Jack Covert Selects: StrengthsFinder 2.0

StrengthsFinder 2.0: A New and Upgraded Edition of the Online Test from Gallup's Now, Discover Your Strengths by Tom Rath, Gallup Press, 192 Pages, $19.95, Hardcover, February 2007, ISBN 9781595620156 I have been writing about the Gallup Press a lot in the last six months. I reviewed Vital Friends in August and their book 12 in December. I am back to tell you there is another outstanding book from Gallup to start looking for on bookstore shelves. StrengthsFinder 2.0 is an expansion of the franchise started by the book Now, Discover Your Strengths. Originally published in 2001, Now, Discover Your Strengths has become a mainstay on bestseller lists, spending 50 weeks on the Wall Street Journal list in 2006. If you have not read Now, Discover Your Strengths or used the first version of their online assessment too, the premise is that most people spend their professional lives trying to improve on their weakness instead of working within their strengths. The StrengthsFinder assessment is meant to help guide you toward optimizing your talents. Gallup has written other strengths-based books for salespeople, teachers, and faith-based groups. StrengthsFinder 2.0 is meant to be the most accessible of all the books, to be used with employees at all levels of an organization. Gallup has identified 34 strengths for individuals ranging from "Achiever" to "Woo" (Winning Others Over). Each book comes with unique code which allows the reader to take the web-based self-assessment. The results from the assessment highlight your five talents in ranked order. Each strength is accompanied by an explanation, anecdotes from others with that strength, and a to-do list with actions you can implement to help you develop your talents. I am a big believer in putting people where they can excel. StrengthFinder 2.0 is a great way to help find the right fit for the people in your organization or for yourself.