Guide · official external assessment
CliftonStrengths Guide for Strengths-Based Development and Coaching
CliftonStrengths is Gallup’s online talent assessment that shows the relative pattern of 34 talent themes. It supports self-awareness and development, not clinical diagnosis. This independent guide explains the assessment and official access — it is not an on-site test and not a substitute for Gallup’s official report.
This is an independent guide and is not affiliated with, endorsed by or partnered with Gallup. CliftonStrengths® and Gallup® are trademarks of Gallup, Inc.
What is CliftonStrengths?
According to Gallup’s public materials, CliftonStrengths is an online talent assessment that measures patterns of thought, feeling and behaviour framed as talents, organized across 34 research-validated themes. Completing it usually takes about 30 minutes and uses paired statements with about 20 seconds per item.
Gallup distinguishes talent from strength: talent is a relatively enduring natural pattern; strength develops when talent is invested with knowledge, skill and practice. A report is therefore a starting point for more intentional development, not a finished identity label.
The assessment was previously widely known as StrengthsFinder. CliftonStrengths is the current official product name; older StrengthsFinder searches usually refer to the same Gallup assessment family.
Top 5 or CliftonStrengths 34?
Gallup currently sells CliftonStrengths Top 5 and CliftonStrengths 34 directly to individuals. Prices change; as displayed on Gallup’s site on 16 September 2026, Top 5 was about $24.99 and CliftonStrengths 34 about $59.99. Check Gallup for current pricing.
The Top 5 report focuses on five leading themes and foundational development guidance — a useful entry point for basic strengths language and self-awareness.
CliftonStrengths 34 ranks all 34 themes, provides a deeper report and helps people navigate lesser themes, potential blind spots and domain distribution. For deeper development, team or leadership reflection, the 34 report usually offers more context — without claiming it is universally “better” for every person.
What does it measure — and what does it not?
Gallup frames CliftonStrengths as measuring recurring patterns of thought, feeling and behaviour described as talents.
It is not a medical or clinical diagnosis. It is also not a complete measure of competence, skill, experience, intelligence or job performance. A report can enrich self-awareness; it does not, by itself, settle role fit or complex performance questions.
These limits clarify scope. They are not proprietary claims beyond Gallup’s public framing.
The four CliftonStrengths domains
The 34 themes are organized into four domains. The summaries below are original and brief; they do not reproduce Gallup’s full copyrighted theme descriptions.
Executing
Themes that often support turning ideas into action, following through and getting work done.
Influencing
Themes that often support taking charge of a message, persuading others and creating momentum.
Relationship Building
Themes that often support connection, trust, collaboration and holding people together.
Strategic Thinking
Themes that often support analysis, foresight, sense-making and decisions informed by ideas and information.
Is CliftonStrengths available in Persian / Farsi?
Gallup’s public language page states that the assessment and reports are available in 30+ languages.
On the public list reviewed for this guide on 16 September 2026, Persian/Farsi was not shown. That is an observation about the current public list, not a claim that Persian support can never exist. Confirm available languages with Gallup before purchase.
This site does not offer an unofficial Persian version of the items and does not recommend informal translation of assessment questions; psychometric validity depends on official administration.
How do I take the official assessment?
This website does not administer CliftonStrengths and is not a payment intermediary or reseller. For the official assessment, use Gallup:
- Go to Gallup’s official CliftonStrengths page and choose Top 5 or CliftonStrengths 34.
- Complete the assessment in an officially available language and download your official report.
- If Persian is not listed, choose another official language that works for you, or ask Gallup Support about current availability.
How can I use results in coaching?
You can bring your official report into an executive or career coaching conversation to explore self-selected goals, recurring patterns, choices, strengths use and possible blind spots.
That coaching is separate from any official Gallup-certified interpretation. Mehdi Nejadrasouli is not presented as a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach and does not claim official Gallup interpretation credentials.
The report remains yours. Coaching focuses on what you choose to work on — not on treating themes as a fixed identity.
Limitations and responsible use
Themes are not fixed identity labels. Role context, culture, pressure and learned skills still matter.
Responsible use is development-oriented: noticing patterns and choosing action, not deterministic personality labels or absolute performance prediction.
This guide does not promote CliftonStrengths as a standalone hiring decision tool. The page purpose is development and coaching preparation.
Frequently asked questions
- What is CliftonStrengths?
- Gallup’s online talent assessment that shows the relative pattern of 34 talent themes for self-awareness and development — not clinical diagnosis.
- What is the difference between StrengthsFinder and CliftonStrengths?
- StrengthsFinder was the earlier widely used name for this assessment family. CliftonStrengths is the current official product name; follow Gallup for official content and access.
- What is the difference between Top 5 and 34?
- Top 5 focuses on five leading themes and foundational guidance; CliftonStrengths 34 ranks all 34 themes with a deeper report. Choose based on how much depth you want for development.
- Is there a Persian / Farsi version?
- Gallup’s official list covers 30+ languages. On the public list reviewed on 16 September 2026, Persian/Farsi was not shown. Confirm with Gallup before purchase and avoid unofficial item translation.
- Is CliftonStrengths a personality test?
- Gallup frames it as a talent assessment measuring patterns of thought, feeling and behaviour. This guide does not rebrand it as a clinical personality diagnosis.
- Is it appropriate for hiring?
- This guide’s purpose is development and coaching. It does not promote CliftonStrengths as a standalone hiring decision tool; high-stakes decisions need methods and evidence suited to that use.
- Is Mehdi Nejadrasouli a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach?
- No, not currently. Official assessment stays with Gallup. He can coach on client-owned insights from an official report without claiming official Gallup interpretation.
Official references
- Gallup — CliftonStrengths home / assessment options
Current individual assessment options, including Top 5 and CliftonStrengths 34.
- Gallup Support — What is the CliftonStrengths assessment?
Online talent assessment; about 30 minutes; 34 themes; paired statements with about 20 seconds per item.
- Gallup Support — What does the CliftonStrengths assessment measure?
Recurring patterns of thought, feeling and behaviour framed as talents.
- Gallup — Science of CliftonStrengths
Public science background and the distinction between talent and developed strength.
- Gallup — 34 CliftonStrengths themes
34 themes organized into four domains: Executing, Influencing, Relationship Building and Strategic Thinking.
- Gallup — CliftonStrengths 34 report
Full rank order of all 34 themes, deeper report content, and navigation around lesser themes and domain distribution.
- Gallup — CliftonStrengths Top 5 report
Focus on five leading themes with foundational development guidance.
- Gallup Support — Available languages
Public language table for the assessment and reports (30+ languages). Persian/Farsi was not shown on the public list reviewed on 16 September 2026.