Can Gallup talents change? Facts, research, and practice.
The question “Can Gallup talents change?” often comes up during my conversations with leaders I work with using the CliftonStrengths tool.
Some people, several years after their first Gallup talent test, wonder if their current results would be different. Others feel that their professional development has “shifted” their natural predispositions. So let’s see what Gallup Institute research and coaching practice have to say about this.
If you are just starting your adventure with this tool and want to understand what Gallup talents are and how your unique 34 profile is created, first take a look at my article “What are Gallup talents and how to use them in practice?”.
Table of contents
How are Gallup talents formed and what is the purpose of the Gallup test?
Gallup talents are recurring patterns of thinking, acting, and feeling that, when properly developed, become our strengths. This concept was created by Donald Clifton, combining many years of research with positive psychology.
The Gallup talent test (CliftonStrengths) diagnoses these natural predispositions. It does not examine momentary emotions or competencies, but maps what is relatively constant in us.
Based on your answers to 177 questions, you receive a list of your talents – in the Top 5 version or the full 34 Gallup talents – in order from most to least dominant.
The test is designed to help you understand what capital you start with at work, not to judge what is “good” or “bad.” Therefore, there is no point in repeating it for no reason – it is better to focus on using what you already know.
Talent stability – what do Gallup and psychometric research say?
According to Gallup Institute research, talent profiles are relatively stable over time. In retests, the average correlation of results over six months is approximately 0.73, which in psychometrics means high stability.
However, “relatively stable” does not mean unchanging. Your talents are innate tendencies that may shift slightly in order depending on your experiences, environment, or the roles you play. Gallup emphasizes that CliftonStrengths is not a tool for measuring the effects of training or changes in competencies – its purpose is to show you the natural resources you can build on.
Source: Gallup – Should I Retake the CliftonStrengths Assessment?
When might Gallup test results look different?
Changes in talent profiles are rarely radical. Most often, they involve shifts in the order of several talents at the top or middle of the list. Gallup points to several situations in which retesting makes sense:
- Many years have passed since the previous test (especially if the first test was taken during your education and you are now in a mature phase of your career).
- You took the first test under conditions that may have distorted the results (e.g., severe stress, lack of understanding of the questions).
- You have undergone major life changes that have affected the way you operate.
- You are changing the test language to your native language to avoid interpretation barriers.
In other cases, it may be more valuable to deepen your work with your current profile than to retake the test.
Coaching practice – what to do when you think your talents have changed?
In my coaching work, I often meet people who, as their awareness of their talents grows, are convinced that their current Top 5 would look different.
Most often, however, the core of the profile remains the same – only the talents that are more visible today change because you use them more often.
Therefore, before you decide to retake the test, it is worth:
- Analyzing your current results with your coach,
- identifying the talents that are in use and those that have been left in the background,
- checking how to match your current role and goals to your profile.
In summary, your core talents usually remain the same – only the talents you begin to notice more change.
The exceptions are the special situations I described in the section above.
Summary – can Gallup talents change?
Gallup talents are largely stable – they are innate patterns of behavior, thinking, and feeling that rarely undergo radical changes. Most often, what changes is our awareness and frequency of use of individual talents, which can shift them in order.
Exceptions are special situations, such as many years having passed since the test, taking the test under conditions of severe stress or lack of understanding of the questions, major life changes, or changing the test language to your native language. In such circumstances, retesting may give a more up-to-date picture of your predispositions.
In most cases, however, it is more valuable to deepen your work with your current profile than to retake the test.