CliftonStrengths vs Big Five: Which One Fits You Best?
Personality and strengths assessments are powerful tools for self-discovery. Among the most widely used are the CliftonStrengths (formerly StrengthsFinder) and the Big Five personality traits. Both offer valuable insights, but they serve different purposes and approaches. If you’re wondering which one fits you best, this guide will help you understand their differences and decide which aligns with your personal and professional growth goals.
1. Overview of CliftonStrengths (StrengthsFinder)
The CliftonStrengths assessment, developed by Gallup, identifies your top talent themes from a list of 34. Its focus is on helping you recognize and leverage your natural talents in life, work, and relationships. Instead of labeling you broadly, it provides highly personalized feedback to highlight what you naturally do best.
- Purpose: To help you discover your unique talents and apply them for success.
- Structure: Measures 34 themes organized into four domains: Executing, Influencing, Relationship Building, and Strategic Thinking.
- Outcome: A personalized list of your top strengths, with strategies for applying them effectively.
2. Overview of the Big Five Personality Traits
The Big Five model (also called the Five-Factor Model) is a widely researched psychological framework that evaluates personality across five dimensions. It is more focused on describing personality than providing practical application strategies.
- Purpose: To measure broad personality traits that remain relatively stable over time.
- Structure: Five dimensions: Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism (OCEAN).
- Outcome: A personality profile showing where you fall on each dimension compared to the general population.
3. Key Differences Between CliftonStrengths and the Big Five
| Category | CliftonStrengths | Big Five |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Identifies talents and how to apply them. | Describes general personality traits. |
| Output | Top 5 strengths (or full 34 themes). | Scores on 5 broad traits (OCEAN). |
| Practical Application | Action-oriented strategies for work, school, and relationships. | Mainly descriptive, less prescriptive. |
| Use Case | Career planning, leadership, teamwork, personal development. | Research, clinical psychology, general self-understanding. |
| Customization | Highly individualized (no two profiles are alike). | Broad categories shared by many. |
4. How CliftonStrengths Can Help You
CliftonStrengths is particularly effective if you want to take action with your results. It helps you:
- Identify careers and roles aligned with your natural talents.
- Improve communication and collaboration by understanding how you work best.
- Boost confidence by focusing on what you naturally do well.
- Manage weaknesses by leaning on complementary strengths.
Example: If your top strength is Strategic, you might use it to chart innovative solutions in complex work projects.
5. How the Big Five Can Help You
The Big Five excels at providing a stable picture of your personality traits. It helps you:
- Understand broad patterns of behavior across contexts.
- Gain insights into tendencies like risk-taking, social behavior, or stress response.
- Compare your personality profile to population norms.
- Provide a psychological baseline for therapy or counseling.
Example: If you score high in Conscientiousness, you’re likely detail-oriented and dependable — useful information for both personal and professional growth.
6. Which Assessment Fits Career Development Best?
For students, job seekers, and professionals, CliftonStrengths typically provides more practical value because it links directly to performance and career applications. The Big Five is valuable for understanding personality but less action-oriented in terms of daily application.
- Best for Career Growth: CliftonStrengths.
- Best for Self-Understanding: Big Five.
7. Which One Is Better for Relationships?
Both assessments can strengthen relationships, but in different ways:
- CliftonStrengths: Helps couples identify how each partner naturally contributes and communicates.
- Big Five: Explains personality tendencies that influence compatibility, such as introversion versus extraversion or openness to new experiences.
Using both together can give couples a comprehensive picture of compatibility and growth opportunities.
8. Can You Take Both?
Absolutely. Many people benefit from using CliftonStrengths for actionable growth while using the Big Five for foundational personality understanding. Together, they provide a well-rounded self-awareness framework.
9. Final Thoughts
CliftonStrengths and the Big Five both offer valuable insights — the key is knowing your purpose. If you want practical, action-oriented guidance for career and relationships, CliftonStrengths is your best fit. If you’re looking for a broad personality overview that explains tendencies, the Big Five may suit you better.
Why not try both? Take our free StrengthsFinder assessment today and discover how your natural talents can transform your life.