Sinds ik me in het onderwerp hoogbegaafdheid verdiep lees ik verschillende invalshoeken, definities maar ook vooroordelen. In het begin van deze ontdekkingsreis verslond ik alles wat ik tegenkwam, een feest van herkenning. De komende tijd zal ik hier delen wat ik onderweg* leerde.
Wat is hoogbegaafdheid?
Het eendimensionale beeld dat helaas nog veel mensen van hoogbegaafdheid hebben is dat van de slimmerik, de leergierige academische intelligentie. Dat snelle denken is weliswaar de kern, maar tegelijkertijd ook maar een puzzelstukje van het geheel; hoogbegaafdheid beïnvloed je hele zijn en manier van denken en voelen.
Dat is al op verschillende manieren beschreven, in het Zijnsluik van Kieboom bijvoorbeeld, of voor volwassenen in het Delphimodel van Kooijman – van Thiel: “Een hoogbegaafde is een snelle en slimme denker, die complexe zaken aankan. Autonoom, nieuwsgierig en gedreven van aard. Een sensitief en emotioneel mens, intens levend. Hij of zij schept plezier in creëren.”. Ook in de overexcitabilities (OE) en de theorie van positieve desintegratie (TPD) zoals beschreven door K. Dabrowski herkennen we de rijke verbeeldingskracht en intensiteit van de (creatief) begaafde kinderen en volwassenen. In volgende blogs zal ik hier meer over uitweiden.
Er is nog geen eenduidige definitie van hoogbegaafdheid. Meestal wordt uitgegaan van een IQ boven de 130 en een aantal zijnskenmerken. Het is belangrijk om hierbij bewust te zijn van de verschillen tussen mensen. Hoe zit dat? Een IQ van 100 is het gemiddelde. Een standaarddeviatie (15 punten) daarvan af naar boven en beneden noemen we ‘normaal’, 68% van de mensen heeft een IQ tussen de 85 en 115. Bij een IQ van 70 tot 85 spreken we van zwak begaafd (13,6%) en onder de 70 van zeer zwakbegaafd (2,3%).
Kijken we naar de andere kant van de Gauss-curve van intelligentie dan zien we 13,6% intelligent of meer begaafd met een IQ tussen de 115 en 130. Vanaf 130 spreken we van zeer intelligent of hoogbegaafd. In het Nederlands hebben we het vanaf 145 over uitzonderlijk hoogbegaafd, uhb. Als je dat afzet tegen 'zeer zwakbegaafd', wat maar twee standaarddeviaties van het gemiddelde afwijkt kan je je iets voorstellen van de verschillen in denken en ervaren van de wereld. De complexiteit van een uitzonderlijk hoogbegaafd persoon is haast niet voor te stellen voor iemand met een meer gemiddelde intelligentie.
In het Engels zijn de termen nauwkeuriger:
Level IQ Range Prevalence
Herken jij je in de kenmerken van hoogbegaafdheid? En hoeveel hoogbegaafden zijn er in jouw omgeving? Willem Wind maakte er een calculator voor op zijn website ikbenhoogbegaafd.nl.
* In 2021 - 2023 deed ik de opleiding tot zelfstandig talentbegeleider bij Novilo (nu onderdeel van Cedin). Ik volgde de persoonlijke leerweg en het was een snoepwinkel, want ik had autonomie en mocht me inschrijven voor iedere module en masterclass waar ik tijd voor kon maken naast mijn werk. Ik leerde over signaleren, de valkuilen en begeleidingstechnieken. Ik maakte kennis met het gedachtengoed van Dabrowski en proefde van de Polyvagaal theorie, Voice Dialogue en Spiral Dynamics. En meer.
Ik herken mijzelf en mijn grillige onderwijsverleden in veel bekende valkuilen. Van de meesten heb ik de bodem verkend. Maar ik ontdekte onderweg ook leerstrategieën die voor mij op dit moment wel werken. En ik slaagde, cum laude zelfs.
