Intellection: Learning to Love All 34 Talent Themes

On a recent Theme Thursday Season 1 live webcast, we discussed the Intellection theme with Gallup Client Service Consultant Steve Crabtree.

People with strong Intellection talents like to think. They like mental activity. They like to exercise the "muscles" of their brain, stretching them in multiple directions.

Gallup Senior Learning and Development Consultant, Curt Liesveld, describes the Intellection theme as, "a solitary or philosophical contemplation that deepens wisdom and understanding." Those with high Intellection like to think deeply about things, and often prefer their own time in a quiet space for such contemplation.

People who have strong Intellection talents find clarity by taking the time to think about a subject until they come away with a thorough understanding of it. They aren't satisfied with simply gathering knowledge; the real reward comes with true understanding. Curt contrasts Intellection with Learner, saying that while those with Learner like to accrue knowledge broadly, those with Intellection prefer to learn on a deep, intimate level.

To paint a picture of Intellection in action, Steve alluded to his time as a young boy when he and his schoolmates would visit museums. He said he was always the one trailing behind, reading every plaque in order to truly understand what he was learning. He notes that spending time in deep thought doesn't require him to set aside special time, as it typically comes naturally to him.

To learn more about the Intellection theme and how people like Steve use it in their everyday lives, watch the full video above.

Steve Crabtree's Top 5 CliftonStrengths are Ideation, Maximizer, Input, Connectedness and Intellection.