Unlock your hidden strength to find your true superpower!

Published on 29 August 2025 at 18:55

Ever feel like you're running on a hamster wheel, doing tasks that just don't light you up? Or maybe you're at a crossroads, wondering what your passion truly is? In this fast-paced world, it's easy to get caught up in what you should be doing, rather than what you're naturally great at. That's where the magic of a strengths-based approach to your career comes in. Imagine if your work leveraged your innate talents – those things you do effortlessly, enjoyably, and excellently. That's not just a pipe dream; it's the pathway to a truly fulfilling and successful career!

While the official Gallup CliftonStrengths assessment is an incredible deep dive, I've put together a quick and easy 15-minute quiz designed to give you a powerful taste of your unique talents. Think of it as your personal compass, pointing you towards your dominant "Strengths Domain." This isn't just about identifying what you're good at; it's about understanding how you're good at it, and how that can be your ultimate career advantage. Get ready to uncover your hidden superpowers and start shaping a career that truly resonates with you!

The Quick Strengths-Finder Quiz

For each of the 34 questions below, read the four statements.

Choose the one statement that is MOST like you. Give that strength +1 point.
Choose the one statement that is LEAST like you. Give that strength -1 point.
Leave the other two blank (they get 0 points).

Use a piece of paper or a spreadsheet to track the scores for each of the 34 strengths. By the end, you will have a unique score for every theme.

1. When starting a project, I am most likely to...

Create a detailed, orderly plan from start to finish. (Discipline)
Find the best way to arrange the people and resources for peak efficiency. (Arranger)
Get everyone energised and excited about the work we're doing. (Positivity)
Question the underlying assumptions to ensure we're on the right track. (Analytical)

2. I feel a sense of satisfaction when I...

Turn a group of strangers into a functioning team. (Woo)
Am given ownership of a task and see it through to completion. (Responsibility)
Help people grow by spotting and nurturing their potential. (Developer)
Can spend quiet time alone to think and reflect. (Intellection)

3. In a team environment, I naturally...

Push the group to start immediately and turn ideas into action. (Activator)
Ensure that everyone is treated fairly and the rules are applied equally. (Consistency)
Look ahead to inspire the team with a vision of what could be. (Futuristic)
See the unique qualities in each person and how they can best contribute. (Individualization)

4. People often rely on me to...

Find the most efficient path forward when faced with many options. (Strategic)
Express the group's feelings and ideas in a compelling way. (Communication)
Bring a logical, data-driven perspective to a decision. (Analytical)
Stay flexible and guide the team through unexpected changes. (Adaptability)

5. I am at my best when I...

Can achieve a tangible goal and check it off my list. (Achiever)
Am in charge and can bring direction and decisiveness to a situation. (Command)
Work with a small group of trusted people I know well. (Relator)
Can research the history of a situation to inform the present. (Context)

6. When faced with a challenge, I instinctively...

See the upside and maintain an optimistic outlook for the group. (Positivity)
Take psychological ownership and ensure I deliver on my promises. (Responsibility)
Generate a wide range of new and innovative ideas. (Ideation)
Make sure everyone is included and has a voice in the discussion. (Includer)

7. My approach to work involves...

Focusing on amplifying what's already strong to make it superb. (Maximizer)
A craving to gather more information and knowledge. (Input)
Making sure the work aligns with a deeper purpose or mission. (Belief)
Sensing the emotional tone of the room and responding to it. (Empathy)

8. In discussions, I am often the one who...

Sees the big picture and how all the parts are interconnected. (Connectedness)
Is driven to outperform others and turn the situation into a win. (Competition)
Stays cautious and thinks through all the potential risks. (Deliberative)
Loves the process of learning something new, regardless of the outcome. (Learner)

9. When leading others, I prioritise...

Setting a clear direction and filtering out distractions to keep us on track. (Focus)
Standing out and making a memorable impact. (Significance)
Finding what is broken and troubleshooting the solution. (Restorative)
Having unshakeable faith in my own judgment and abilities. (Self-Assurance)

