How an ipsative approach is different (and better) for uncovering unique strengths

Understanding the True Nature of Individual Strengths in Today's Workplace

In today's challenging employment landscape—marked by the Great Resignation, quiet quitting, and widespread layoffs—organizations are desperately seeking effective ways to engage employees on a deeper level.

The Limitations of Traditional Strength Assessments

Many companies rely on normative assessment tools to help identify employee strengths and preferences. While the intention behind these efforts is admirable, such assessments have significant limitations:

• They evaluate individuals by comparing them against population averages
• They often categorize people into predefined personality types or boxes
• They frequently fail to provide truly actionable insights
• They can inadvertently encourage employees to manipulate responses for career advancement

Why Normative Approaches Fall Short

If we genuinely believe that each person possesses a unique combination of talents, behaviors, and aspirations, then normative assessments—which rely on statistical comparisons—simply cannot capture individual complexity. At best, these tools provide general classifications rather than authentic personal insights.

The Ipsative Advantage: Self-Referenced Measurement

Ipsative assessment approaches offer a fundamentally different methodology. Rather than comparing an individual to external benchmarks or population norms, ipsative methods focus exclusively on internal comparisons within the person themselves.

Key benefits of the ipsative approach include:

1. Authentic self-discovery rather than external classification
2. Highly personalized insights that reflect genuine individuality
3. Actionable development paths based on true personal strengths
4. Reduced response bias since there's no "ideal" profile to target

The Science Behind Strength Realization™

Dr. John D. Rom pioneered an innovative ipsative methodology called Strength Realization™. This approach centers on analyzing an individual's most meaningful achievements—what he termed "Peak Experiences"—to uncover patterns of natural excellence.

Building on the psychological foundations established by Dr. D.W. Winnicott, Dr. Rom discovered that when people operate from their authentic or "truSelf," they follow consistent patterns when pursuing significant achievements, resulting in:

• Enhanced energy levels
• Higher satisfaction
• Greater personal fulfillment
• Improved performance outcomes

His methodology identifies four distinct components of personal satisfaction:

• Values: What matters most to you
• Roles: How you naturally operate within teams
• Needs: What requirements drive your actions
• Skills: What abilities come naturally to you and are most satisfying

Introducing tru® Strength Realization: Modern Application of Proven Principles

Today's tru® Strength Realization (tru) builds upon Dr. Rom's groundbreaking work, offering organizations a contemporary solution to unleash employee potential. This innovative approach helps:

• Managers understand what truly motivates each team member
• Employees identify their authentic sources of energy and satisfaction
• Organizations create environments where individuals can thrive

The 20% Solution: The Key to Sustainable Engagement

Research demonstrates that when employees spend just 20% of their work time leveraging their unique strengths, remarkable transformations occur:

• Productivity increases significantly
• Engagement levels rise dramatically
• Job satisfaction improves substantially
• Long-term sustainability of performance enhances

From Assessment to Action: Creating Meaningful Work Experiences

Meaningful work represents the essential ingredient for:

• Greater engagement: Employees connect deeply with their tasks
• Improved retention: People stay where they feel valued
• Higher productivity: Intrinsic motivation drives superior performance

Take the Next Step in Employee Development

Discover how tru® can transform your organization's approach to talent development.  Start a conversation today about unleashing the hidden potential within your workforce.