Should You Ever Retake the StrengthsFinder Assessment?

In Talent Development by Rhonda Knight Boyle

As a coach, I often have people ask me, “Should I retake the StrengthsFinder assessment?” And the answer to that is … probably not.

Pairing Statements

The assessment is a psychometric tool and was created and developed by Donald A. Clifton more than fifty years ago. It consists of 177 pairing statements, which are potential self-descriptors such as “I read instructions carefully” versus “I like to jump right into things.” When taking the test, you not only choose between the two statements but also the degree to which that option represents you. The test is timed (with limited exceptions such as a reading disability) and you have 20 seconds in which to make your selection. Your first instinct is nearly always your truth.

There are times when people elect to take the assessment again. Perhaps because their new job requires them to do so. More often than not, they choose to because they want to see if anything has changed. According to Gallup Corporation, the owner of the test, “it is unlikely that your talents will change significantly over the course of your life.”

StrengthsFinder Retake

Retake: Talents may change slightly over time, but insignificantly.

Only Part of the Story

It’s important to understand that the Top 5 results only tell part of your strengths story. There are actually a total of 34 Signature Themes that the assessment ranks in order of dominant thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. In fact, if you’re an adult it’s likely that you use your top 10 talents daily, and accessing as far as your top 15. It would be expected that your Top 5 results could change should you take the assessment again, and all that means, in reality, is that you selected a different intensity on that pairing statement the second time around. Your responses will be based on your awareness, your values, and other factors that may be influential in the moment.

StrengthsFinder retake

To take or retake the StrengthsFinder assessment?

Retake Reasons

When I’m working with clients, there are only a couple of reasons I might suggest a retake. If you were in your late teens or early twenties when you took the assessment initially, then you may very well have developed some talents more than others along your life’s journey. I would only recommend this if five years or more have passed. I might also encourage a retake in the event of a trauma that completely changes the dynamics of your life. Otherwise, instead of a retake, I am more interested in knowing the full profile (all 34 in order) of your original results.

So if you’re discerning whether or not to retake the test, consider why and under what conditions you took it the first time. Avoid it, if possible, because it can cause confusion and limit future talent development.

For more information about StrengthsFinder, be sure to visit the Gallup Strengths Center.

And join us in The Very Best YOU Facebook group, where we’re all things StrengthsFinder!
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Rhonda Knight Boyle

Rhonda is a Gallup Certified StrengthsFinder coach and the founder of Rhonda Boyle LLC, a coaching and consulting company. She uses Clifton Strengths and BP10 methodology to foster personal development and professional growth. She can be heard on the OklahomaTalkingCo podcast network and is the host of the Activate Your Strengths Show.

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