A Leader’s Guide for Self Improvement

This is the fifth and final in a series of posts from a book review of Strengths- Based Leadership by Tom Rath and Barry Conchie.

As an executive coach, I’m constantly on the lookout for instruments that will help my clients reach their personal leadership goals. I especially focus on talents and developing strengths. This is where the new Strengths-Based Leadership Report and the Strengths-Based Leadership Guide have both become very useful to me as a coach.

1. Strengths-Based Leadership Report: The StrengthsFinder 2.0 provides each leader with his or her 5 key themes (from a list of 34 themes) and groups them into the four team-based domains (Executing, Influencing, Relationship Building and Strategic Thinking). When you identify which critical domain best suits your cluster of themes and potential strengths, you then realize what specific strength you bring to a team…no small piece of useful information, indeed. But there’s more.

2. Strengths-Based Leadership Guide: In addition to the Leadership Report (mentioned above) The Leadership Guide takes the whole StrengthsFinder concept to the next level: How do you use each of your StrengthsFinder themes to meet specific followers’ needs (Trust, Compassion, Stability, and Hope)? The guide produced is specific, tailored to the individual, and instructive. It provides a guide for individuals and their coaches.

Final Note: I am a big fan of the work that Donald Clifton (and Gallup) has done over the years and more than pleased that his grandson Tom Rath and all the Gallup folks have carried on Don’s mantle of strengths-based leadership. Kudos.