The Gallup Strengths Test is a strengths-based personality assessment that helps identify your natural talent themes. It is commonly known today as CliftonStrengths and is often used for career development, leadership coaching, team building, and workplace self-awareness. The test does not usually have right or wrong answers. Instead, it helps show how you naturally think, work, communicate, and solve problems.

This behavioural assessment has undergone several name changes over the past few years.  Initially known as Gallup’s StrengthsFinder Assessment, then StrengthsFinder 2.0, then Clifton StrengthsFinder; the assessment is now called CliftonStrengths.  The CliftonStrengths Assessment is named for Dr. Donald O. Clifton who has spent over 50 years researching various strengths that people share.  In 2002, the American Psychological Association awarded Dr. Clifton the Presidential Commendation and recognized him as the Father of Strengths-Based Psychology.  Over the years, more than 10 million people have identified which of the 34 strengths (or themes) they possess, and have used this information to become more effective in their careers, and in their lives in general.  The themes are a combination of knowledge, skills and talents.

What is the CliftonStrengths Test Like?

This is not a test you can prepare for in a traditional sense, but it is helpful to know what to expect when you walk into the testing site.  The CliftonStrengths test, also known as the Gallup StrengthsFinder (GSF), is taken on a computer.  You will be presented with 177 sentence pairs.  Some of the sentence pairs are opposites, some are similar, and some have no apparent relationship.  You will choose the sentence in each pair that best describes your thoughts, feelings, or behaviour.  You need to be able to complete three sentence pairs in a minute in order to accurately complete the test.  For this reason, building your familiarity with the test format by taking some practice tests is a good idea.  When you complete the test, you will be shown your top five qualities, or themes.  It is up to you, and possibly your employer, to use these CliftonStrengths to be productive in the workplace.

Why Are the Results Important?

Knowing what strengths their employees bring to the table enables employers to place their people in appropriate positions.  If a job needs to be done quickly and efficiently, someone with an Activator or Command theme will save the day, but in a brain storming session, someone with Ideation or Strategic themes might be a better fit.  Employers also use test results to provide training for employees who do not naturally have the strengths that are needed for a specific job.

Understanding your own themes helps you understand how you see the world, and how you view work and the people around you.  Knowing your themes can lead you to a profession where you will be satisfied in your job.  A doctor with a strong Discipline theme will be much happier in general surgery than in the Emergency Room where potential chaos lies in wait with every ambulance call, the ER is the perfect setting for a doctor with a strong Restorative theme.

Having an understanding of the themes also helps create a more positive corporate culture.  As people with different themes work together, they can appreciate the qualities co-workers are bringing to the team.  Instead of seeing someone as bull headed and bossy, that person can be recognized for having a need to get a job done in an efficient and orderly manner.  In turn, he/she can recognize a co-worker’s need to explore different avenues before committing to the one that best fits the project at hand.

What are the Clifton Strengths?

What Do the 34 Gallup Strengths Mean?

The 34 Gallup Strengths, also known as CliftonStrengths themes, describe natural patterns in how people think, work, communicate, lead, solve problems, and build relationships. Each strength reflects a different type of talent that may appear in the workplace, especially in areas such as leadership, teamwork, sales, customer service, planning, problem-solving, and communication.

Our practice pack helps you become familiar with sample-style questions, improve your self-awareness, and prepare by role so you can approach the Gallup Strengths Test with more confidence.

Gallup Strengths Test vs Personality Test