10. I find it easy to...

Organise complex systems, plans, or events. (Arranger)
See the unique talents of each individual. (Individualization)
Express my thoughts clearly and effectively. (Communication)
Generate many new possibilities and concepts. (Ideation)

11. I am guided by...

A need to be productive and get things done every single day. (Achiever)
A desire to make everyone feel part of the team. (Includer)
The pursuit of a new skill or area of knowledge. (Learner)
My core, unchanging values. (Belief)

12. When a decision needs to be made, I...

Take charge and provide a clear, decisive path forward. (Command)
Look for consensus and areas of agreement that everyone can support. (Harmony)
Trust my own inner compass to guide me. (Self-Assurance)
Research the background and history to find clues. (Context)

13. In my relationships, I tend to...

Prefer deep, authentic connections with a few close friends. (Relator)
Naturally sense what other people are feeling. (Empathy)
Be the one who starts conversations and wins people over. (Woo)
Push for immediate action and progress. (Activator)

14. I am most engaged at work when...

I'm fixing a problem or resolving a complex issue. (Restorative)
I can create and maintain order and structure. (Discipline)
I'm competing and can measure my performance against others. (Competition)
I'm imagining the possibilities of the future. (Futuristic)

15. My unique contribution is often my ability to...

Stay focused on a goal and see it through to the end. (Focus)
Consider all the potential risks before moving forward. (Deliberative)
Take something good and make it truly excellent. (Maximizer)
See how everything is linked together in a larger system. (Connectedness)

16. I believe it's important to...

Be fair and treat everyone with the same set of rules. (Consistency)
Be known for my unique and significant contributions. (Significance)
Remain flexible and adapt to the needs of the moment. (Adaptability)
Absorb as much information as I can. (Input)

17. When planning for the future, I...

Create alternative routes and see patterns that others might miss. (Strategic)
Enjoy spending time alone to think through all the angles. (Intellection)
Help others see and develop their own inherent potential. (Developer)
Am the one people count on to deliver what was promised. (Responsibility)

18. In a crisis, I am the one who...

Keeps a positive and hopeful attitude, inspiring others to do the same. (Positivity)
Brings a logical and fact-based approach to the chaos. (Analytical)
Finds a way to organise the moving parts to create order. (Arranger)
Pushes the team to start doing something immediately. (Activator)

19. My ideal environment is one where...

I can accomplish many tasks and feel productive. (Achiever)
I can learn new things continuously. (Learner)
I can take a good idea and refine it to perfection. (Maximizer)
People value deep and authentic relationships. (Relator)

20. When interacting with others, I...

Can easily articulate a compelling story or message. (Communication)
Am driven to make a notable impression. (Significance)
Am naturally accepting and want everyone to feel they belong. (Includer)
Can easily sense the mood and feelings of the group. (Empathy)

21. I feel grounded when I...

Can follow a structured and predictable routine. (Discipline)
Can rely on my unwavering self-confidence. (Self-Assurance)
Can understand the historical context of a situation. (Context)
Can seek consensus and reduce conflict. (Harmony)

22. I am most effective when I...

Am given a clear goal to work towards without deviation. (Focus)
Can see how my work aligns with my fundamental beliefs. (Belief)
Am able to help someone else grow and succeed. (Developer)
Can envision what the future could hold for our team. (Futuristic)

23. My thought process is often...

Focused on finding and fixing what's wrong. (Restorative)
Based on spotting patterns and planning several steps ahead. (Strategic)
Geared towards finding new and creative angles. (Ideation)
Careful and methodical, weighing all the potential downsides. (Deliberative)

24. In social situations, I...

Am skilled at meeting new people and building rapport quickly. (Woo)
See the unique characteristics of each person I meet. (Individualization)
Believe that everything and everyone is connected. (Connectedness)
Enjoy healthy competition and the thrill of winning. (Competition)

25. I am committed to...

Treating all people equitably and by the same standards. (Consistency)
Taking on commitments and seeing them through to the end. (Responsibility)
Taking charge when leadership is needed. (Command)
Going with the flow and being present in the moment. (Adaptability)

