By: Ashley [Achiever|Learner|Intellection|Realtor|Empathy]
As described by StrengthsQuest someone with the strength analytical is defined as a person who searches for reasons and causes. They have the ability to think about all the factors that might affect a situation. They tend to dissect ideas and examine them carefully. Personally, analytical is not one of my top 5 strengths, though I do believe that it does relate to some of my other strengths. If I were to describe this strength I would say it is people who are realistic, calculating, and seek the truth through valid data and not their emotions.
In the words of StrengthsQuest, analytical people see themselves as objective and dispassionate and that they like data because they are value free. Personally I see this as more like analytical people like data because it is solid and irrefutable, it is fact not fiction. This can be a negative of this strength because wanting to know why someone thinks what they think or how they came to the conclusion of what their theory is can seem rude, but they just want proof. This can also work to your advantage because this makes analytical people good at weighing evidence, interpreting data, and then in turn reaching a solid conclusion.
The working environment that meshes well with people with this strength would be environments that allow the freedom to explore and think. Some people that work well with this strength are people who have empathy, communication, relator, or positivity as their strengths. These types of people will help you convey your thoughts in a way that others can understand and show them that you’re critiquing their ideas, not them.
Some fields of work that fit with an analytical theme are accounting, finance, sciences, forensics, computer technology, and journalism because these fields involve data analysis and problem solving to reach an end result. StrengthsQuest says to “explore jobs that allow you to make decisions based on your evaluation of facts, data, tangible evidence, and research findings.” This would bring one to think that working with data, engaging in research, and critiquing ideas tend to bring out your best.
I guess the best advice that can be given to someone with this strength would be to ask questions, that’s what analytical people are good at. Ask people in careers that interest you and by asking questions and gathering data you will be able to easily deduce what career is it that is right for you.