Unfortunately, most of us have little sense of our talents and strengths, much less the ability to build our lives around them. Instead guided by our teachers, parents and managers we become experts in our weaknesses and spend our lives trying to repair these flaws, whilst our strengths lie dormant and neglected.

International bestselling author Marcus Buckingham and Donald Clifton, Chair of the Gallup International Research & Education Centre, have created a revolutionary programme to help readers identify their talents, build them into strengths and enjoy consistent, near-perfect performance. At the heart of the book is the innovative Internet-based StrengthsFinder Profile, access to which is provided by a unique number found in each copy of the book. This programme introduces thirty-four dominant themes that when combined, can provide an insight into the readers core abilities and how they can be translated into personal and career success.

Introduction: The Strengths Revolution at Work

The Revolution

"What are the two assumptions on which great organizations

must be built?" 3

Two Million Interviews

"Whom did Gallup interview to learn about human

strengths?" 8

I. THE ANATOMY OF A STRENGTH

Chapter 1. Strong Lives

The Investor, the Director, the Skin Doctor, and the Editor

"What does a strong life look like ?" 15

Tiger Woods, Bill Gates, and Cole Porter

"What is a strength?" 20

Three Revolutionary Tools

"What do you need to build your life around your

strengths ?" 23

Chapter 2. Strength Building

Is He Always This Good?

"What can we learn about strengths from Colin Powell?" 33

Knowledge and Skills

"Which aspects of you can you change?" 35

Talent

"Which aspects of you are enduring?" 42

II. DISCOVER THE SOURCE OF YOUR STRENGTHS

Chapter 3. StrengthsFinder

The Traces of Talent

"How can you identify your own talents?" 59

The StrengthsFinder Profile

"How does it work, and how do I complete it?" 67

Chapter 4. The Thirty-four Themes of StrengthsFinder

Achiever 75

Activator 76

Adaptability 78

Analytical 79

Arranger 80

Belief 82

Command 83

Communication 84

Competition 86

Connectedness 87

Consistency 88

Context 90

Deliberative 91

Developer 92

Discipline 94

Empathy 95

Focus 96

Futuristic 98

Harmony 99

Ideation 101

Includer 102

Individualization 103

Input 105

InteUection 106

Learner 107

Maximizer 109

Positivity 110

Relator 112

Responsibility 113

Restorative 115

Self-assurance 116

Significance 118

Strategic 119

Woo 120

III. PUT STRENGTHS TO WORK

Chapter 5. The Questions You're Asking

Are there any obstacles to building my strengths? 127

Why should I focus on my signature themes? 136

Is there any significance to the order of my signature

 themes? 139

Not all of the phrases in the theme description apply to me.

 Why? 141

Why am I different from other people with whom I share

  some of the same themes? 142

Are any of the themes "opposites"? 144

Can I develop new themes if I don't like the ones I

  have? 146

Will I become too narrow if I focus on my signature

  themes? 149

How can I manage around my weaknesses? 152

Can my themes reveal whether I am in the right

  career? 163

Chapter 6. M~maging Strengths

"Fidel," Sam Mendes, and Phil Jackson

"What is the secret of their success?" 173

One By One

"How can you manage each of the thirty-four themes of

StrengthsFinder ?" 178

Chapter 7. Building a Strengths-based Organization

The Full Story

"Who is leading the strengths revolution at work?" 219

The Practical Guide

"How can you build a strengths-based organization ?" 224

Appendix

A Technical Report on StrengthsFinder

"What research underpins the StrengthsFinder Profile, and what

research is planned to refine the instrument?" 251