De sketchnotes bij de blogs maakte ik grotendeels tijdens de opleidingsdagen. Ik teken ze graag en ze helpen me concentreren en de stof beter eigen maken. Een andere manier om dingen eigen te maken is de informatie weer door te geven en over te dragen. Bij deze.
Is er een onderwerp waar je graag meer over wil lezen? Tip me! Best kans dat ik er met mijn nieuwsgierigheid ergens iets over geleerd heb en het inspireert me als ik vragen krijg.
A coretalents analysis begins with filling out a questionnaire, followed by an in-depth conversation. This analysis is 100% customized. Based on your play and preferences as a child aged four to twelve, a certified coretalents analyst will map out your strong, half and small coretalents. This creates an accurate profile of 23 coretalents.
Many assessments rely on self-evaluation or a snapshot in time, but that’s not the case with a coretalents analysis. It focuses on actual behavior over an extended period, which is what makes the method so reliable.
Coretalents are defined as: Character (being) + Potential (being able to) + Intrinsic Motivation (wanting). 23 coretalents together provide an accurate picture of what you want, what you can achieve, and what suits you. They reveal what you enjoy doing and how you like to do it. Each core talent can be strong, moderate, or minor, helping you understand what energizes you and what drains your energy.
A strong coretalent doesn’t always mean you can (yet) perform it; rather, it indicates where your developmental potential lies. It doesn’t reflect acquired competencies. You may be capable of many things you don’t particularly enjoy, and there may be talents that are inherently present but haven’t been developed yet due to circumstances.
An accurate analysis can only be conducted by a certified analyst, as they understand the rationales that connect specific childhood play to a particular coretalent. This requires thorough training.
It’s also crucial that the interpretation of your coretalents is done accurately. Coretalents always interact with one another. Not only your strong coretalents, but also your half and small ones are very important.
Coretalents can enhance, weaken, or negate each other. For this reason, it’s not possible to examine and interpret a coretalent in isolation.
With a deep understanding of all clusters (related coretalents) and all components (parts of coretalents), a correct combination can be made for various applications, such as study choice, recruitment and selection, promotion, stress and burnout/boreout, leadership, career guidance, and more.
Sure, that sounds great! Just message or email me, and we can schedule a no-obligation phone or online conversation.
You can undergo a coretalents analysis starting at age 14. There is no upper age limit; it can also serve as a valuable compass for retirees.
Yes, a coretalents analysis can also be conducted at your home or at another location where you feel comfortable.
I charge €0.35 per kilometer from Arnhem.
Yes, a coretalents analysis can also be conducted online. I use the platform Whereby, which is secure and doesn’t require an account. For me, it’s important to work with video; I want to see your eyes light up when you share what you truly enjoyed doing. Other than that, there’s little difference from an in-person meeting.
Current prices are listed on my website. For larger projects (multiple analyses or customized guidance), I’m happy to provide a tailored quote. You can always choose to start with an analysis and later expand with coaching and advice to turn your coretalents profile into practical applications.
If necessary, you can pay in installments at no extra cost. Please let me know in advance, and we’ll make a suitable arrangement for that.
Yes, what a valuable gift! Would you like to gift an analysis to your (grand)child as support in choosing a study path? Are you giving a departing colleague a coretalents discovery as a compass for new destinations? I can create a digital gift voucher for you that you can print on a card, flag, or cake, for example.
Yes, if you are a self-employed entrepreneur, you can deduct the full cost of a coretalents analysis as business expenses from your taxes. Please check the current regulations with your accountant or bookkeeper.
There’s a good chance your employer offers opportunities for personal development. There is often a development budget available that you, as an employee, can use for coaching, training, and education. Consider discussing this with them; there may be more options than you think! If your employer requests a quote or an explanation, I can provide that for you.
You will receive a personal report of the results of your analysis, which you can choose to share with your employer or not. If desired, I can collaborate with you, your employer, and/or HR to discuss, for example, how to better align your role.
