Living Your Strengths

I happened on this book by accident. I had been reading a number of leadership/management books, which all referred to  First, Break All the Rules: What the World's Greatest Managers Do Differently . I had never heard of the book. I was also very reluctant to buy the book. The title just did not sit right with me. I sounded like a course in insubordination, rebelliousness or something. Nevertheless, my curiosity got the best of me.I broke down. The book was excellent. So were the number of books published in its wake:  StrengthsFinder 2.0 , Now, Discover Your Strengths , Go Put Your Strengths to Work: 6 Powerful Steps to Achieve Outstanding Performance , and  StandOut: The Groundbreaking New Strengths Assessment from the Leader of the Strengths Revolution  (which I have not yet read, but I'm sure comes from the same mold). It talked about the four keys of great managers: selecting people for talents or "recurring patterns of behavior;" defining the right outcomes by turning talents into performance; focusing on strengths and not on weaknesses; and, finding the right fit to give people the greatest chance for success. These conclusions and others were derived from the Gallup Organization analyzing data collected over 25 years from interviews of 80,000 managers and 1,000,000 staff members from 400 companies.The authors' emphasis on strengths, led me to take the Clifton Strengthfinders test. To my surprise, when printing out the results, it listed my 5 top strengths. It briefly, but accurately described "me!" I printed out copies and gave them to people who knew me well. I asked them what came to mind when reading it. They all said it described me, and how I work, and what makes me tick, and what I do best.Later, I happened onto Living Your Strengths - Discover Your God-given Talents And Inspire Your Community. It drew from all the books that I had previously read on this subject. Basically, it had the same approach, but this book was particularly focused on helping people in Church communities to discover their own talents, based on the Clifton Strengthfinders test and all of the prior Gallup research, and put them to use.I have been using this book ever since. Like and with the others, it had quickly taught me to focus on my strengths and find success through them, ignoring my weaknesses which were not worth the time and effort to even try to change. It also gave me a tool to give to others to help them to do the same, to look at life through a different perspective, to find success where they may not have sought it previously, and to become a valuable member to their community and society.This particular version has been geared to the generic Christian Church community, incorporating things that would be appreciated by them. There is also a Catholic version available:  Living Your Strengths, Catholic Edition: Discover Your God-Given Talents and Inspire Your Community , containing things that would be peculiarly recognized or appreciated by them, and actually promoted in the parishes of the Rockville Centre Diocese in Long Island, NY by Bishop William Murphy.N.B. There is a sort of mystery behind this whole, let's say, movement that has appeared as followers of these books on "strengths" and their approach. I believe it stays as mystery until one actually takes the Clifton Strengthfinders test themselves. There is a code in each new book to allow one to do so (it may already be used in most used books). In fact the book specifically stops you at one point and directs you to take it, after which, I believe is followed by personal surprise over its exactness.I do not think you will be disappointed.

I am super happy with product came right on time for my class plus it was free shipping I am glad that I went with used and only payed less than $6. I was a little nervous because I really like new stuff because I like to keep thing neat and clean but I thought of giving used a try since it was so affordable. Well we'll I have absolutely 💯 % NO regrets the book is brand new in my opinion if someone uses it I can't tell, that would also mean they are like me. I'm excited that I did not spend a lot and got a really nice new hard cover book. God is good. Thanks seller bear book. I would definitely buy from them again if need be. Excited and happy customer 😊

