I am very grateful to have experienced the CliftonStrengths assessment as part of the IKEA Next Generation Program.
The biggest aha moment for me was realizing that I’ve always focused on improving my weaknesses and often forgot to strengthen my strengths. Now I understand that some weaknesses can only improve from a level of 1 to 2, but with the same effort, I could elevate a strength from 7 to 9. So, where should I focus my energy?

I’ve started to look at myself from a different perspective — and strengthening my strengths is also a way to grow. 😊

This also applies to my daily work, especially in how I communicate with my supply partners. We often focus on their weaknesses, but it’s just as important to highlight their strengths. Looking at our partners from this new perspective reminds me that strengthening what’s already working well is something a business developer should do. 😊

For me, the assessment results were both interesting and accurate. They answered many questions I’ve asked myself for a long time on my journey to better understand who I am and why I behave the way I do. It truly came at the right time.

These are my top 5 strengths out of the 34 themes — and interestingly, 3 of them fall under the category of “Relationship Building”:

1. Relator
2. Achiever
3. Connectedness
4. Empathy
5. Input

The detailed analysis gave me simple, yet powerful, insights about myself. For example, now I understand why quality in relationships and friendships is more important to me than quantity. The result also confirmed my belief that things happen for a reason — I carry a strong sense of faith.

I have a deep emotional awareness of the people around me. I can genuinely feel what others are feeling — whether it’s sadness, joy, or pain. Sometimes, I hear the unspoken questions or help people express themselves — even if we barely know each other. People often open their hearts to me, and even with just a few words, I feel like I can see deeper into what they truly mean. At times, I even feel the urge to speak up on their behalf — and I have.

I also discovered why I enjoy collecting tangible objects like stamps, travel documents, membership cards, and more. Some people think I do this because I live in the past, but actually, I’m someone who thinks more about the future than the past. I see the past as the foundation of who I am today — it’s over, and I choose not to live there. I collect things because I’m inquisitive. Maybe part of it is the art of memory, or perhaps it’s a kind of nostalgia that I’ll need one day.

The strength of “Achiever” also explains why I gain energy and motivation through assignments and projects. I have a deep need for achievement — something tangible — and that’s what gives me a sense of satisfaction and confidence in myself. Interestingly, in our learning group, most members also have “Achiever” in their top strengths. I think it’s a great thing to have at least one common theme — and for us, it gives strong motivation to pursue tangible results, like answering big questions in our team in a measurable way.

The assessment not only shares your top five strengths, but it also helps you see how to pair them together — offering insight into how you can further strengthen them and apply them to succeed.

In the last session of Module 3, there was one illustration about Appreciative Inquiry (AI) that made my thoughts even clearer
Instead of focusing on what we are missing, we should look at what we’ve got.
Instead of putting so much energy into my weaknesses, I choose to strengthen my strengths.

Thank you.