“God expects nothing more from you than to live that life
for which you were created. He [sic] wants
you to be yourself.” This is the simple
but profound message of Living Your Strengths
, a book based on the Clifton
StrengthsFinder ® and the research of the Gallup Organization.
, a book based on the Clifton
StrengthsFinder ® and the research of the Gallup Organization.
I was first introduced to the idea of Strengths Psychology
through First, Break All the Rules
by Marcus Buckingham and Curt Coffman and
Now, Discover Your Strengths
by Buckingham and Donald Clifton (the designer of
the inventory). My attention was focused on the concept once
more when I heard Marcus Buckingham speak at the Willow Creek Leadership Summit
several years ago and began thinking about this in relation to the church. Living Your Strengths by Albert Winseman,
Donald Clifton, and Curt Liesveld makes the application of the idea directly to
the believer and the life of the church.
by Marcus Buckingham and Curt Coffman and
Now, Discover Your Strengths by Buckingham and Donald Clifton (the designer of
the inventory). My attention was focused on the concept once
more when I heard Marcus Buckingham speak at the Willow Creek Leadership Summit
several years ago and began thinking about this in relation to the church. Living Your Strengths by Albert Winseman,
Donald Clifton, and Curt Liesveld makes the application of the idea directly to
the believer and the life of the church.
The approach is summarized in this way:
“God has created the one and only you, uniquely gifted
with undeniable talents that are the foundation for your strengths. Claim who you are, listen to God, celebrate
your talents, begin living through strengths.
And start transforming your life—and the life of your congregation”
Strengths are based on one’s innate talents plus developed
skills and acquired knowledge. Talents
are basically God-given; skills can be learned and knowledge obtained. We are encouraged to embrace the talents that
God has given each of us and develop them into strengths by developing
appropriate skills and knowledge.
Using the web-based Clifton StrengthsFinder 1.0 assessment,
the reader can discover his or her five “signature themes” out of 34
possibilities and then reflect on how these can be used to maximize one’s
engagement in church, work, and family life.
The primary emphasis in this book, however, is on church. If a person is to be fully engaged in the
church and growing in devotion and service, then he or she must embrace and use
what God has provided. This idea is
developed further in Winseman’s Growing an Engaged Church.
Although the stories and testimonies included in this “expanded
and updated” version tend to encourage investing in the training program
offered by the Gallup Organization, the reader will gain significant personal
insight by just completing the inventory and reading the book. In fact, I found it so interesting that I
worked through it in an afternoon.
The philosophy and theology behind a strengths-based
approach to leadership and service are sound.
I think you will find applications both to your own life and to that of
your church or organization.
Comments