The scientific validation of the coretalents questionnaire was achieved in May 2015, with a reliability score of Cronbach's Alpha of .84. This is as high as the Big Five Personality Test, the most widely used personality test in the world, and significantly higher than the well-known MBTI. The research was conducted under the guidance of Prof. Dr. Elke van Hoof at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel.
The connection between childhood toys, activities, games, and interests—and their interpretation as coretalents—has been continuously checked, double-checked, weighed, and refined with input from the interviewees themselves.
A coretalents analysis does not determine if you are gifted but rather reveals HOW you are gifted. Many assessments focus on competencies instead of intrinsic motivations, which are crucial because your intrinsic motivation also indicates your greatest development potential.
This analysis looks not at what you can do now, but at: character + potential (what you can achieve with practice or training) + intrinsic motivation (your drivers and energy sources).
Many gifted individuals excel in various areas, often leading them into roles and positions where they may not find fulfillment. This can result in a risk of burnout. Common challenges in the workplace often stem from a significant need for autonomy or impatience, as not everyone can keep up with their quick thought processes and associations. Understanding your coretalents provides insight into your energy sources, motivations, and potential pitfalls. This awareness allows you to make conscious choices for greater satisfaction and happiness, both professionally and personally.
In 2015, Danielle Krekels, the creator of this method, received the Mensa Award. The jury report states:
"Danielle Krekels developed a method that concretizes a person's giftedness (the method was not designed to detect giftedness, but it has this important side effect).
This Coretakents method has helped many gifted individuals find a sustainable place in the workforce. She has worked on this for 25 years without any form of subsidy, published two books, and is regularly invited as a speaker at conferences and symposia.
Danielle Krekels discovered the method in 1989 while searching, screening, and selecting engineers. It turned out that engineers shared surprisingly similar play preferences in their childhood. This observation led to further research. Krekels found that your favorite childhood games reveal much about your underlying natural talents. She identified 23 coretalents, each with its specific components.
Globally, over 10,000 in-depth analyses and interviews have led to the development of a highly reliable online questionnaire.
Coretalents reflect your nature, potential, and intrinsic motivation. They encompass your natural abilities and a set of strengths and weaknesses, determining the possibilities available to you: your original potential, innate strengths, and weaknesses. Together, they form the ‘blueprint’ of your personality.
This blueprint lies beneath the layers of traditional talents, abilities, competencies, and skills. External factors influence your personality's development, but your true core—the essence of who you are—remains fundamentally unchanged. Thus, your ‘blueprint’ is not restrictive or completely deterministic but does indicate the limits of your developmental potential and your willingness to engage with it: your maximum positive stretch.
With this Coretalents method by Danielle Krekels, there is significant insight into the talents of gifted individuals, contributing greatly to their recognition, acknowledgment, and effective use in the workplace."
Many different definitions are going around. We refer to giftedness when an IQ is 130 or higher. In addition to quick thinking, it also encompasses a different way of being and experiencing life, as described in Kieboom's Being Dimension or the Delphi Model (Kooijman-van Thiel, 2007):
“A gifted individual is a fast and intelligent thinker capable of handling complex matters. They are autonomous, curious, and driven by nature. They are sensitive and emotional people, living intensely. They find joy in creation.”
If you want to learn more about (gifted) individuals, there are many valuable websites, meeting places, and books available. One of my personal favorites is *Searching for Meaning: Idealism, Bright Minds, Disillusionment, and Hope* by James T. Webb.
To be clear, you are welcome for an analysis whether you identify as gifted or not.
A multipotentialite is someone with a wide range of interests and creative goals, who prefers to engage in them all at once. The term was coined by Emilie Wapnick, who wrote an inspiring book on the subject and delivered a TED talk.
https://www.ted.com/talks/emilie_wapnick_why_some_of_us_don_t_have_one_true_calling?language=en
Do you recognize yourself in this? There's a good chance you have many strong coretalents. While the analysis may not help you find that one ultimate calling, it will certainly assist you in making choices within that vast sea of possibilities.
