Before attending the Annual Leadership Conference, I had the chance to finally take StrengthsQuest and find out my top strengths!
Drumroll, please . . .
- Input
- Strategic
- Communication
- Includer
- Maximizer
At first, this meant very little, so I decided to do more research and find out what these words actually meant. According to StrengthQuest’s official definitions:
“People strong in the Input theme have a craving to know more. Often they like to collect and archive all kinds of information. People strong in the Strategic theme create alternative ways to proceed. Faced with any given scenario, they can quickly spot the relevant patterns and issues. People strong in the Communication theme generally find it easy to put their thoughts into words. They are good conversationalists and presenters. People strong in the Inclusiveness theme are accepting of others. They show awareness of those who feel left out, and make an effort to include them. People strong in the Maximizer theme focus on strengths as a way to stimulate personal and group excellence. They seek to transform something strong into something superb.”
A couple of strengths here surprised me. To me, strategy seems more business-minded, which is the last adjective that I would use to describe myself. However, with more self-reflection, I definitely saw how my tendency to find multiple paths to the same destination would fall into this category. I really identify with the first and last strengths: Input and Maximizer. Curiosity and a craving for knowledge have defined me since I was old enough to explore my crib, and since I came into my leadership style, bringing my passions and peers to their full potential has been a cornerstone of my philosophy.
Overall, taking StrengthsQuest was an interesting experience. Learning more about myself and my strengths has been helpful in communicating my leadership style and values.