Songs About Strengths - Listed by CliftonStrengths Talent Themes
Here’s a list of songs about strengths. These tunes and lyrics can help you think about (and talk about) your personal brand in a creative way. Also, many people don't feel comfortable talking positively about themselves, so referencing a theme song is a unique way to uncover and describe what puts you at your best at work. These are listed under StrengthsFinder talent themes from the CliftonStrengths assessment, yet be sure to skim them all. You might find one under a different category that represents you perfectly.
Why collect lyrics or songs about strengths? Here are 2 cool ideas for the workplace:
- You could pick a song to use in your LinkedIn "About" section to help colleagues and customers know what it's like to work with you.
- You could do a team activity where you share a lyric that reflects your life motto. We've even had clients make team playlists with one lyric per person. Songs are memorable, so combine a melody and a memory with your team!
ACHIEVER
“(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” by The Rolling Stones
“Working for a Livin” by Huey Lewis & the News
“Busy Man” by Billy Ray Cyrus
“Born to Get Busy” by Cypress Hill
“She Works Hard for Her Money” by Donna Summer
"Short Skirt / Long Jackedt" by Cake
"I'm Every Woman" Chaka Kahn
“She’s Not Just A Pretty Face” Shania Twain
(Thank you Achievers! You're bringing the heat with recommendations)
ACTIVATOR
“Start Me Up” by The Rolling Stones
“I Get Around” by The Beach Boys
“Let’s Get it Started” by the Black Eyed Peas
“Bust A Move” by Young MC
"A Little Less Conversation" by Elvis Presley
ADAPTABILITY
"All We've Got Is Now" by Uncle Lucius
“Let’s Live for Today” by the Grass Roots
“Anything Goes” by Cole Porter
"Drive" by Incubus
("Whatever tomorrow bring, I'll be there - with open arms and open eyes")
ANALYTICAL
“Give Me the Proof” by Tower of Power
"Data Palace" by The M Machine
ARRANGER
“Plan B” by Boy Howdy
“Minute by Minute” by the Doobie Brothers
"Changes" by David Bowie
BELIEF
“Faith” by George Michael
“Like a Rock” by Bob Seger
"Ain't No Man" by The Avett Brothers
COMMAND
"What You Get Is What You See" by Tina Turner
“Hit the Road Jack” by Ray Charles
“Leader of the Pack” by the Shangri-Las
“We’re Not Gonna Take It” by Twisted Sister
“May Way” by Frank Sinatra
COMMUNICATION
“You Talk Too Much” by Run DMC
“Talk to the Animals” by Sammy Davis Jr.
COMPETITION
“You Belong To Me” by Pasty Cline
"Shooting Stars" by Rival Sons
“One Way Or Another (I’m gonna get you)” by Blondie
“We are the Champions” by Queen
CONNECTEDNESS
“Instant Karma” by John Lennon
“Turn, Turn Turn” by the Byrds
“Everybody Hurts” by R.E.M.
“Man In The Mirror” by Michael Jackson
CONSISTENCY
“Time After Time” by Cyndi Lauper
“It’s the Same Old Song” by Four Tops
“Still the Same” by Bob Seger
"Steady as she Goes" by The Raconteurs
CONTEXT
"Change the Population" by Red Hot Chili Peppers
“(When I was 17) It Was a Very Good Year” by Frank Sinatra
"How Did We Get Here" by Brigetta, Jake Scott
"Where We Came From" by Phillip Phillips
DELIBERATIVE
“Time Is on My Side” by The Rolling Stones
“You’d Better Think” by Lyn Collins
“Dare You to Move” by Switchfoot
“Won’t Get Fooled Again” by The Who
DEVELOPER
"Better and Better" by Maya De Vitry
“Watching Scotty Grow” by Mac Davis
“Every Step You Take” by The Police
“Wind Beneath My Wings” Bette Midler
DISCIPLINE
"Going The Distance" by Cake
“Hard Habit to Break” by Chicago
EMPATHY
“Bridge Over Troubled Waters” by Simon and Garfunkel
“Heartbreak Hotel” by Elvis
“Let Your Feeling Show” by Earth, Wind, & Fire
“Feelings” by Morris Albert
"Lean on Me" by Bill Withers
FOCUS
“(Ain’t Nothin Gonna) Break My Stride” by Matthew Wilder
“Barracuda” by Heart
“I Can See Clearly Now” by Johnie Gray
FUTURISTIC
“I Can See For Miles and Miles” The Who
“See You In September” The Happenings
“(To Dream) The Impossible Dream” from Man of La Mancha
“What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong
“When I’m Sixty-Four” by The Beatles
"Imagine" by Earth Wind and Fire
HARMONY
“Ebony and Ivory” by Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder
“We Can Work It Out” by The Beatles
“Love Will Keep Us Together” Captain and Tennille
