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A review by kil3yp
Strengthsfinder 2.0 by Tom Rath
1.0
This was fairly disappointing - especially since I did indeed shell out the $15 to take their quiz and find my five strengths.
While the strengths were unsurprising (I likely could have picked them out of the list myself), what was most disappointing was the lack of direction for how to best use these strengths, and their absolute refusal to consider weak points (since this is after all, about finding and focusing on your strengths). I got some nice two line blurbs from other "people" (I would bet my $15 that they are mostly fictional) about how they use the particular strength, and told what the best partner type would be to that strength.
But that's it. I paid $15 to get a description of myself I already sort of knew, and told to find other people (who have also shelled out $15) who are a particular type to shore up my weak points and balance my particular set. Except, I did this on my own not as part of an organization.
I could understand how this would work in organizations with large teams. I can even understand how it may be beneficial for those who are less confident about their strength areas. But otherwise, this was a giant waste of $15 and checking out a book from the Library. I'm not even sure it was worth the time it took me to take the quiz and read the sections. Oh, by the way, the print outs you get after the quiz are essentially re-writes of the book sections. So save yourself one or the other.
My suggestion for Strengths Finder 3.0? Cut back on your ridiculously long list of strengths, give longer sections with more detail about each one, and suggestions on areas for improvement and focus. Stop telling me to rely on other people who have ostensibly taken your same damn quiz. Give me an idea of industries and roles that are well suited to that particular strength set. Talk about how strengths can work well or against one another. You know. Those things you promised, but didn't deliver on in Strengths Finder 2.0.
While the strengths were unsurprising (I likely could have picked them out of the list myself), what was most disappointing was the lack of direction for how to best use these strengths, and their absolute refusal to consider weak points (since this is after all, about finding and focusing on your strengths). I got some nice two line blurbs from other "people" (I would bet my $15 that they are mostly fictional) about how they use the particular strength, and told what the best partner type would be to that strength.
But that's it. I paid $15 to get a description of myself I already sort of knew, and told to find other people (who have also shelled out $15) who are a particular type to shore up my weak points and balance my particular set. Except, I did this on my own not as part of an organization.
I could understand how this would work in organizations with large teams. I can even understand how it may be beneficial for those who are less confident about their strength areas. But otherwise, this was a giant waste of $15 and checking out a book from the Library. I'm not even sure it was worth the time it took me to take the quiz and read the sections. Oh, by the way, the print outs you get after the quiz are essentially re-writes of the book sections. So save yourself one or the other.
My suggestion for Strengths Finder 3.0? Cut back on your ridiculously long list of strengths, give longer sections with more detail about each one, and suggestions on areas for improvement and focus. Stop telling me to rely on other people who have ostensibly taken your same damn quiz. Give me an idea of industries and roles that are well suited to that particular strength set. Talk about how strengths can work well or against one another. You know. Those things you promised, but didn't deliver on in Strengths Finder 2.0.