Educational institutions, strive to provide the best educational environment for their students, preparing them for future success. One often overlooked yet powerful tool in this mission is helping students understand and leverage their strengths. Here’s why knowing one's strengths is so important and why it’s particularly beneficial to start this process during school years.
Many students struggle to identify their strengths, leading to a lack of direction and underutilized potential. Without a clear understanding of their unique abilities, students often feel frustrated, disengaged, and uncertain about their future career paths.
A study in the United States of America found that an estimated 20-50% enter university undecided, meaning they dont know what to study and are not sure if they really want to finish this degree ¹. The same study estimates that 75% of young people entering university change their study program at least once.

Failing to recognize and develop strengths can have significant long-term consequences. Students may miss out on opportunities to excel in areas where they have natural talents, resulting in lower academic achievements and decreased job satisfaction later in life. Without guidance, they might choose career paths that don't align with their strengths, leading to dissatisfaction and underperformance.
Research shows that individuals who do not leverage their strengths are six times less likely to be engaged and productive.²
Imagine a student who feels lost and unmotivated because they don’t know where their true talents lie. This student, Maria, struggled with her studies and felt unsure about her future. After taking a strengths assessment, Maria discovered that her top 3 strengths are Futuristic, Ideation, and Learner, all in the area strategic thinking.
With this new insight, Maria embraced her talent for envisioning the future, generating creative ideas, and her passion for learning. In grade 11 she reached out to five persons, who work in the innovation space and accompanied two of them for one day at their workplace to see if this is something for her - and she loved it. She even took a three week internship in her holidays to learn more. Because she now saw and felt in which she excels and how to get there, she engaged deeply in her studies. This significantly improved her final grades.
Her efforts paid off when she earned a scholarship at the Universidade de São Paulo (USP) and started to study Entrepreneurship and works at the USP Innovation Center. Maria's journey from uncertainty to confidence demonstrates the power of understanding and leveraging one's unique strengths.
Maria’s story is not unique.
Individuals who use their strengths are three times as likely to report having an excellent quality of life. ²
Similarly, a study by Seligman et al. (2005) found that using a personal strength each day for a week led to increased happiness and lower depression levels, with these benefits persisting six months later. These examples demonstrate how early identification and development of strengths can lead to significant improvements in both academic and personal outcomes.
"University registration is one of the most pressing times for students. But knowing your CliftonStrengths can help you select courses in areas where you excel." ³

At Flexpert Training we offer free speeches at schools to raise awareness and assist students in developing their strengths.
Our most popular speech has the title:
Maximizing the Use of Strengths: Understanding the difference between a life focused on weaknesses versus one focused on strengths, and how to discover and promote individual talents to achieve career goals early.
Additionally, we offer interactive programs to most effectively guide students to a life in which they actively develop their strengths instead of unknowingly following a weakness, which leads to less satisfaction at work and life as well as worse career opportunities.
Each session includes practical tools and insights designed to set students on a path to success, leveraging their unique strengths for maximum impact. American universities like the Georgia Tech utilize the power of Gallup CliftonStrengths ³.
Don’t let your students miss out on the opportunity to discover their unique strengths and unlock their full potential. Contact us today to schedule a free speech at your school or exchange about one of our training programs. Provide your students with the tools they need to succeed both academically and personally. Let’s work together to help your students achieve their dreams and a brighter, more fulfilled future.
Sources:
¹ Gordon, V. N. (1995). The undecided college student: An academic and career advising challenge (2nd. ed.). Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas.
² Buckingham, M. (2009). Strengths-Based Leadership: A Landmark Study of Great Leaders, Teams, and the Reasons Why We Follow. Perseus Distribution
³ Georgia Tech (2023). Benefits of Taking the CliftonStrengths Assessment for Students
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