There are certain circumstances where an analysis may not be reliable, and we therefore advise against it. For instance, with severe acquired brain injury after childhood, there may have been so many changes that the outcome is no longer trustworthy.
Additionally, in cases of significant trauma, where the experience is too painful or there are blocks to childhood memories, an analysis is also not recommended. If you're unsure, we can have a conversation to explore what would be appropriate for you.
Experience shows that you remember more than you initially think. The questionnaire often brings back images and activities. Especially during the conversation, as one memory triggers another. Through this associative process, there is almost always enough to draw information from as a core talents analyst. Many clients find the process of recalling memories to be quite enjoyable.
Absolutely! Your combination of coretalents provides a nuanced picture of your natural abilities, intrinsic motivation, and development potential. It reveals what you naturally enjoy and how you prefer to do things. This extends beyond just your work; you carry this understanding into all aspects of your life. With your blueprint, you can consciously reflect on the opportunities and challenges in your life, hobbies, and relationships.
Let me know what your question is; I’d be happy to answer it.
Email: manja@kerntalentenanalist.nl
WhatsApp: 0031(0)681578983
"Where can I leave a review? I wish everyone could have a Manja in their life :)"
What has the coretalents analysis brought you? And how did you experience the analysis with me?
Your feedback is incredibly helpful. Thank you for that!
Warm regards,
Manja Eland
manja@kerntalentenanalist.nl
Say yes to the coretalents analysis journey with Manja 😊.
Judgment-free, pure, honest, enlightening, creative—these are the first words that come to mind based on my experience with the coretalents analysis journey led by Manja.
Her website and service offerings appealed to me, and the online introductory meeting was the deciding factor for me to have my coretalents analysis done by Manja. I am grateful for this journey with her. Manja has provided me with valuable insights stemming from the analysis and the topics that emerged from our discussions.
A safe environment is important to me, and that is definitely present with Manja. She exudes calmness and reliability. I experienced pleasant, equal conversations with her, marked by attention during our meetings and in our email communication and accompanying reports. She holds up a mirror in a relaxed manner. Manja possesses extensive relevant knowledge and life experience that adds value to the process of (re)discovering your coretalents.
This positively constructive journey feels like a rewarding experience. It has made a valuable contribution to my self-confidence and my exploration of a new career path. @Manja, thank you! It has been a pleasure to collaborate with you.
Mandy, NL
What do I want to become later? I asked myself this question regularly, even though I haven't been a newcomer to the job market for a long time. Where do you even begin to find the answer? That's how I ended up with Manja. Through a questionnaire and an in-depth interview, we went back to my childhood: what did I do then, what made me happy? It was already enjoyable to reminisce, like “oh yes, playing library with my parents’ bookshelf” or “making a sewing machine from a block of wood and a nail” (I just couldn’t get it to work, unfortunately).
Manja then translated those experiences to the here and now. This wasn’t just a list of potential jobs, but a deeper understanding of my strong coretalents and those that are less energizing. Using a visual tool called the Talentarium, Manja demonstrated how coretalents work, and then helped me create a visual profile using cards. With this palette, we examined my current work: which coretalents are being utilized and which are not yet. What tasks am I doing that don’t really align with my coretalents, thus costing more energy than they provide? And what should I pay attention to in future assignments or roles? It was very insightful and helpful! With this palette in hand, I can now make more focused and informed choices.
Working with Manja is a pleasure. She listens and observes attentively. She explains clearly and patiently. She connects the coretalents to each other and consistently translates them back to my questions and situation. Thank you!
Manon
creative writing teacher, NL
I had a coretalents analysis hoping to gain more insight into the reasons behind a previous bore-out and why no job, no matter how suitable it seemed at first, could hold my interest for long.
