People with strong Learner talents are at their best when they are inviting others to learn with them.

Learner®

A theme in the Strategic Thinking domain of CliftonStrengths

People exceptionally talented in the Learner theme have a great desire to learn and want to continuously improve. The process of learning, rather than the outcome, excites them.

 

Full Theme Description

You love to learn. The subject matter that interests you most will be determined by your other themes and experiences, but whatever the subject, you will always be drawn to the process of learning.

The process, more than the content or the result, is especially exciting for you. You are energised by the steady and deliberate journey from ignorance to competence. The thrill of the first few facts, the early efforts to recite or practice what you have learned, the growing confidence of a skill mastered — this is the process that entices you.

Your excitement leads you to engage in adult learning experiences — yoga or piano lessons or graduate classes. It enables you to thrive in dynamic work environments where you are asked to take on short project assignments and are expected to learn a lot about the new subject matter in a short period of time and then move on to the next one.

This Learner theme does not necessarily mean that you seek to become the subject-matter expert, or that you are striving for the respect that accompanies a professional or academic credential. The outcome of the learning is less significant than the "getting there."

 

This Theme’s Power and Edge

People with strong Learner talents not only love to learn, but also intuitively know how they learn best. They can learn quickly, and when focused, they can keep a group, team and organisation on the cutting edge..

 

How People with Strong Learner Talents Describe Themselves

  • "I am someone who enjoys the experience of learning."

  • "I need exposure to new information and experiences."

  • "I love to live on the frontier, the cutting edge."

  • "I hate knowing it all and know-it-alls."

  • "I bring a learning perspective."

 

Theme Contrast

Learner “My interests guide my intentions.”
Focus “My intentions guide my interests.”
Learner “I am always interested in learning something new.”
Woo “I am always interested in meeting someone new.”
 

Learner Helps and Hinders

Helps

  • You love to learn — and you love to help others learn as well, which makes you a natural teacher. You individualise your approach so others can learn in the way that best suits them.

  • Your willingness to learn makes you open to change, and you learn all you can about the changes that will affect you and your team — which makes you a great resource.

  • When others on your team are resistant to or fearful of change, you can break the information down for them and help them learn what they need to do to grow.

  • Your Learner talents may lead you to mastery of a particular subject area. Your expertise can help improve processes, troubleshoot problems or set a new, more productive course.

Hinders

  • Because the process of learning excites you sometimes more than the subject matter itself, you might wander off into areas that are irrelevant to your and your team's performance.

  • Just because you love to learn, and you see knowledge as its own benefit, don't assume that is true for others. Some desire to learn only enough to get the job done.

  • Depending on your other themes, you may prefer to learn alone and can get lost in your world of learning. Bring others along — share your learning.

  • Having mastery of a particular subject area does not necessarily make you the only expert in the room. Ask for and value the opinions and ideas of others.

 

If Learner is a Dominant Theme for You, Take Action to Maximise Your Potential

  • Refine how you learn. If you learn best by teaching, find opportunities to instruct others. If you learn best through reflection, make time to do so.

  • Designate yourself as an early adopter of new technology. You will learn quickly and be able to share important advances with your colleagues.

  • Honour your desire to learn. If you can’t fulfil this need at work, take advantage of adult educational opportunities in your community. Sign up for at least one new academic or adult learning course each year.

  • Be a catalyst for change. New rules, skills or circumstances might intimidate others, but your willingness to embrace new things can calm their fears.

  • Find ways to track the progress of your learning. If there are distinct stages of learning in a body of knowledge or skill, celebrate your progression from one level to the next. If no levels exist, create them for yourself. (For example, you could set a goal of reading five books on a subject.)

  • Beware of learning plateaus. Seek opportunities to push yourself with more difficult topics, courses or projects.

  • Find opportunities to learn about challenging aspects of your business.

 

Potential Blind Spots to Watch Out for

  • You place a high value on learning and studying, and you may tend to impose this value on others. Be sure to respect others’ motivations, and resist pushing them toward learning for learning’s sake.

  • You love the process of learning so much that the outcome might not matter to you. Be careful not to let the process of knowledge acquisition get in the way of your results and productivity.

 

If Learner Is a Lesser Theme for You

If you lack the intensity of the talents of the Learner theme, it does not mean you can’t or won’t learn. It does mean that you probably don’t appreciate or enjoy the process of learning.

  • Have a strategy in place to keep your skills up-to-date and relevant in an ever-changing world.

  • You are more interested in the destination than the journey. Consider looking for roles that focus on results rather than processes.

  • You might have other dominant talents that you can lean on when you need to contribute something new to the team. For example, you could use your Woo talents to meet new people; Ideation talents to try different ideas; Input talents to find new resources or tools; and Strategic talents to discover new possibilities or options.

  • Develop relationships with people who always seem to be on the cutting edge. They can keep you informed on the latest advancements in your field.

 
 

Source: Gallup®

 
 

“It is wrong to define education as preparation for life. Learning is life, a supreme experience of living, a climax of existence.”

— Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, theologian