A summary of my Strengthsquest top 5:
Ideation, Input, Connectedness, Context, Strategic
1: Ideation
It’s very likely that you automatically think of new and different ways to do things. Your mind is brimming with ideas. You probably are eager to share them with whoever will listen. Driven by your talents, you bring new thoughts to most discussions and meetings. Your reputation for innovative thinking explains why you are recruited by groups. You derive satisfaction from mental activity. You recognize when you are especially creative. By nature, you welcome opportunities to understand people one by one. You carefully examine each person’s strengths, shortcomings, character, choice of friends, interests, goals, and history. This enables you to draw conclusions and make judgments about individuals. Instinctively, you relish the nuances and intricacies of language. Your sophisticated or specialized vocabulary allows you to choose words for their power and clarity. Whether speaking or writing, you convey what you are thinking and feeling in a forceful, matter-of-fact manner. Usually no one has to second-guess — that is, wonder about — the true meaning of your intentions, messages, expectations, or orders. Chances are good that you often are the originator of fresh ideas for brand- new campaigns, business ventures, initiatives, or special events.
2: Input
It’s very likely that you address individuals or groups using complicated or sophisticated words and terminology. Actually, your vocabulary captures people’s attention. Without saying you are in charge, others usually assume you have authority because of your proficiency with language. Your manner of speech enables you to convey information to your listeners. In the process, you probably expand your own understanding of the topic. Chances are good that you yearn to know a lot. It makes little sense to you to skim through a book and read only the highlights. You delve more deeply into intriguing subjects than most people do. You love to gather all kinds of information. This explains why you take time to grasp ideas that appear in print. Because of your strengths, you yearn to increase your knowledge by being kept in the information loop. This explains why you gravitate to people who converse about ideas at a deeper and more thoughtful level than most individuals are capable of doing. “Making small talk” — that is, engaging in idle conversation — probably seems like a waste of time to you. Instinctively, you pay close attention to current events. Numerous people merely recount what they heard, saw, or read. Typically you dive deeper into the topic. You are likely to generate theories, concepts, or philosophies to explain the reasoning behind newsmakers’ decisions. You routinely gather information about events, policy statements, people, or crises. Your fresh insights are likely to draw equally engaged thinkers into the conversation. By nature, you insert intricate or theoretical words into your everyday, academic, or professional conversations and writings. Your natural interest in language explains why you enjoy mastering unusual words and their multiple meanings. While others struggle to memorize new terms in classes or seminars, you tend to commit words to memory with relative ease. You probably find this process is both natural and pleasurable.
3: Connectedness
It’s very likely that you have no doubts about being linked in some way with everything in the universe. This includes all creation and all humankind. By nature, you consider people more important than things. The value you place on humankind guides your decision-making. It also influences what you say and do as well as what you choose not to say and do. Driven by your talents, you know you are a strand in the intricate web of life. You search for ways to link with individuals who also ponder concepts, theories, or philosophies. In their company, you are apt to discover or rediscover your special place and purpose in life. Because of your strengths, you routinely isolate facts that link ideas, events, or people. You are especially sensitive to how one person’s optimistic or negative thoughts can affect the entire human family. This prompts you to pay close attention to what individuals and groups think and do. Instinctively, you may assert — that is, declare or affirm — that every person comes into your life for a purpose. This partially explains why you launch into discussions or engage in small talk with people you are meeting for the first time. Perhaps you want to figure out why your paths in life have crossed.
4: Context
Chances are good that you now and then enjoy spending time thinking about past events or historical figures with experts who share your fascination. Perhaps bygone eras interest you more than pondering the future — in other words, the great unknown. Driven by your talents, you periodically start conversations with people who bring a historic perspective to particular issues, projects, processes, or problems. Because of your strengths, you are a history buff — that is, someone ardently devoted to studying the past. You are especially drawn to firsthand accounts of global conflicts. You link people to events and trace timelines. You are likely to examine major battles from the perspective of foes and allies as well as neutral parties. The sum of your findings probably allows you to determine what started and eventually ended each war. Instinctively, you sometimes experience a burst of enthusiasm when you meet a newcomer who shares your interest in past events, historic places, or prominent figures. Perhaps you have little, if any, difficulty initiating discussions and keeping them moving. Why? As history buffs — that is, enthusiasts — both of you might be eager to ask and answer questions. It’s very likely that you periodically enjoy listening to or talking with scholars of history. Perhaps you gravitate to specific people. They may share their unique perspectives about historic events or individuals.
5: Strategic
It’s very likely that you may be viewed by some people as an innovative and original thinker. Perhaps your ability to generate options causes others to see there is more than one way to attain an objective. Now and then, you help certain individuals select the best alternative after having weighed the pros and cons in light of prevailing circumstances or available resources. Instinctively, you select the right combination of words to convey your ideas or feelings. In the middle of discussions, your vocabulary provides you with precise phrases and terminology. You probably express yourself with ease and grace. By nature, you may see solutions before other people know there is a problem. You might start formulating answers before your teammates, coworkers, or classmates understand the question. Sometimes you generate numerous ideas before sorting to the one that makes the most sense in a particular situation. Chances are good that you may have acquired expertise in specific areas. Occasionally you spend time considering several courses of action before choosing one. Perhaps you invent original or innovative techniques for dealing with expected or unexpected challenges. Maybe you use the same approach to take advantage of promising opportunities. Because of your strengths, you might spot some emerging trends or problems others fail to notice. You sometimes generate innovative ideas before selecting the best option. Perhaps your proposals, coupled with your optimism, ignite people’s enthusiasm for certain endeavors.