To kick off LifeDev in March with the theme of “Know Yourself,” we are going to be talking about two tools we’ve used extensively here at iThemes (and other places I’ve been) to get to know yourself a little better — StrengthsFinder and Kiersey Sorter (based on Myers-Briggs Personality Test).
Our kickoff webinar will be Wednesday, March 21 at noon Central Standard Time.
I’ll be talking about StrengthsFinder and Myers-Briggs and how it’s shaped my life and career and how we’ve used it internally on our team for more efficient and happy people.
We’ll do 30 minutes of presentation about these, then 30 minutes of discussion and Q&A. So come ready to share and discuss. And the recording will be posted to the LifeDev Blog (as well as iThemesTV) afterward.
What you need to do beforehand:
- Buy StrengthsFinder book (or Kindle version). The book is where you get the coupon for the online assessment and it costs around $14.
- Take the online assessment at StrengthsFinder.com. Find about 30 minutes of quiet, undisturbed time to take the assessment. This will give you a report with your top 5 strengths and descriptions. (By the way, my wife Lindsey and I have found this a great resource for our marriage – so you might ask your significant other to do so with you for talking points!)
- Read up on your top Strengths. The StrengthsFinder book has descriptions, Ideas for Action and more. Study these and take notes of how you see these strengths being used in your life, career, etc.
- Overachievers will also take the Kiersey Sorter. This costs around $20 for the full assessment and is based on the Myers-Briggs Personality Test. We will be touching on this during the webinar. You take the free version first, then you’ll be asked if you want the full paid report, which you want. Read over that. Take notes. Think deeply. Be ready to discuss.
- Post your results here in the comments! We can start the discussion now in our LifeDev community.
I took both tests but found the StrengthsFinders results more useful with its personalized information and action steps. My StrengthsFinders top themes are:
Deliberative
Focus
Intellection
Restorative
Input
My Keirsey results were Artisan Composer ISFP.
I didn’t take the Kiersey assessment, though I’ve consistently been an ENFJ on the Myers Briggs Type Indicator for years.
My STrengthsFinder results:
Strategic
Individualization
Relator
Communication
Activator (my friends have longed teased me about being an “instigator”!)
Looking forward to hearing more from other LifeDev followers – and to the new insights Cory will share.
My Top 5 StrengthsFinder results are:
1 Input
2 Learner
3 Intellection
4 Empathy
5 Individualization
Ah – so — my extensive files are just a part of who I am.
[I have been called "a hoarder of words"]
Off-hand, Can’t remember my myers brigs type,
but I know it’s in my files somewhere!
Thank you for sharing!
Here are mine:
- Learner
- Individualization
- Maximizer
- Futuristic
- Intellection
I wrote about it here too:
http://corymiller.com/know-thy-strengths/
Also: I am an INFJ.
Here are my top 5 strengths:
- Adaptability
- Includer
- Belief
- Connectedness
- Maximizer
These are really useful when you know your strengths as well as your coworkers.
These are my top 5:
-Input
-Command
-Ideation
-Deliberative
-Adaptability
- Strategic
- Adaptability
- Ideation
- Developer
- Learner
Here are my top 5 Strengths:
- Includer
- Positivity
- Woo
- Arranger
- Empathy
My top 5 strengths are:
Input
Strategic
Achiever
Learner
Ideation
It’s so interesting–once you’ve taken this test, the results really become apart of your vocabulary when describing what motivates you, how you relate, and yes, even your “quirks.”
Input
Ideation
Intellection
Futuristic
Achiever
My top strengths are:
-Learner
-Strategic
-Futuristic
-Achiever
-Relator
I feel like my life is ruled by my achiever strength…in a good way!
I am an ENFJ according to Kiersey
Really looking forward to discussing all of this tomorrow.
- Learner
- Intellection
- Arranger
- Individualization
- Achiever
Mine are
– Connectedness
– Responsibility
– Maximizer
– Futuristic
– Communication
Kiersey calls me an ENFP – an Idealist Champion… someone who makes up only 3-4% of the population. Does that mean I am an endangered species, a highly advanced mutation, or one who is slowly being weeded out through natural selection?