26. I gain energy from...

Spending time in deep thought and reflection. (Intellection)
Gathering new information and facts. (Input)
Spreading enthusiasm and optimism to my colleagues. (Positivity)
The act of achieving a goal, big or small. (Achiever)

27. When presented with a complex problem, I...

Need to see the data and proof before making a judgment. (Analytical)
Immediately start generating a list of creative solutions. (Ideation)
Organise the people and tasks to tackle it effectively. (Arranger)
See how each person's unique talents can be applied to solve it. (Individualization)

28. My leadership is characterised by...

Decisiveness and a commanding presence. (Command)
A focus on finding common ground and minimising friction. (Harmony)
An ability to tell a captivating story about our mission. (Communication)
An unwavering belief in the team's mission. (Belief)

29. I often find myself...

Helping others develop their own skills and talents. (Developer)
Looking for opportunities to learn something new. (Learner)
Building deep and lasting bonds with my coworkers. (Relator)
Urging my team to get started on a task. (Activator)

30. I navigate my career by...

Trusting my inner instincts and judgment completely. (Self-Assurance)
Seeking opportunities to elevate quality from good to great. (Maximizer)
Focusing intently on my goals and avoiding distractions. (Focus)
Making sure every voice on the team is heard and valued. (Includer)

31. When things get tough, I...

Stay optimistic and help others see the bright side. (Positivity)
Become more cautious and deliberate in my actions. (Deliberative)
Break down the problem to find the broken part and fix it. (Restorative)
Am comfortable responding to events as they unfold, one day at a time. (Adaptability)

32. I am motivated by...

The chance to compete and be the best. (Competition)
A desire to be recognised for my unique strengths. (Significance)
The feeling of connection to a larger purpose. (Connectedness)
The orderly satisfaction of a well-executed plan. (Discipline)

33. My mind naturally...

Looks to the future for inspiration and direction. (Futuristic)
Seeks fairness and balance in all situations. (Consistency)
Is curious and enjoys collecting interesting information. (Input)
Enjoys the process of solitary thinking and mulling over ideas. (Intellection)

34. I build trust through...

My ability to understand and articulate others' feelings. (Empathy)
My talent for finding the best path forward through complexity. (Strategic)
My charming and engaging nature with new people. (Woo)
My deep conviction in my own abilities. (Self-Assurance)

Scoring and Ranking Your Strengths

Now, tally up the scores for each of the 34 themes. You will have a list of scores ranging from positive to negative. Arrange them in order from the highest score to the lowest. This is your unique Strengths Profile!

Example Tally:

Achiever: +1, +1, -1, +1 = +2
Adaptability: -1, 0, +1, 0 = 0
Analytical: 0, +1, 0, -1 = 0
...and so on for all 34.

Your ranked list provides a powerful hierarchy of your natural talents. Here’s how to understand it in the context of your career.

Tier 1: Dominant Strengths (Your Top 10)

These are your superpowers. These are the themes that are most authentically you. They describe how you naturally think, feel, and behave.

What they are: These are your most powerful sources of energy, intelligence, and satisfaction. You can't not use them.
Career Strategy: Invest in them. Actively seek roles, projects, and tasks that allow you to use these strengths every day. These are the talents that will make you stand out and excel with the least amount of effort. Describe these strengths in your resume and in interviews using specific examples.

Tier 2: Supporting Strengths (Your Middle 14)

These are competent themes that you can call upon when needed, but they don't drive you in the same way as your Dominant strengths.

What they are: These talents support your top strengths. For example, if you have Futuristic in your top 10, a supporting Communication strength helps you articulate that vision to others. They are neutral—they don't drain you, but they don't necessarily energise you either.
Career Strategy: Be aware of them. Know that you can use these talents to complement your dominant strengths. Don't try to make them your primary contribution, but recognise how they make you a more well-rounded individual.

