Strengths

Mason students, staff, and faculty can access the Strengthsfinder tool here. 

In 1998, Gallup scientists began research focused on people’s strengths instead of deficiencies.  Why do people spend so much time worrying about their weaknesses instead of putting energy into doing things they are good at and enjoy? Tom Rath, Donald Clifton, and other social scientists put names to 34 talents and given attention to outreach for strengths recognition, resulting in over 10 million people worldwide taking the Strengths Assessment (Rath, 2007).

In Strengthsfinder 2.0, Rath points out the way using strengths can be a positive influence on workplace culture, personal development, and building community. Instead of encouraging others to be anything they want to be through hard work, Rath encourages people to understand what they are already good at and work at becoming more of who the person already naturally is. This has to potential to create extraordinary people instead of a society where everyone has the same talents.

Developing strengths on college campuses is quickly becoming a way to optimize student success (Schreiner, Louis, & Nelson, 2012). Nurturing talent has been tied into learning experiences in the curricular and co-curricular setting to promote thriving, achievement, well-being, and character development (Seligman & Csikszentmihalyi, 2000; Schreiner, Louis, & Nelson, 2012).

References:

Rath, T. (2007). Strengthsfinder 2.0. New York: Gallup Press.

Schreiner, L.A., Louis, M.C., & Nelson, D.D. (Eds.). (2012). Thriving in transitions: A research-based approach to college student success. Columbia, SC:         University of South Carolina, National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience and Students in Transition.

Seligman, M.E.P.,& Csikszentmihalyi, M. (Eds.). (2000). Positive psychology [Special issue] American Psychologist, 55(1).