Born of what was at first devised specifically for management personnel, Tom Rath’s “StrengthsFinder 2.0” has grown to reach millions of readers in many careers and areas of life. The broadly adapted assessment system is built upon the fact that most workers around the world do not get to use and develop their strengths on a daily basis. As a result, most people do not feel engaged with their work. Most are also not even aware of all their strengths and need help identifying their top five. To address those problems and more, Rath partnered with Gallup, a leading global analytics and advice company, to publish this guide.

The first StrengthsFinder assessment came from the research of Donald O. Clifton, a lead psychological researcher at Gallup. With that tool, his research team changed the conversation from a relentless focus on weaknesses to the highlighting and development of individual talents. This book is the official companion guide to the second version of that test, which you can find online. In this updated guide, you will encounter the additional “Strengths Insights” that detail how your talents may manifest in your life. You will also find 50 “Ideas for Action” to take your top five talents to the next level.

Rath encourages readers to share what they learn from the test and this book with their friends, family members, bosses, and coworkers. In his discussion of the research, he addresses the pop culture trope of the underdog who overcomes his shortcomings. He turns that romanticized idea on its head. He also uses quotes from important business and thought leaders to illuminate his main point that strengths are the primary drivers of success. Are you tired of workplace negativity and wanting to find a way to change up your goals for the better? Then, you may benefit from taking the StrengthsFinder assessment and reading this guide.