Tier 3: Lesser Talents / Weaknesses (Your Bottom 10)

This is the most misunderstood but most powerful part of the profile. These are not character flaws; they are simply activities that are unnatural for you and will likely drain your energy.

What they are: A "weakness" is anything that gets in the way of your success. Often, this is trying to use a talent you simply don't have. If Discipline is at the bottom of your list, trying to create and stick to highly detailed, rigid plans will be exhausting and likely unsuccessful.
Career Strategy: Manage them. Do not try to "fix" your weaknesses. Instead, use one of these four strategies:
1. Use a Top Strength: Use a dominant strength to compensate. If you lack Discipline, use your high Adaptability to thrive in chaos or your Responsibility to ensure you meet deadlines, even if your process is messy.
2. Find a Partner: Partner with someone who is strong where you are weak. If you're a big-picture Futuristic thinker with low Arranger, find a colleague who loves coordinating the details.
3. Use a Tool: Use technology or a system to bridge the gap. If you have low Discipline, use calendar reminders, project management software, and checklists to stay organised.
4. Just Say No: If a role requires you to use one of your bottom themes 80% of the time, it's probably not the right role for you. It will lead to burnout.

By understanding your full profile, you can intelligently and intentionally design a career that not only leverages your greatest talents but also respects your limitations, setting you up for long-term success and fulfillment.

Details of each Strength

Here is a breakdown of the four domains and the individual strengths within them.

EXECUTING Domain: Making Things Happen

If you lead with Executing themes, you are a doer. You have the drive and discipline to turn ideas into reality. You're the engine of any team.

Achiever: You have a constant need for achievement. You feel like every day starts at zero, and you love completing tasks. Seek roles with tangible, measurable outcomes. You thrive on busy, productive days. Careers in sales, project management, operations, or entrepreneurship can be very satisfying.
Arranger: You are a master coordinator. You love organising all the moving parts to find the most effective configuration. You excel in logistics, event planning, operations management, or managing complex projects. Look for roles where you can bring order to chaos and maximise efficiency.
Belief: You have core, unchanging values that give your life meaning and purpose. Find a company or role that aligns with your personal mission. Non-profits, healthcare, education, or mission-driven companies are great places for you to thrive and contribute meaningfully.
Consistency: You believe in treating everyone the same and crave stable, predictable systems and rules. You shine in roles that require fairness and adherence to standards, such as HR, quality assurance, administration, or compliance. You create stable, equitable environments.
Deliberative: You are careful and vigilant. You anticipate obstacles and think through risks before making decisions. Roles in legal, compliance, safety management, risk assessment, or finance are a natural fit. Your ability to spot potential problems and mitigate them is a huge asset.
Discipline: You love order and planned routines. You are precise and detailed. You are excellent in roles that require precision and organisation, like data analysis, accounting, scientific research, or surgical tech. You create order and structure efficiently.
Focus: You take a direction, follow through, and make corrections to stay on track. You prioritise, then act. Project management, strategic implementation, or roles with clear, long-term objectives are perfect. You help teams stay on course and avoid distractions, ensuring goals are met.
Responsibility: You take psychological ownership of what you say you'll do. You are committed to stable values such as honesty and loyalty. You are the person everyone can count on. Any role where trust, dependability, and follow-through are paramount will suit you well. You build a reputation for flawless execution and integrity.
Restorative: You love to solve problems. You are adept at figuring out what is wrong and resolving it. You thrive in roles centred on troubleshooting, like customer service, IT support, medicine, consulting, or engineering. You are energised by turning problems into solutions and restoring functionality.

INFLUENCING Domain: Taking Charge & Selling the Vision

If you lead with Influencing themes, you help your team reach a broader audience. You can take charge, speak up, and make sure the group is heard.

