Today, our Haller Program group participated in an activity using a tool called the StrengthsFinder Assessment, which provided valuable insight for both me and the group as a whole. Although the test was a bit tedious and lengthy, the results helped me understand how strength assessments can improve team collaboration and allow each person to apply their unique skills effectively.

What stood out to me most was how unique each person in our group was. No one had a similar list of top strengths, which really put into perspective how everyone brings something different to the table. I realized how valuable it is to connect with people who are different from me—using their strengths to balance out my weaknesses and offering my own strengths to support them in return.

One fun fact that stuck with me was that over 450 of the top 500 Fortune companies use the StrengthsFinder Assessment. That surprised me, since many personality or career tests do not usually provide deep or useful insight. However, even just going around the room and hearing each person share their top strengths, it was interesting to see how those traits were exhibited—in the way everyone spoke and carried themselves. Since most of us have only known each other for a few days, this helped me better understand each member of our group.

Within our individual project teams, knowing each of our strengths will make it easier to delegate tasks and work more efficiently. Some of my own top strengths—like competitiveness, analytical thinking, and deliberation—are things I already value, but the assessment gave me a clearer sense of how I can apply them moving forward. Using these results, I will definitely spend more time consciously thinking about these traits and how I can use them to my benefit in the future.