Big Consulting Yields Big Data Bases
714 449 1040 www.mixnerstrategy.com
Gallop polls have been around a long time. The beauty of their system, besides the obvious branding, is the depth of their data bases.
Strengthsfinder 2.0 relies on those data bases to resolve personal questions I find useful.
In strategy, we sometimes perform a situation analysis - the classic SWOT - by asking four questions:
- What are our internal strengths?
- What are our internal weaknesses?
- What are our external opportunities?
- What are our external threats?
Most times, the strengths list is used to make sure that when we attack the external opportunities we have the strengths to make our strategies work.
SWOTs are really about opportunities. Getting to know your strengths - or your team's strengths - helps you address opportunities when they present themselves. Another useful point-of-view on the process says that if you focus on your strengths you're more likely to create real results. Continuous, incremental changes focusing on your strenths, drives those results (Rae-dupree).
References
Mixner, Jack. First Break All the Rules. Which Rules? http://mixnerstrategy.com/blog/2007/10/change_or_not_to_change.html [Another Gallop tool.]
Mixner, Jack. Think You're a Good Manager? http://mixnerstrategy.com/blog/2007/10/think_youre_a.html [Another Gallop tool.]
Rath, Tom. Strengthsfinder 2.0. Gallop Press. 2007.
Rae-Dupree, Janet. Can You Become a Creature of New Habits? New York Times. 3 July 2008. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/06/business/06unbox.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=janet%20rae-dupree&st=cse&oref=slogin