Monday, March 10, 2008

Strategy as Strength

In the popular book Now, Discover Your Strengths, by Marcus Buckingham and Donald O. Clifton, one can find a code for a one-time online test to discover one's strengths, according to Gallup-based research. The theory, very simplified here, is that it is better to use one's strengths in the work world rather than to focus on improving one's weaknesses.

One of the "strengths" in the book is "STRATEGIC:"

"Strategic: The Strategic theme enables you to sort through the clutter and find the best route. It is not a skill that can be taught. It is a distinct way of thinking, a special perspective on the world at large. This perspective allows you to see patterns where others simply see complexity. Mindful of these patterns, you play out alternative scenarios, always asking, "What if this happened? Okay, well what if this happened?" This recurring question helps you see around the next corner. There you can evaluate accurately the potential obstacles. Guided by where you see each path leading, you start to make selections. You discard the paths that lead nowhere. You discard the paths that lead straight into resistance. You discard the paths that lead into a fog of confusion. You cull and make selections until you arrive at the chosen path-your strategy. Armed with your strategy, you strike forward. This is your Strategic theme at work: "What if?" Select. Strike."

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