Thriving Not Just Surviving: A Clifton Strengths Workshop

Reese Smith

Professor Borden

When entering a workshop, I assume to hear a speaker preach basic blanket statements in which might help some thrive, but more often then not have no effect on me. This Clifton Strengths workshop was different. This event was based on discussion moderated, but not dominated, by a success coach. The event was beneficial because we learned how to achieve success by focusing on our individual Clifton Strengths.

The first topic was the difference between surviving and thriving. Surviving in college includes reluctantly going to class, getting by on assignments, and not taking advantage of the opportunities available at Villanova, to name a few. We don’t want to survive, we want to thrive! Thriving is seizing the day, being interested and attentive in class, doing extracurriculars that interest you, and always trying to improve your whole self.

While we try to improve our whole self, we have certain strengths over others. The Clifton Strengths test is a way to see what talents we thrive in. The Clifton Strengths is an online test that tells us our five greatest personal strengths out of thirty-four possible strengths. The Clifton Strengths is a fifty-dollar test but through Villanova, students can access it for free. This is the link for the Villanova Clifton Strengths test which I recommend taking before reading on.

https://www1.villanova.edu/villanova/studentlife/orientation/clifton.html

Now that you have taken the test, observe the chart below to see what category you fall into.

Personally, my top five strengths are command, deliberative, competition, discipline, and strategic. This would mean I am influential and execute. Some people from history that I think would share the same strengths are Winston Churchill and Teddy Roosevelt. My strengths sound like those of a great military leader.

In the final part of the evening, we talked to our group about our strengths. I came with a friend and it was interesting how much we differ in strengths despite being very good friends. While it is unlikely, we would share some of the same strengths, I thought we would at least be in the same category. My friend was mostly in the relationship-building sector, a sector in which I have no strong strengths. Perhaps we are such good friends because our relationship complements each other.  

A few other people at our table shared a common strength, but in all, we were unique. In fact, we are so unique only one in every fifteen million people have the exact same top five strengths as you in the same order. This means that there are only 21 people in the whole US that have the same strengths in the same order as you do.

What are your five strengths and what category do they fall into? Can you think of any famous, historical, or political figures that might share the same strengths as you? What is your interest or field of study at Villanova, and how do your strengths relate to your possible vocation? Put your answers below in the comment section and see if any other blog followers share the same strengths as you. The Clifton Strengths test is a way of connecting people, acknowledging differences, and can produce better results when all unique strengths are utilized in a group. Understanding your Clifton Strengths leads to thriving not surviving!