stone savage

"I was always looking outside myself for strength and confidence but it comes from within. It is there all the time." Anna Freud

So I picked up a copy of Strengthsfinder 2.0 and took the code from the book and did the online assessment.  It seemed like a lot of questions but it did not take long to answer them.  It came back with my assessment of my 5 key strengths:

• Context
• Individualization
• Connectedness
• Learner
• Intellection

The book and online aids give out some great information on the strengths it finds you reveal in your answers - and the list of possible strengths is a long one.  The answers you pick in combination are used in some complex matrix to come up with the key 5.  The way to use them in your teams, work environments, and probably relationships looks to be pretty interesting.

Here's what the expanded explanations were for mine:

Follow up:

Shared Theme Description

People who are especially talented in the Context theme enjoy thinking about the past. They understand the present by researching its history.

What makes you stand out?

Instinctively, 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. Because of your strengths, you are intrigued by  experts who can enlighten you about past events or historic people. You are particularly  interested in history’s contribution to the current state of affairs.

Chances are good that you usually turn to historians for information about the past. You consciously narrow your quest for knowledge to precise topics or eras. Driven by your talents, you enjoy acquiring information about the past from experts. You feel a lot more capable when you are knowledgeable about various periods of history. By nature, you welcome opportunities to hear historians share their thoughts, stories, or theories about prominent people. Your interest probably extends to important events.

Individualization

Shared Theme Description

People who are especially talented in the Individualization theme are intrigued with the unique qualities of each person. They have a gift for figuring out how people who are different can work together productively.

What makes you stand out?

Driven by your talents, you think systematically to identify patterns in processes, data, facts, relationships, agendas, timelines, or contracts. You see distinct linkages between this factor and that consequence, this decision and that result, or this action and that reaction. People trust you to make informed and reasonable choices. They are likely to ask what you think before they finalize a plan or state their position. By nature, you have no difficulty completing assignments by the date they are due. Deadlines probably motivate you to pace your work. You are sure to be a good partner for people who struggle to stay on schedule.

You are likely to break down their projects into a list of daily tasks. With your assistance, these individuals are apt to surprise themselves and others by finishing on time. Chances are good that you sense people appreciate the advice you give them. You believe that you help individuals deal with problems and take advantage of opportunities. Because of your strengths, you often are the person asked, “What do you think about . . .?” People are comfortable voicing to you their concerns and ideas about policies, projects, rules, plans, or proposed solutions. You genuinely enjoy assisting others. You are happy to express your thoughts and explain exactly where you stand on many topics. Instinctively, you are the person people turn to for insights about why certain things happened. You piece together events and unravel problems. You make discoveries and make sense of things for yourself and others.

Connectedness

Shared Theme Description

People who are especially talented in the Connectedness theme have faith in the links between all things. They believe there are few coincidences and that almost every event has a reason.

What makes you stand out?

Driven by your talents, you continually seek wisdom from people with whom you have intelligent conversations. You not only listen but also share your thoughts. In the process, you are likely to move beyond concrete facts. Your curiosity draws you to speculate (that is, reflect or wonder) about theories, ideas, or concepts. To keep your mind fresh, you frequently quiz individuals who are equally fascinated with the intangible and abstract aspects of life. Because of your strengths, you sometimes sense a special bond with certain individuals regardless of whether you have met them.

Perhaps time or distance does not prevent you from feeling closely linked to specific people or the lives they lead. Instinctively, 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. It’s very likely that you occasionally link together a variety of people who otherwise might not know each other. Perhaps you create a work climate where individuals begin to understand each other and cooperate.

Learner

Shared Theme Description

People who are especially talented in the Learner theme have a great desire to learn and want to continuously improve. In particular, the process of learning, rather than the outcome, excites them.

What makes you stand out?

Instinctively, you usually equate education — formal and informal — with understanding more about something today than you understood about it yesterday. It’s very likely that you channel your efforts into the task at hand. You persevere until you have gained the knowledge and skills needed to attain a goal. You can toil for many hours to secure your objective. You probably work hardest and most productively at a particular time of day. Driven by your talents, you customarily figure out what makes each person special. You talk to, observe, or study individuals who produce nothing less than excellence to identify what inspires them.  Unquestionably, you prefer to associate with those who share your passion for taking something good and making it better. Once you understand what drives a person, you can motivate him or her to transform whatever was made better into something utterly superb.

By nature, you are drawn to the process of gaining knowledge and skills. You long to build on what you already know. You yearn to improve on what you already can do. When you meet people who value education as much as you do, you are eager to hear about their personal or professional ambitions, intentions, or goals. Understanding what others aim to accomplish in the coming weeks, months, or years can be the beginning of a practical partnership or an enduring friendship. Because of your strengths, you may see some value in continuous education. Perhaps this reflects your interest in particular topics. Sometimes you are fascinated with the process of acquiring knowledge or skills.

Intellection

Shared Theme Description

People who are especially talented in the Intellection theme are characterized by their intellectual activity. They are introspective and appreciate intellectual discussions.

What makes you stand out?

Because of your strengths, you are determined to push for changes that will benefit humankind or Earth itself. Your desire to have an impact motivates you to enter into conversations with intelligent people. Drawing on their wealth of knowledge and ideas as well as sharing your treasure trove of wisdom is exciting. These discussions frequently cause you to think in new ways and to reexamine your purpose in life. Chances are good that you are willing to spend time sharing your ideas with intelligent individuals. Of course, you want them to tell you their latest thinking. Conversations that involve a lot of questions and answers stimulate your mind. You know you have spent your time wisely when you have a number of new ideas, theories, or concepts to somehow file away or remember for future use.

Instinctively, you eagerly welcome opportunities to think out loud about ideas, theories, or philosophies. You derive pleasure from conversations that force you to ponder matters that exist only in the realm of thought, not in reality. It’s very likely that you might delve into subject matter that intrigues you. Perhaps you read, write, listen to lectures, experiment, or research selected topics to broaden your understanding of them. Sometimes you think of questions no one else has ever asked. Sometimes you find your own answers. Driven by your talents, you designate a minimum of five hours a week for solitary thinking. You probably have figured out how to eliminate distractions and interruptions. You accept the fact that you have less free time to spend with family, friends, coworkers, teammates, or classmates.