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Imagine a world where everybody knows, understands, and maximizes their strengths. The late Donald O. Clifton ambitiously dedicated his life to pursuing this ideal by researching and instructing on early strength development. The Clifton Foundation and Gallup announced last week that they will further Clifton’s objective by gifting the University of Nebraska-Lincoln $30 million to create the Don Clifton Strengths Institute within the College of Business Administration.
Upon approval by the University of Nebraska Board of Regents, the Clifton Foundation and Gallup will engage in an extended partnership with the College of Business Administration to build the world’s largest Strengths Lab, occupying an $84 million, 240,000 square-foot building within the college, opening in 2017. In addition to supporting undergraduate degree programs in management and entrepreneurship, the Don Clifton Strengths Lab will offer education, workshops, coaching, and training on strengths-based leadership.
High-achieving students capable of leadership and entrepreneurship will benefit from the Institute, which will offer extended opportunities and training in these fields. Additionally, the Institute will provide research support to faculty and students who focus on leadership, management, strengths, and other realms of business. Support will include access to the Gallup World Poll and US Nightly tracking data.
The Institute aims to function as the Juilliard of business builders by targeting highly gifted business students and honing their entrepreneurship abilities. On top of honoring Donald Clifton, the Institute aims to fix America’s “three biggest problems.” Don Clifton’s son, Jim Clifton, describes these as the decline of business development; a shrinking percentage of people in full-time jobs; and a flawed business approach of targeting weaknesses, not strengths.
Don Clifton invented the Clifton StrengthsFinder, which has assisted more than 10 million people worldwide and is used by most Fortune 500 companies, as well as the World Bank, the United Nations, and universities across the globe. His associated book, StrengthsFinder 2.0 was named Amazon’s bestselling book in 2013 and 2014. Thus, Don Clifton’s approach of targeting strengths, not weaknesses, is widely utilized and accepted.
The Institute hopes to be the first of many, hypothesizing that America will economically recover and expand when similar schools are created around the nation.
The views presented in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent the views of any other organization.
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Weaknesses Aside: The Don Clifton Strengths Institute
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June 10, 2015
Imagine a world where everybody knows, understands, and maximizes their strengths. The late Donald O. Clifton ambitiously dedicated his life to pursuing this ideal by researching and instructing on early strength development. The Clifton Foundation and Gallup announced last week that they will further Clifton’s objective by gifting the University of Nebraska-Lincoln $30 million to create the Don Clifton Strengths Institute within the College of Business Administration.
Upon approval by the University of Nebraska Board of Regents, the Clifton Foundation and Gallup will engage in an extended partnership with the College of Business Administration to build the world’s largest Strengths Lab, occupying an $84 million, 240,000 square-foot building within the college, opening in 2017. In addition to supporting undergraduate degree programs in management and entrepreneurship, the Don Clifton Strengths Lab will offer education, workshops, coaching, and training on strengths-based leadership.
High-achieving students capable of leadership and entrepreneurship will benefit from the Institute, which will offer extended opportunities and training in these fields. Additionally, the Institute will provide research support to faculty and students who focus on leadership, management, strengths, and other realms of business. Support will include access to the Gallup World Poll and US Nightly tracking data.
The Institute aims to function as the Juilliard of business builders by targeting highly gifted business students and honing their entrepreneurship abilities. On top of honoring Donald Clifton, the Institute aims to fix America’s “three biggest problems.” Don Clifton’s son, Jim Clifton, describes these as the decline of business development; a shrinking percentage of people in full-time jobs; and a flawed business approach of targeting weaknesses, not strengths.
Don Clifton invented the Clifton StrengthsFinder, which has assisted more than 10 million people worldwide and is used by most Fortune 500 companies, as well as the World Bank, the United Nations, and universities across the globe. His associated book, StrengthsFinder 2.0 was named Amazon’s bestselling book in 2013 and 2014. Thus, Don Clifton’s approach of targeting strengths, not weaknesses, is widely utilized and accepted.
The Institute hopes to be the first of many, hypothesizing that America will economically recover and expand when similar schools are created around the nation.
The views presented in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent the views of any other organization.
