In the world of strengths assessments, there are always two prevailing concerns that arise from a statistical standpoint—first is the instrument’s reliability—in other words, if you repeat the assessment, you would get the same results. The second prevailing challenge in the world of strengths assessments is what statisticians like to call validity. Validity is a measure of how well an assessment measures what it claims to measure.

Most strengths assessments on the market have a reasonable track record for reliability, in that repeated assessments provide very similar results. Strengths Strategy strongly recommends StrengthsFinder 2.0 as the tool of choice, given its robust and thorough exploration of strengths, and its test-retest reliability of 79% .

While reliability is important, it is nearly impossible to determine validity. An assessment may be valid according to the individual, but not necessarily entirely consistent with how others see the strengths of that person. Generally speaking, we are typically not good judges of ourselves and our own abilities. 95% of Strengths Strategy® clients inaccurately estimate their most significant strengths, when compared with others’ view of them.

If a person is going to step into his/her full potential, it seems valuable to understand the strengths that others see, of which that individual is unaware. It is also prudent to recognize where an individual may believe strength to exist, and to realize that others do not see that strength exhibited. It provides a powerful mirror for individuals to see clearly where they are using their strengths effectively, and where they may not be.

The Johari Window tool (below) has been in existence for many years. It invites individuals to see themselves through the lens of what is Known to Self and Known to Others (Open), along with what is Known to Self and Unknown to Others (Blind). It also looks at what is Known to Self and Unknown to Others (Hidden), as well as what is Unknown to Self and Unknown to Others (Unknown).

Strengths Strategy has created a modified Johari Strengths Window, adapted from the work of Joseph Luft and Harrington Ingham. It provides a 360-degree snapshot of how individuals see and understand their own strengths, as compared with how their strengths are viewed by their peers and others around them. It is intended to provide additional self-discovery, in uncovering strengths which may be unknown to the individual, or which may be hidden from view of others.