Now I feel like a cross between Spock and a spotted owl.
And I have 40 pages to read. And think about… yikes!
-Anthony
Strengths Finder Results:
Learner
Activator
Self-Assurance
Strategic
Responsibiltiy
According to Meyers Briggs, I’m an ESTJ.
My StrengthsFinder results are:
- Achiever
- Strategic
- Analytical
- Activator
- Significance
My Top 5 Strengths
1 Relator
2 Activator
3 Connectedness
4 Self-Assurance
5 Command
However I took this many years ago and I’m going to retake and see if anything has changed since then! I’ll repost if they have.
Janet, we’ve had one or two team members with Connectedness … and really enjoyed having that Strength in our team.
I took the Strengths Finder a few years ago
my strengths – Relator, Achiever, Futuristic, Activator, Focus
Input
Strategic
Analytical
Maximizer
Learner
Mine are:
-Strategic
-Competition
-Activator
-Individualization
-Relator
Erik, I like being around Activators. I think for the most part they set good examples of “action” for others (while potentially ruffling feathers too!). I’ve only seen the Competition strength in one other person and not on our team. Curious how that plays out for you.
Mine are:
1. Input
2. Learner
3. Ideation
4. Activator
5. Individualization
Now I can’t wait to read the book to figure myself out!
Thanks Cory!!!
Here’s me to a T:
1. Learner
2. Achiever
3. Input
4. Responsibility
5. Intellection
Kind of a duh! on most fronts but it’s good to see it in print. Now to put it into action.
We share the top strength of Learner … also Intellection.
For me, those combined means my brain never shuts off or the thrist for learning more never ends.
I took the entire test this time but am not sure I agree with these results completely:
-Context (absolutely): enjoy thinking about the past. They understand the present by researching its history.
-Relator: enjoy close relationships with others. They find deep satisfaction in working hard with friends to achieve a goal.
-Developer: recognize and cultivate the potential in others. They spot the signs of each small improvement and derive satisfaction from these improvements.
-Harmony: look for consensus. They don’t enjoy conflict; rather, they seek areas of agreement.
-Consistency: keenly aware of the need to treat people the same. They try to treat everyone in the world with consistency by setting up clear rules and adhering to them.
It doesn’t seem to jive with my Kiersey/Meyers-Briggs score, does it?
Temperament: Artisan
Type: Performer (ESFP)
Jan, in my experience, I am not sure how far they can be compared like that. I think they just express themselves differently in the different types. However, it seems like most of the Relators I know are also Extraverts.
Here are my results. I’ve taken these assessments several times and each time, I get basically the same results.
Kersey Temperament Sorter: Rational
MBTI: INTJ- but very close on the E/I scales making it rather easy for me to switch between ENTJ & INTJ, In certain business situations I operate more as a ENTJ, but re-charge my “batteries” in my true INTJ preference. This makes me a Rational Mastermind.
Strengths Finder:
*Individualization
*Futuristic
*Relator
*Learner
*Achiever
Adaptability
Ideation
Intellection
Analytical
Restorative
Myers-Briggs: ISTP
It’s kind of a curse sometimes. Whenever we go on vacation I’m always bringing along 5 to 10 books, podcasts & magazines which is kind of rediculous since I’m supposed to be “relaxing”. I’m also continually working on one tutorial/class or another trying to absorb as much as I can about whatever in doing at the moment (design, photography, diet/health). Fortunately my wife is used to it by now
Interesting webinar – I am looking forward to more on this series – however I find myself taking every Web Design webinar I can plus I replay an number of them. iThemes and Web Design have become my most important tools for learning.
Keirsey – I am an Idealist Healer – INFP
My Strengths Finder Book just came today (sure I use “electronic” readers on my iPhone but I am old school and tend more to books – the printed kind.
–Deliberative
–Learner
–Achiever
–Adaptability
–Intellection
Now to read over the reports and book – thanks for the information