I had a wonderful conversation with Manja, where I felt I could be open without being judged. The analysis led to greater self-awareness; it finally seems like the pieces of my life's puzzle are coming together. I'm looking forward to applying all my strong coretalents in my life and new job. I'm also planning to start a childhood hobby again after 20 years. I don't even know why I stopped in the first place! ;-)
Suzanne, NL
I experienced the journey with Manja as a celebration, and I'm very glad I gifted this to myself. Manja has a wonderfully inviting energy that makes it easy to share your story. She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience without being showy about it. As a result, I gained many additional insights, a lovely depth, and numerous "aha!" moments. Manja is genuinely interested in who you are and seamlessly connects with your own experiences. It's a lifelong investment! :-)
Koen Rijks
Manager sociaal domein, NL
Before I did the coretalents analysis, my surroundings primarily recognized me for my musical talents as a conductor, which stemmed from my childhood. However, deep down, I felt that rehearsing with others wasn't where I drew my energy from. I sensed that my strongest talent lay in a different area. But something held me back from pursuing it. So, I kept going through the motions—music project here, music project there. Everyone was satisfied, but I didn't feel fulfilled.
I chose to do a coretalents analysis because the explanation resonated with me. Especially the statement: “as a creatively gifted person, you can do a lot, but that doesn’t mean you enjoy everything.” That’s exactly how I feel. I’m good at making others happy and achieving good results, earning a decent living from it. But it doesn’t bring me joy. That's why I became curious about the core talents analysis. What did I enjoy as a child?
I hoped for a kind of confirmation of what I intuitively knew: that I am a concept developer at heart. And that confirmation came. Music is one of my core talents, but it’s not my top score. That lies in concept development—turning good ideas into reality and creating methods for the cultural and natural sectors. I previously didn’t allow myself to invest much time in that. Now I do. So, what the core talents analysis brought me was space for myself.
J.
Entrepreneur in the cultural sector, NL
It’s wonderful that Manja listens to and engages with the stories from my childhood so enthusiastically, then reflects them back in a beautiful overview of my coretalents. I felt understood and seen. With her interest, humor, and acknowledgment of my talents, she highlights exactly where I should focus and which pitfalls are worth keeping an eye on. This is extremely valuable.
Lia
Nurse specialist, mental health care and more, NL
Manja ensured with great calmness that I stayed focused with my answers. The report and her explanations were very clarifying. I clearly saw where my energy drainers are. The report serves as a wonderful guide to help you understand yourself (even) better. Highly recommended!
Saskia
Artist, NL
It was a delight to dive back into childhood and let various memories resurface. Manja excelled at listening and asking probing questions, allowing for tangents and side trips, yet she always managed to bring it back to the core, seeing the connections and the bigger picture amidst the multitude. Impressive.
At the end, we had time to list all my coretalents and map them out, showing how they relate to each other. This provided great insight into what energizes me and what drains my energy. She summarized this in a compact report, which she provided afterward.
Overall, this gave me many tools to reflect on how I organize my life, what works for me and what doesn’t, and a new framework that can support me in making clearer choices.
I could have really benefited from this earlier in my life, and I wish this clarity, which can be gained with Manja's help, especially for those who are still searching in their lives and careers, whether at the beginning or in the midst of reorientation.
Eva
Illustrator and writer, NL
What naturally motivates me? This question thrives on experiencing 'a thousand and exponentially more' possibilities, accompanied by a cognitively positive feeling about what would suit me.
With Manja, I traveled back in time to explore the seeds of fundamental possibilities. It was a pleasant journey where she, through insightful questioning, created gentle and meaningful conditions to truly reach those seeds and feel the original positive energy.
Even when I felt that the method didn't fully encompass my reality, Manja kept me 'engaged' by observing from a broader perspective and rotating through various viewpoints. During the feedback session, I felt a valuable organization emerging. That feels energizing, and it brings me joy. Thank you, Manja!"
Johan
Logistics Manager, NL
Feel free to message me if you have any questions or would like to schedule a no-obligation dicoverycall. I look forward to hearing from you.
If you’d like me to contact you by phone, please leave your phone number as well.
Warm regards,
Manja Eland
manja@kerntalentenanalist.nl