StrengthsFinder

StrengthsFinder, now marketed as CliftonStrengths, is a psychometric assessment developed by Gallup that helps individuals identify their strongest talents. The instrument emphasizes developing existing strengths rather than focusing on weaknesses, and it is widely used for personal development, leadership training, and team effectiveness.

The tool was created by Donald O. Clifton and the Gallup Organization. It gained prominence with the book StrengthsFinder 2.0 by Tom Rath, published in 2007, and was later rebranded as CliftonStrengths in 2015. The assessment is grounded in positive psychology and organizes talents into a fixed set of 34 themes.

Methodologically, the CliftonStrengths online assessment presents a series of paired statements (the typical format is 177 items). Test takers choose which statement describes them best for each pair. The scoring yields a rank order of the 34 talent themes, with an optional top-five report and a full 34-theme report that provides descriptions and suggested development actions for each theme.

The 34 talent themes include Achiever, Activator, Adaptability, Analytical, Arranger, Belief, Command, Communication, Competition, Connectedness, Consistency, Context, Deliberative, Developer, Discipline, Empathy, Focus, Futuristic, Harmony, Ideation, Includer, Individualization, Input, Intellection, Learner, Maximizer, Positivity, Relator, Responsibility, Restorative, Self-Assurance, Significance, Strategic, and Woo. Users typically use the resulting insights to create targeted development plans, improve teamwork, and guide career and leadership decisions.

Criticism and limitations include reliance on self-report data, potential cultural bias, and questions about predictive validity across contexts. Supporters emphasize actionable feedback and a strengths-based approach, while practitioners stress the need for careful interpretation and supplementary assessment when used for selection or high-stakes decisions.