Book Review: Strengths Finder 2.0 
By Gina Martellacci, CPA
A recent study revealed that "people have several times more potential for growth when they invest energy in developing their strengths instead of correcting their deficiencies." Unfortunately, most of us focus on (and often obsess about) fixing our weaknesses. Our strengths and talents become idle. A good writer will never become a great writer. And a proficient CPA may never enter the c-suite, become partner or don the title of financial genius.
Strengths Finder 2.0, by Tom Rath, joins the research with an assessment tool to help readers identify their strengths and provides general tips for enriching your key strengths.
The Research
Part One is an introduction to the study conducted by Rath, Donald Clifton (the "Father of Strengths Psychology") and other Gallup scientists. Out of this study, the Clifton Strengths Finder Assessment was developed to help people discover and describe their individual "talent themes."
Rath indicates that our strengths are enduring and unique. They are an extension of our natural talents. Our strengths are things we do near perfection both consistently and predictably. As a result, the guidance we’ve heard all our lives, "You can be anything you want to be if you just try hard enough" is really a "misguided maxim." In fact if we would just focus on our strengths, we would be "six times as likely to be engaged in [our] jobs and more than three times as likely to report having an excellent quality of life in general."
The Strengths
Historically, those with talents and strengths usually slip by guidance counselors and mentors who incorrectly assume the talented have no need to be nurtured. Part Two provides a synopsis of 34 areas of strength (also called leadership themes). Each area includes an example of who embodies those talents, action items to potentially strengthen those talents, and ideas for how to better work with those of a specific talent.
The Assessment
Readers can take the online StrengthsFinder 2.0 Assessment which can be accessed with the one-time use access code that comes with the book. You can also take the test by purchasing a code online for $19.95. The test has 177 pairings on a five-point scale of "Strongly Agree, Agree, Neutral, Agree and Strongly Agree" to score the choice that "best describes me." An example would be: "I read instructions carefully" and "I like to jump right into things." The test takes about 30 minutes and is timed to make participants act on instinct. Some of these pairings forced me to select "neutral" because I either felt like neither applied at all or both applied equally as strong. It would be interesting to know how the pairings were developed.
Once you’ve taken the test, your results are compiled and you are given your top five talent categories. I would agree with my top five talents: arranger, includer, empathy, positivity, and woo (stands for "Winning Others Over"). I try to incorporate them into my life to be more fulfilled and productive. The ideas for action under each of these items are valid but would be even more useful if the online generated analysis gave ideas of action for combining these talents to get even better results in life. It appears that Gallup will provide information beyond your top five themes if you are working with a coach or consultant, likely for an additional fee.
Impressions
While the book can help point out your strengths, it is not a How-To book offering detailed analysis or specific advice to lead you to success. It provides the basics to help you incorporate your strengths into your daily life and "be a lot more of who you already are." The reports generated once you take the test offer the same information (descriptions of each talent area, etc.) included in the book. It left me wondering if the book is even necessary or if it’s just a tool to get you to the website, purchase the test (also available in bulk for your organization) and purchase other Tom Rath books.
I wouldn’t recommend this book for individuals who are looking to find deep meaning or a way to cultivate and combine their strengths into a successful career. I would recommend this book for individuals who are just scratching the surface in finding out how to better themselves.
Gina Martellacci, CPA is a Senior Associate at Johnson Lambert LLP. She graduated from James Madison University in May 2010 and within a year and a half’s time, started with Johnson Lambert LLP and became a CPA. Being on such a fast track in her career, she reviewed Strengths Finder 2.0 to better herself and her career path. She can be reached at gmartellacci@johnsonlambert.com.