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Written for business professionals, this book is a direct address to the trend of personal success guides which operate on the premise of combating weaknesses. Clifton and Buckingham, designers of the StrengthsFinder profile, hope to help readers tap into the well of personal talents they innately possess in order to become more successful.
The premise of this new management study, a follow-up to Buckingham's First, Break All the Rules (S. & S., 1999), is that the most effective method for motivating people is to build on their strengths rather than correcting their weaknesses. The authors, researchers at the Gallup Organization, have analyzed results of interviews conducted by Gallup of over 1.7 million employees from 101 companies and representing 63 countries. When asked, only 20 percent of these employees stated that they were using their strengths everyday. So that they can take a test revealing their strengths, readers are given access to the StrengthsFinder web site and a special ID number; once they learn their profile, they can read the analysis in the book. A description of each type is included, together with case studies, and managers are shown how to handle various types. This book offers a unique perspective on successful management strategy and developing employees' strengths. Recommended especially for public libraries, which should also consider Buckingham's First, Break All the Rules; students of business administration may also wish to consult this book.D Lucy Heckman, St. John's Univ. Lib., Jamaica, NY Copyright 2001 Library Journal.
Customer Reviews
The idea of the book is to help you find your talents, build your strengths, which will in turn, improve your performance. Building your strengths is indeed somthing that is often overlooked, as most of the time we seek to improve our weaknesses- that's a point well taken- and a good reason to buy the book. However two more things also need to be mentioned. First, why can't we work on building both our strengths AND our weaknesses? In other words, why do we have to necessarily pick just one? Secondly, discovering your talents and doing what you're good at may not necessarily improve your performance or your motivation. Why? Because there are lots of things we're good at, but still hate to do nonetheless. For insance I'm really good at cleaning houses and debating, but I don't like to really do either one. People only get motivated to something when they know how to do a job AND there's something meaningful in it for them- that's how you motivate people (check out The Sixty-Second Motivator for an elaboration on this). Just some food for thought.
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I like it. It let me think in different ways. I would buy it again.
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eab522 from Phila, PA, Sep 21, 2006
- Information Value:
5 out of 5 - Value:
3 out of 5
I love the site and have used it before with great ease and promptness. The only thing that I wish were different was the limit on the quantity of one item. I understand why of course because peopel would buy and then resell for profit but I had to order 25 books for work and had to do it in 3 orders. Besides that all was great!
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Rating 
panthur from Delray Beach, FL, Jun 19, 2006
- Information Value:5 out of 5
- Entertainment Value:3 out of 5
- Value:
4 out of 5
If you want to know what your inherent strengths are, this is the book for you. You'll take a quiz online (but you need to purchase the book to get the code) and be told your five key strengths. The authors beleive everyone should be developing their strengths instead of trying to compensate for their weaknesses. They help guide you to determine what strengths you have and how you can apply them to a career choice that is good for you.
- How often do you shop at Overstock.com? Few times a year
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