Learner may be one of your signature themes if…

• You love learning as much as you can.
• You are energized by gathering facts to form the complete picture of understanding.
• You enjoy discussions with others that allow you to rehearse what you’ve learned.
• You seek learning experiences, whether it be a new instrument, dance lessons or grad study.
• You thrive in dynamic work environments where you are asked to work on short projects.
• You can learn very quickly and become a master in a short time, moving onto the next thing.
• You are more interested in the process of learning, not so much with being “an expert.”
  • Source: Let’s Talk Personality

A more detailed explanation from Gallup:

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 energized 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.”

Action Items for This Theme

• Seek roles that require some form of technical competence. You will enjoy the process of acquiring and maintaining this competence.
• As far as possible, shift your career toward a field with constantly changing technologies or regulations. You will be energized by the challenge of keeping up.
• Because you are not threatened by unfamiliar information, you might excel in a consulting role (either internal or external), in which you are paid to go into new situations and pick up new competencies or languages very quickly.
• Refine how you learn. For example, you might learn best by teaching; if so, seek out opportunities to present to others. You might learn best through quiet reflection; if so, carve out this quiet time.
• Find ways to track the progress of your learning. If there are distinct levels or stages of learning within the discipline or skill, take a moment to celebrate your progression from one level to the next. If no such levels exist, create them for yourself (e.g., reading five books on the subject, or making three presentations on the subject).

Be ready to:

• Honor your desire to learn. If you can’t fulfill this need at work, take advantage of the adult educational opportunities in your community. Discipline yourself to sign up for at least one new academic or adult learning course each year.
• Be a catalyst for change. Others might be intimidated by new rules, new skills, or new circumstances. Your willingness to soak up this “newness” can calm their fears and spur them to engage. Take this responsibility seriously.
  • The Clifton StrengthsFinder and the 34 Clifton StrengthsFinder theme names are protected by copyright of Gallup Inc., 2000. All rights reserved.

For the more visually inclined:

A fantastic website with insightful discussion of Learner, including

• Building your brand through this strengths
• Strengthening your performance at work
• Tips for managing someone with this strengths
• Partnering with someone with this strength

 

Learner Power and Edge takes an interesting approach highlight not just what the strength is and how it shows up if you have it in your top five, but also how to navigate the world when this strengths is one of your lesser ones.

More ideas on going deeper:

• Gallup on How You Can Productively Aim Your Learner Talents
• Many universities use the StrengthsQuest Workbook to help you build relationships, more effectively study and find meaning in what you do.
• South Mountain Community College offers up ideas on Applying your Talents in Career Discovery and Applying your Talents in Academics
• Western Texas tells us about Using your Strengths In the Job Search, Interview and New Position
• Weber State University has posted action plan worksheets for each of Gallup’s 34 strengthsfinder talents.
  • Learner
• Discover your learning styles Take the VARK learning styles inventory. VARK is a questionnaire that provides users with a profile of their learning preferences. These preferences are about the ways that they want to take-in and give-out information.

From Lead Through Strengths listen/read:

Career Branding When Learner Is Your Strength includes an audio file exploring:

1. Career Branding
2. Red Flag Situations At Work
3. Fresh Application Ideas

 

 

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THEME INSIGHTS:

• I am (Being) ———-> one who enjoys the experience of being a learner
• I will (Doing) ———-> follow the things that interest me
• I Bring (Contribution) ———-> a learning perspective
• I need (Requirement) ———-> exposure to new information and experiences
• I love (Value) —————> to live on the frontier/the cutting edge
• I Hate (Value) —————> knowing it all and know-it-alls
• Metaphor/Image ———-> yes to learning curves, no to learning plateaus
• Barrier Label ———-> curiosity may lead to irrelevance or non-productivity

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.