StrengthsFinder 2.0 – Empathy vs. Intellection

I recently (re)took the StrengthsFinder test – but this time it was the “new and improved” StrengthsFinder 2.0.  Since taking the StrengthsFinders test for the first time, I’ve thought about it a fair amount – both in ministry settings as well as in a paper I wrote last quarter, and have given a lot of thought to the results (you can see some of my thoughts on ‘my strengths’ in the “My Five Strengths” area of the sidebar). So, when I was given a copy of the new book (which is improved, mainly because it’s smaller and harder to steal the test code) for work, I was curious if I’d get different results from the first time I took the test.

And, sure enough, all good things come to an end, and I am apparently no longer empathetic. I’m very excited about this, because I will no longer have to put on a caring and thoughtful front when I talk with other people about their problems. I will finally be able to verbalize the “Why are you whining to me about this?” thoughts that float in my head every time someone talks to me without feeling guilty.

Just kidding.

But, the new results said that instead of Empathy one of my top five strengths is now Intellection (all my others remained the same – Adaptability, Connectedness, Ideation, and Input). Someone with the strength of Intellection is “characterized by their intellectual activity. They are introspective and appreciate intellectual discussions.”

In other words, I am a graduate student.

I was also a student the last time I took the test, but I was also more involved in activities and jobs that were a lot more people oriented and focused, whereas now I’m usually sitting at a desk listening, reading, or writing.  I thought it was interesting that this was reflected in the results of the test, and makes me think that I might be missing out on some of the interaction with people that I used to thrive on. 

Anyone else have any experience take the SF 2.0 and have different results?  Do I need to spend more time with people to bump empathy back up to my top 5, or should I “focus on my strengths” and hit the books some more?  What would Marcus Buckingham do?