Activator: You are impatient for action. You believe that action is the best way to learn and move forward. You are a fantastic catalyst for new projects, in startup environments, or roles requiring quick pivots. Look for opportunities where you can initiate and get things moving rapidly.
Command: You have presence. You can take control of a situation and make decisions. You are not afraid of confrontation. Leadership, crisis management, directing roles, or advocacy positions are a natural fit. You bring clarity and decisiveness when others hesitate, providing strong direction.
Communication: You find it easy to put your thoughts into words. You are a good conversationalist and presenter. Roles in public relations, marketing, sales, teaching, journalism, or content creation allow you to use your gift for storytelling and crafting compelling messages.
Competition: You measure your progress against the performance of others. You strive to win first place and revel in contests. Sales, business development, sports management, or any performance-based, results-driven role will energise you. You are driven to be the best and excel.
Maximizer: You focus on strengths as a way to stimulate personal and group excellence. You seek to transform something strong into something superb. You are a natural coach, manager, mentor, or editor. You excel at identifying and nurturing talent in others. Avoid roles that exclusively focus on fixing weaknesses; you prefer to elevate strengths.
Self-Assurance: You have faith in your strengths and your judgment. You feel like you are the captain of your own ship. Entrepreneurship, leadership roles, or positions with high autonomy are ideal. Your inner confidence allows you to take calculated risks and forge your own path with conviction.
Significance: You want to be seen as very important in the eyes of others. You are independent and want to be recognised. Seek high-visibility roles where you can make a notable impact and receive recognition for your contributions. Public speaking, thought leadership, or leadership positions can satisfy your desire to be known for excellence.
Woo: (Winning Others Over) You love the challenge of meeting new people and getting them to like you. Public relations, fundraising, sales, networking-heavy roles, or client relations are perfect for you. You build rapport quickly, create positive first impressions, and thrive in social interactions.

RELATIONSHIP BUILDING Domain: Holding the Team Together

If you lead with Relationship Building themes, you are the glue that holds a team together. You have a unique ability to build strong relationships that can endure.

Adaptability: You prefer to "go with the flow." You tend to be a "now" person who takes things as they come and discovers the future one day at a time. You thrive in fast-paced, dynamic environments where priorities can change quickly, such as emergency services, project management, event production, or agile teams.
Connectedness: You have faith in the links between all things. You believe there are few coincidences and that almost every event has a reason. Roles in counseling, ministry, community building, or holistic healthcare can be very fulfilling. You help others see the bigger picture and find their place in it, fostering a sense of unity.
Developer: You recognise and cultivate the potential in others. You spot the signs of each small improvement and derive satisfaction from that evidence of progress. You are a natural teacher, mentor, coach, or manager. You excel at helping others grow, learn, and succeed, finding joy in their development.
Empathy: You can sense the feelings of other people by imagining yourself in their lives or situations. Your gift is invaluable in healthcare, social work, user experience design, human resources, or counselling. You build trust and understand unspoken needs, providing compassionate support.
Harmony: You look for consensus. You don't enjoy conflict; rather, you seek areas of agreement. You are a natural mediator and team builder. You excel in customer service, diplomacy, HR, or any role that requires building bridges and fostering cooperation between people.
Includer: You are accepting of others. You show awareness of those who feel left out and make an effort to include them. You are essential for building strong, diverse team cultures. Look for roles in HR, community management, D&I initiatives, or leadership where you can ensure every voice is heard and valued.
Individualization: You are intrigued with the unique qualities of each person. You have a gift for figuring out how people who are different can work together productively. You are a brilliant team builder, manager, career coach, or HR professional. You know how to position people to do what they do best and form effective teams.
Positivity: You have an infectious enthusiasm. You are upbeat and can get others excited about what they are going to do. You are a huge asset to team morale and culture. You excel in customer-facing roles, hospitality, teaching, event hosting, and leadership positions where inspiring others is key. You can turn a mundane project into an exciting one simply with your energy.
Relator: You enjoy close relationships with others. You find deep satisfaction in working hard with friends to achieve a goal. You thrive in team-based environments built on trust and mutual respect. Client relationship management, small, tight-knit project teams, or partnership roles are ideal for your deep connection needs.

STRATEGIC THINKING Domain: Focusing on What Could Be

If you lead with Strategic Thinking themes, you help the team consider what could be. You absorb and analyse information that informs better decisions. You are the visionary.