“I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing (in perfect harmony)” by Three Dog Night
“Harmony” by Elton John
IDEATION
“I Can Read You Mind” by The Allan Parson’s Project
“You Ain’t Seen Nothin Yet” Bachman Turner Overdrive (BTO)
“Imagine” by John Lennon
INCLUDER
"Shooting Stars" by Rival Sons
“May The Circle Be Unbroken” by Ada R. Habershon, recorded by Johnny Cash
“I Want To Hold Your Hand” The Beatles
“We Are Family” by Sister Sledge
“We Are the World” by Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie, Quincy Jones, et al
“YMCA” by the Village People
“All Together Now” by The Beatles
INDIVIDUALIZATION
"Everybody's Got Soul" by Uncle Lucius
“Just the Way You Are” by Billy Joel
“Come As You Are” by Marc Portmann
“True Colors” by Cyndi Lauper
“You’re a Shining Star” by Earth, Wind and Fire
INPUT
“My Favorite Things” from The Sound of Music
INTELLECTION
“Alone Again, Naturally” by Gilbert O’Sullivan
“Can’t Get It Out of My Head” by ELO
“Learn to be Still” by the Eagles
“Think” by Aretha Franklin
LEARNER
“Teach Me Tonight” by Al Jarreau
“Willing to Learn” by Tower of Power
"Learning to Fly" by Foo Fighters
MAXIMIZER
“You’re Simply the Best” by Tina Turner
"Everybody's Got Soul" by Uncle Lucius
“I Want to Take You Higher” by Sly and the Family Stone
POSITIVITY
“Walking on Sunshine” by Katrina and The Waves
“On the Sunny Side of the Street” by Louis Armstrong
“Blue Skies” by Ella Fitzgerald
“Bright Side of the Road” by Van Morrison
“Celebration” by Kool and the Gang
"Accentuate the Positive" by Matt Rollings, Lyle Lovett
RELATOR
“I’d Like to Get to Know You” by Spanky & Our Gang
"We're Going To Be Friends" by The White Stripes
“That's What Friends Are For” by Dionne Warrick, Elton John, Gladys Knight, and Stevie Wonder
“Got to Get You Into My Life” by The Beatles
“You’ve Got a Friend in Me” by Randy Newman
"With a Little Help from My Friends" by Joe Cocker
"You're my Best Friend" by Queen
RESPONSIBILITY
"You Can Count On Me" by Bruno Mars
“Don’t Let Me Down” by The Beatles
“Count On Me” by Gary Lewis and the Playboys
“You Can Depend on Me” by Smokey Robinson
“Here and Now” by Luther Vandross
"Heavy is the Head" by Zac Brown Band with Chris Cornell
"Love the One You're With" by Crosby, Stills and Nash
RESTORATIVE
“Fix You” by Coldplay
“How Can You Mend a Broken Heart?” by Al Green
“Un-Break My Heart” by Toni Braxton
“Handy Man” by James Taylor
"Breakdown" by Tom Petty
SELF-ASSURANCE
“I Gotta Be Me” by Sammy Davis Jr.
"No Handlebars" by Flobots
“I Believe I Can Fly” by R. Kelly
“My Prerogative” by Bobby Brown
“Don’t Give a Damn About My Bad Reputation” by Joan Jett
"Respect" by Aretha Franklin
SIGNIFICANCE
“I Did It My Way” by Frank Sinatra
“King of the Road” by Roger Miller
“Mr Big Stuff” by Jean Knight
“YEAH!” by Usher, Lil Jon and Ludacris
STRATEGIC
“Between a Rock and a Hard Place” by The Rolling Stones
"Everything's Gonna Be Alright" by Bob Marley
"Don't Stop (Thinking About Tomorrow)" by Fleetwood Mac
"Changes" by David Bowie
WOO
"A Stranger Is a Friend We've Never Met" by Sab and The Crazy Birds
“The Woo Woo Song- You Should Be Mine” by Jeffrey Osborne
“Hello” by Lionel Richie
“Little Red Corvette” by Prince
Add To The List Of Songs About Strengths
Did you think of a song title or lyric not on this list? Submit to lisa@[thisdomainname] with the subject line "Add To Songs Inventory" and we'll get it in the queue for consideration. Thanks for paying it forward to the next person who uses this crowdsourced list.
Special thanks to Myra Cherchio. She contributed an awesome list of songs about strengths.
Other Resources Beyond Songs And Lyrics About Strengths
You might also find the resources page helpful for Team and Leader tools. They're all designed to support a strengths-focused team.
Consider going out to Spotify and creating a "Songs About Strengths" playlist. We didn't make the one we linked to, yet you get the idea. Include the songs that make you feel strong. Use it to get motivated after a boring meeting or a tough day.
Finally, if you dig the concept of songs about strengths, you may also like the one we did on quotes about strengths. Head over to the Quotes page to see what feels like a motto for life.