An Introduction to CliftonStrengths

Dr. Lindsey Koch

Executive Coach

Some Background on CliftonStrengths

Don Clifton’s CliftonStrengths assessment was created to shift the focus from fixing weaknesses to maximizing strengths. Clifton, often referred to as the father of Strengths-based psychology, teamed up with Gallup, a global analytics and polling organization, to refine and expand his research. The result was the CliftonStrengths assessment, which identifies an individual's top talents out of 34 possible themes, such as Achiever, Communication, and Strategic. Since its inception, millions of people worldwide have taken the CliftonStrengths assessment, revealing data that shows how focusing on your innate strengths can lead to greater productivity, engagement, and well-being.

The assessment consists of a series of timed questions that capture the participant’s natural reactions and preferences. Once completed, participants receive a personalized report highlighting their top five strengths, or they can opt to see all 34, giving deeper insights into how they might approach both personal and professional challenges.

The model behind CliftonStrengths encourages individuals to lead with their dominant talents and collaborate with others whose strengths complement their own. This approach creates balanced, high-functioning teams where each person contributes uniquely to collective goals.

My History with CliftonStrengths

I am a Gallup Certified CliftonStrengths coach and total believer in the benefit of leveraging CliftonStrengths to experience personal and professional success. So you might be surprised to learn that I was a pretty slow adopter. 

When I first encountered Strengths more than a decade ago, I was somewhat skeptical, mostly because it all read a little horoscope-y to me. Each Strength definition felt overly positive and I questioned just how much substance there was within each of the 34 strengths.

BUT - I had used the assessment to help me build small groups within teams and delegate tasks… and it seemed to work. There was definitely something to it. A colleague (who was not as skeptical about Strengths) convinced me that we should do the coaching certification and try to capitalize on the success we had experienced already by learning more. It was during that certification training where all the pieces fell into place. 

I learned that CliftonStrengths is rooted in positive psychology and I was introduced to the founder’s question - “What would happen if we studied what is right with people instead of fixing what is wrong with them?" We dove deep into each of the 34 Strengths and how teams work best when everyone operates from their areas of Strength and relies on their teammates to do the same. From then on, I was hooked and have continued to see people and teams benefit from identifying their Strengths and working from a Strengths perspective. 

Why CliftonStrengths Coaching?

Working with a certified coach takes the CliftonStrengths experience to a new level. A certified coach understands the nuances of each strength and can help individuals and teams translate the results into actionable strategies. Coaches provide customized insights, ensuring that participants not only understand their own strengths but also learn how to apply them in meaningful ways. Through tailored guidance, a coach helps clients navigate challenges, enhance collaboration, and create a thriving, strengths-based culture. The benefit lies in going beyond the initial assessment results to truly harness strengths for sustainable growth and success.

In the seven years since becoming a CliftonStrengths coach, it has been incredibly rewarding to witness the transformations that occur when people truly lean into their strengths. Whether I’m coaching a team to work more cohesively or helping an individual gain clarity on their natural talents, the impact is always profound. Watching people shift their perspective from what they lack to what they excel at—and seeing how that shift unlocks new levels of performance and confidence—has been one of the most fulfilling aspects of my work. 

If you're curious how Strengths coaching could benefit you or your team, I’d love to connect and explore how we can create meaningful change together.