Reviews
0%
0%
Soar with your Strengths is an inspiring book for business professionals, managers, and individuals seeking to achieve their absolute best.
To open, the authors tell a fun parable "Let the Rabbits Run" which conveys the message of how important it is to focus on your strengths instead of trying to shore up your non-strengths (weaknesses). It tells a story of a rabbit that is going to school to become well-rounded, sound familiar? Moving along, the rabbit excels in hopping and running classes. However, the rabbit didn't do so well in swimming class. Flying class was even worse; he couldn't even get off the ground. He felt like a failure. Naturally, his parents reinforced the school's intent to create well-rounded students. And, the school counselor "helped" the rabbit by canceling his running and hopping classes and putting him in extra swimming and flying classes. Don't worry, there is a happy ending, courtesy of the Wise Old Owl.
Authors Clifton and Nelson offer an interesting book on how we, in business and in life, fail to focus on our strengths and manage our weaknesses. Consider how often the top salesperson is promoted into management, irrespective of actual leadership ability.
The authors advocate "The Power Of One Simple Question" which is "What would happen if we studied what was right with people versus what's wrong with people?"
Applying the principles to my own life, I soon discovered that I too fell deeply into the trap of focusing on my non-strengths (weaknesses) instead of my strengths. In fact, there are some things I'm just better off not doing or at least delegating to others.
In summary, many insights are offered throughout this book. Business owners and managers will do well to read this book and apply the principles, first to their own lives, then to encourage associates to discover and focus on their own strengths. Focusing on strengths is one of the few remaining hidden secrets of unleashing productivity.
-----
Michael Davis - Editor, Byvation
To open, the authors tell a fun parable "Let the Rabbits Run" which conveys the message of how important it is to focus on your strengths instead of trying to shore up your non-strengths (weaknesses). It tells a story of a rabbit that is going to school to become well-rounded, sound familiar? Moving along, the rabbit excels in hopping and running classes. However, the rabbit didn't do so well in swimming class. Flying class was even worse; he couldn't even get off the ground. He felt like a failure. Naturally, his parents reinforced the school's intent to create well-rounded students. And, the school counselor "helped" the rabbit by canceling his running and hopping classes and putting him in extra swimming and flying classes. Don't worry, there is a happy ending, courtesy of the Wise Old Owl.
Authors Clifton and Nelson offer an interesting book on how we, in business and in life, fail to focus on our strengths and manage our weaknesses. Consider how often the top salesperson is promoted into management, irrespective of actual leadership ability.
The authors advocate "The Power Of One Simple Question" which is "What would happen if we studied what was right with people versus what's wrong with people?"
Applying the principles to my own life, I soon discovered that I too fell deeply into the trap of focusing on my non-strengths (weaknesses) instead of my strengths. In fact, there are some things I'm just better off not doing or at least delegating to others.
In summary, many insights are offered throughout this book. Business owners and managers will do well to read this book and apply the principles, first to their own lives, then to encourage associates to discover and focus on their own strengths. Focusing on strengths is one of the few remaining hidden secrets of unleashing productivity.
-----
Michael Davis - Editor, Byvation
reviewed by jrivera on November 29, 2006 2:48 PM
0%
0%
Title says it all, "play to your strengths". No need to read the "book", or if you must, simply skim at your nearest Borders, Barnes & Noble, or fave store with a reputable coffeehouse. My quibble is less with the authors' philosophy and more with their writing. This is simply not a very well written book--no chapters, bold headings every five sentences, and endless laundry lists (43 at last count) of things to do, ways to manage, etc. Although I agree with the need to appreciate the talents of each unique individual and not dwell so much on a person's need-for-improvement areas, I did not think the authors proved their points. They were content to slap down some famous names, rehash a few entrepreneurial successes, and quote the Gallup polls (which were self-serving anyways in light of Clifton's ownership of Gallup). Please try to waste your money on something better written.
reviewed by webin on November 29, 2006 2:56 PM
0%
0%
A coemployee recommended this book, because quite frankly, I am a heavy-handed manager who sqaushes my employees' strengths like cockroaches, while demanding they get better at what they are incompentent at. As simple as it is, I have always thought "The Little Engine That Could" taught the essence of success. Now, after reading "Soar With Your Strengths", I'm sure 'Little Engine' teaches the essence of success. Yeah, let's just blame everyone else for what we stink at and make ourselves feel better by only doing the couple things we're good at. This does happen to be real life, and the losers will be the commune hippies who toke doob and tell each other just how strong they are. Well, you weaklings just keep on talking to yourself in the mirror, as the rest of the world passes you by.
reviewed by jazzman on November 29, 2006 6:48 PM
0%
0%
Donald O. Clifton is more recently the co-author of "Now Discover your Strengths." Soar with your strengths is obviously an earlier version of that book without the web-based testing or defined "themes". "Soar" has the stories and suggestions behind the data found in "Now Discover". Nothing new here, but the stories may help those who struggle with the concepts in "Now Discover". I particularly liked the rabbit story at the beginning (which I empathized with) and the suggestions at the end of the book about imagining your goals and dreams.
Again, nothing new here, but some really nice illustrations of material found in other books.
reviewed by casurf on November 29, 2006 7:16 PM