Analytical: You search for reasons and causes. You have the ability to think about all the factors that might affect a situation. You are brilliant in roles that require you to make sense of data, such as finance, research, data science, strategic planning, or consulting. You bring logic, rigour, and clarity to complex situations.
Context: You enjoy thinking about the past. You understand the present by researching its history. You excel in roles like historian, strategist, journalist, consultant, or policy analyst, where understanding the backstory provides crucial insight for future decisions and planning.
Futuristic: You are inspired by the future and what could be. You energise others with your visions of the future. You are a natural entrepreneur, leader, innovator, or product developer. You thrive in roles where you can create a compelling vision and inspire others to follow it towards a better tomorrow.
Ideation: You are fascinated by ideas. You are able to find connections between seemingly disparate phenomena. You are the brainstorming engine of any team. Creative fields like marketing, advertising, design, R&D, or innovation labs are perfect for your constant flow of novel concepts.
Input: You have a craving to know more. Often you like to collect and archive all kinds of information. Research, academia, library science, knowledge management, or any role where expertise and continuous learning are highly valued will suit you. You are a valuable resource for information and insight.
Intellection: You are characterised by your intellectual activity. You are introspective and appreciate intellectual discussions. You need time and space to think deeply. Roles in strategy, academia, writing, philosophy, or high-level consulting allow you to ponder and refine complex ideas before presenting them.
Learner: You have a great desire to learn and want to continuously improve. The process of learning, rather than the outcome, excites you. You thrive in rapidly changing fields like technology, science, or education where you must constantly stay up-to-date. Look for roles with abundant professional development and growth opportunities.
Strategic: You create alternative ways to proceed. Faced with any given scenario, you can quickly spot the relevant patterns and issues. You are a natural consultant, strategist, leader, or entrepreneur. You see the path forward when others see only complexity, playing out different scenarios in your head to find the best route.

Using Your Quiz Results for Career Success

Alright, you've taken the quiz, tallied your scores, and now know what your strengths are – how exciting is that?! 🥳

Remember, this quick quiz is a fantastic starting point for self-discovery, not a definitive professional assessment. Think of it as shining a spotlight on areas where your natural talents are likely to lie.

Here's how to best use these results for your career journey:

Reflect and Validate: Did your strengths resonate with you? Which specific individual strengths within that domain felt like an absolute "AHA!" moment? Take time to reflect on past experiences where you've naturally demonstrated these strengths. What did you enjoy about those moments?
Identify "Energy Givers": Your strengths are your "energy givers" – they energise you rather than drain you. Look for opportunities in your current role or future roles where you can lean into these strengths more often.
Spotlight Your Resume & Interviews: When crafting your resume, cover letter, or preparing for interviews, think about how you can articulate these strengths with real-world examples. Instead of just saying "I'm a good communicator," say "My Communication strength allows me to articulate complex ideas clearly, engaging stakeholders and fostering alignment on key projects."
Explore New Pathways: Does your strengths point you towards career paths or industries you hadn't considered? For example, if you're strong in Relationship Building, perhaps client-facing roles, HR, or community management would be incredibly fulfilling. If Strategic Thinking dominates, perhaps consulting, data analysis, or innovation roles are your calling.
Seek Development, Not Fixing: Instead of focusing on your weaknesses (we all have them!), concentrate on further developing and applying your strengths. This is where you'll see the biggest gains in performance and job satisfaction.
Continuous Self-Awareness: This isn't a one-and-done exercise! Regularly check in with yourself. Are you using your strengths? How can you create more opportunities to do so? This continuous self-awareness is a cornerstone of a successful and fulfilling career.

Armed with this newfound insight, you're better equipped to make intentional career choices that leverage your unique superpowers. Go forth and shine! 🚀

We would love for you to leave a comment on what you thought about your results or if you'd like to speak to us directly, please email us at catalystcoachingandadvisory@gmail.com and we will get back to you as quickly as we can.