Gallup so it will be changing soon.
Hope the results you got will serve you well, though! Have a good day!
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