The CliftonStrengths assessment measures 34 different strengths themes, which are organized into four domains:
The CliftonStrengths assessment (formerly StrengthsFinder) is a premier tool for identifying natural talents to improve performance and engagement. While Gallup’s official assessment is a paid service, there are legitimate ways to access it for free or utilize high-quality free alternatives. Official Ways to Get CliftonStrengths for Free clifton strengths finder free
| Tool | What It Does | Cost | |------|--------------|------| | | Gives you 5 strengths (e.g., "Analyst," "Believer") – very similar concept to Clifton. | Free (basic report) | | VIA Character Strengths | Identifies 24 character traits (e.g., Kindness, Curiosity, Bravery). Science-based. | Free | | 16Personalities | Based on Myers-Briggs, but includes "Strengths & Weaknesses" section. | Free | | DIY Reflection | Ask yourself: "What activities give me energy? When do I feel most useful?" | Free | | Free (basic report) | | VIA Character
To learn more about CliftonStrengths and strengths-based development: | Free | | DIY Reflection | Ask
Most personality tests and performance reviews operate like the bad mechanic. They identify your "rattles" (your weaknesses) and tell you to spend all your time fixing them until you are average.
This story is often used by Gallup trainers to explain the core philosophy of the assessment:
While you can't take the official CliftonStrengths assessment for free, here are some alternatives: