Should You Retake the CliftonStrengths Assessment? Here's My Take 27 Years After My First One
If you’ve ever considered retaking the CliftonStrengths assessment, you’re not alone. I’ve been asked this question more times than I can count - especially by people who took it years ago and wonder if their results might look different now.
Gallup’s official stance? There’s no real need to retake it. Their research shows that your Top 5 themes are likely to stay consistent throughout your life. Why? Because strengths are rooted in how you naturally think, feel, and behave. They’re not personality traits you outgrow or change like fashion trends. They’re the lens you see the world through - and that lens is surprisingly stable over time.
But that doesn’t mean your life stays the same.
I first took the CliftonStrengths assessment in my 20s. I was in full-on GSD mode - Getting Stuff Done. Four of my Top 5 were from the Executing domain, which made total sense. I was laser-focused on building my career, continuing my education, and establishing myself as an adult.
Fast forward to 2019: I was almost 10 years into motherhood and still leading in my career, but life had shifted. This time, Executing was still dominant, but Strategic Thinking and Relationship Building themes had started to move up into my top 5. My roles were evolving. I was now managing people, raising kids, and navigating more complexity in both my professional and personal life. I needed to think differently and connect more deeply. The world wasn't as black and white as I had once thought it to be.
Most recently, I retook the assessment again - not because I expected a huge change, but because I was curious. Influencing, which had long been my lowest domain, finally started to climb. It’s still my lowest dominant, but something about seeing it move up felt validating.
For the first time, I feel fully ready to influence others with what I’ve learned. I’ve used my strengths for decades - at work, at home, in life - and now I’m ready to step into a space where I can guide others through their own growth. I needed time and lived experience before I felt like it was my turn to speak up and lead in that way.
While none of my results have been dramatically different over the past 27 years, it’s been fascinating to see the slight shifts - and to reflect on why they happened. That’s probably no surprise, considering Context has always been in my Top 5. Looking back helps me make sense of where I’ve been and where I’m going.
And honestly, that’s the beauty of CliftonStrengths. It doesn’t put you in a box. It grows with you.
Here’s my advice:
Want to explore your results - or finally take the assessment for the first time? I’d love to help. Because when you know your strengths, you start showing up with more clarity, confidence, and connection - not just at work, but in life.