Strengths-Finder 2.0: Now, Discover Your Strengths, Rath, 2010

Tom Rath’s book is an international bestseller which provides a detailed strengths-finder assessment. This is a new and improved version and it accompanies his online assessment system which belongs to Gallup Inc. This book sends the message that Gallup Inc. supports “Hide not your talents. They for use were made. What’s a sundial in the shade?” (Benjamin Franklin). Therefore, Rath writes about discovering and uncovering your talents and ultimately gives strategies for applying those strengths in one’s life. This book is a the result of a survey of hundreds of respondents and draws from those responses, 34 strength themes/areas (e.g. achiever, analytical, etc). This reader-friendly book is supposed to be a reference for the reader to use in the future and not just a one-time read (publisher, Gallup Press). It is comprised of a Personalized Strengths Discover and Action-Planning Guide for applying your strengths in the next week month, year and even gives 50 ideas for action. Strengths-Finder 2.0 works at helping individuals find their weaknesses and developing only their strengths.
This book is extremely significant because it recognizes that people are not maximizing the use of their strengths in a world where labour capital is becoming increasingly competitive and diverse. It asks the question, “Do you have the chance to do what you do best every day?” (publisher, Gallup Press). This assessment has become popular globally because it works to understand each individual personally and is customized. This is a product of Tom Rath’s global practice leadership in Gallup’s workplace research and leadership consulting business. Rath’s work is highly significant because it recognizes talents as patterns of thought, feeling, and behaviour and that applying them productively allows one to maximize their personal potential. Another major contribution is that it encourages readers to invest in their talent and that once that is done then one can harness their strength more easily as well.
Firstly, a breakthrough idea is that one assessment can reach out to such a large audience. Rath distributes his message to access all people, those of different cultures, occupations, and even those without management experience. Once again, the idea that everyone should unleash their talents and exploit them is a new concept (especially in some cultures).
Another interesting concept is one which Tom Rath introduces, related to positive psychology as the way to treat weaknesses. Rath measures strengths this way:

Talent x Investment = Strengths

This returns to the significance of investing in talents and consequently creates the desire for individuals to discover their talents and turn them into strengths to apply in their career. This idea has taken off amongst readers and has spread tremendously.