Mark Cuban invests three hours every day—not in shooting hoops with his Dallas Mavericks, not in sizing up Shark Tank deals, and not in other typical entrepreneurial endeavors—but in reading! According to the book, "Scaling Up: How a Few Companies Make It…and Why the Rest Don’t," the most important routine/habit you can develop is reading.And John Baillie (1886–1960) shares this wisdom in "A Diary of Private Prayer" (31 morning prayers and 31 evening prayers):“Leave me not, O gracious Presence, in such hours as I may today devote to the reading of books or of newspapers. Guide my mind to choose the right books and, having chosen them, to read them in the right way. When I read for profit, grant that all I read may lead me nearer to Thyself. When I read for recreation, grant that what I read may not lead away from Thee. Let all my reading so refresh my mind that I may the more eagerly seek after whatsoever things are pure and fair and true.”So…I encourage clients and colleagues to always keep reading—to keep “refreshing” your mind by reading; to honor God in your reading. Thus here’s a StrengthsFinder niche book that you might have missed, written by the father of the strengths movement and two others:“Our coauthor, Don Clifton [1924-2003], was always fond of saying that each person can do something better than 10,000 other people. The key is for individuals to discover what that something is, and then do it.”Winseman and Liesveld add, “Indeed, developing our talents into strengths requires risk. We must step out, try new things, or take a chance by doing something we may fail at—at first. But if we do not take some risks—emotionally, physically, and spiritually—we will never grow. God expects no less from us and from the Church.”How’s this for a “before and after” testimonial from a church board member?“After serving almost four years on the church board, I had yet to fully know or understand those with whom I was working. The extent of our personal knowledge about one another went little beyond being asked to ‘share your favorite movie.’“At the initiation of a new church board chair and a new executive pastor, we underwent strengths coaching, both individual and team. Everyone engaged in the process, and I learned more about my teammates in one evening than in all my previous years on the board. It was the most meaningful and significant times we’ve spent together.”If you work or volunteer in a faith-based organization, you will deeply appreciate how "Living Your Strengths" integrates the StrengthsFinder assessment with biblical insights. Example: my Top-5 strengths according to the Gallup assessment are: Focus, Responsibility, Significance, Belief, and Maximizer. So Living Your Strengths suggests three Scriptures that relate to the Focus theme: • Luke 9:51 (“…he set his face to go to Jerusalem.”) • Philippians 3:12-14 (“…I press on toward the goal…”) • Hebrews 12:1-2 (“…let us lay aside every weight…”)Similar to the other StrengthsFinder books, "Living Your Strengths" includes two- and three-page summaries of all 34 talent themes—plus Scriptures for each theme. The book also includes chapters on “The Power of the Right Fit,” “Creating Strengths-Based Congregations,” and “Discovering a Calling.” Each book also includes one unique access code to the Clifton StrengthsFinder online assessment.If you’re leading a team of staff or volunteers in a faith-based ministry or church—and blindly leading without understanding strengths—you have handcuffed half your brain and half your heart. Delegate your reading today and invite a team member to check this out.

When involved in a church, many people fall into the trap of helping out from a sense of duty. Despite working to the best of their ability, they are not fully engaged and roles are carried out with a mediocre level of commitment. Often it is the same people who volunteer for the majority of roles.Living Your Strengths explores the concept of identifying our unique gifts that God has given us and describes how we can apply them effectively for His service. The book explains that when we are doing what we naturally do best, we are more engaged with our church or community.Gallup conclude from their research, that when people are engaged in their church, they are 10 times more likely to invite someone to participate in their congregations, they are more likely to spend over 2 hours a week helping others, and they are likely to give 3 times as much financially.The Living Your Strengths book explores this concept, providing several examples where it has made a difference to the lives of individuals and to their church. The latter part of the book explains about each of the 34 themes of talent and includes a code to take the Clifton StrengthsFinder assessment.

Arrived bang on time! Good quality hardback. Exactly the book I was looking for.

Excellent and very helpful book

The arrival time was great. But the access code at the back cover of the book have been used. Therefore I am not able to access to the assessment. I have to go through the trouble to contact Amazon. Then I have to return the book to get a refund.I purchased kindle copy and there were no access code given. I have to contact Amazon again. Therefore the hassle of going back and forth have taken much of my precious time. And my problem cannot be solved.Not satisfied.

This book comes with an access code for an assessment that is paramount for getting value for the book. The access code at the back of the book I received had previously been used.Item was labeled as new in the listing but clearly has been used.