There is a reason that top-performing companies invest in personality assessments as part of their employee growth programs—the knowledge gained from assessments results in more profit, representing as much as a 700% ROI.
Personality assessments have gained significant popularity in recent years, and it is no wonder. Assessments offer valuable insights into our behaviors, preferences, and interactions with others. That information allows us to lead ourselves better and focus on things we do well to be more successful and experience more joy. They help to validate and shape our identity. The self-awareness gained allows us to communicate about ourselves to others.
And the same can be said about being aware of other people’s assessment results. We forge stronger interpersonal and work relationships with the information gained in personality assessments.
In last month’s leadership letter, we looked at four common concerns about personality assessments: fear of misuse, feeling boxed in, loss of individuality, and inaccuracy. It is safe to say that no one wants to experience any of those things, and the vulnerability and exposure created by personality assessments could be used against us, especially if we live and work around sociopaths. Chances are good that you do not live or work with sociopaths.
Yes, personality assessments could be used against us. I believe the benefits of personality assessments far outweigh our concerns and even fears outlined in my previous letter. In this month’s letter, we will focus on the benefits of the personality assessment period.
I’ll start by saying that emotional intelligence has proven to be one of the most significant indicators of success and satisfaction in life. People with high EQ enjoy more success and satisfaction in life. Self-awareness is the cornerstone of EQ. When you take a personality assessment, it’s like megadosing on self-awareness. When people in a group use personality assessments everyone megadoses on self awareness as well as other awareness. Personality assessments are an excellent way to begin to raise your EQ. With that in mind, let’s look more closely at the benefits of personality assessments.
Reasons in Favor of Personality Assessments
1. Enhanced Self-Awareness:
Probably the best reason in favor of personality assessments is enhanced self-awareness. Assessments provide a framework to understand your behaviors, motivations, and interactions with others. This heightened self-awareness can lead to more intentional and informed decisions in your personal and professional life. By understanding your design, you can identify areas where you excel and areas you might want to: find a partner who is good at that stuff, compensate by approaching challenging things based on what you do well, or accept that they are not in your wheelhouse and just plain avoid them.
If you don’t believe me, maybe you’ll believe leadership sage, Peter Drucker – “The idea that there are ‘well-rounded’ people, people who have only strengths and no weaknesses… is a prescription for mediocrity if not incompetence.”
2. Improved Communication:
Understanding your own and others’ personality types can greatly improve communication and relationships. It fosters empathy and appreciation for diverse perspectives, which can lead to more harmonious interactions. For instance, knowing that a colleague prefers direct communication can help you tailor your approach to better suit their style, thereby enhancing collaboration and reducing misunderstandings.
3. Personal Growth and Development:
Personality assessments can highlight areas for personal development. By understanding your tendencies, you can identify areas where your design can shine! Start by focusing on the things you are designed to do and determine to be the best version of you that you can be. That means, don’t try to be someone you’re not. This is a reason that I love the CliftonStrengths assessment. It does a great job of telling us what we are designed to do.
I often tell those I coach to not overthink things or make life harder than it is. Figure out what you are designed to do and focus your energy on mastering that! You wouldn’t take a Ferrari offroad because it’s not designed to do that and furthermore, you’ll destroy it! Why would you do that to yourself when you are much more valuable than a Ferrari?
Furthermore, you will have more fun and experience more growth when you focus your energy to grow in the areas where you are naturally gifted and inclined. Have you ever been doing something and felt, “I was made to do this! This is so much fun!”? Grow that.
4. Enhanced Team Dynamics:
In a team setting, knowing the personality types of team members can enhance collaboration and productivity. When roles are aligned with each person’s strengths the result is a more supportive and effective team environment. By leveraging the unique strengths of each team member, you can create a dynamic and cohesive team capable of achieving its goals more efficiently.
5. Career Guidance:
Personality assessments can be instrumental in career planning. They help you identify roles and work environments where you are likely to thrive. The result is greater job satisfaction and success. Understanding your strengths and preferences can guide you in choosing a career path that aligns with your values and interests, ultimately leading to a more fulfilling professional life.
I coach a lot of seminary students. They are especially curious to discover “God’s will” for their life. My suggestion: pretend that God actually was paying attention and knew what he was doing when he made you. Figure that out and go do that!
When you add up the benefits of using personality assessments in your personal and professional worlds, the benefits far outweigh the risks. There is so much research that validates people experience more satisfaction, joy, success, and prosperity when they take advantage of the insights gained through assessments. Furthermore, teams and businesses are more productive, more profitable, and emotionally healthier as people experience reduced stress, illness, and unhealthy conflict.
Final Thoughts
Personality assessments are valuable tools designed to offer insights and foster growth. They are not meant to box you in or take away your individuality. On the contrary, they are meant to foster your growth and enhance your individuality! When used thoughtfully and ethically, they can be powerful allies in your journey of self-discovery and personal development. I encourage you to approach them with an open mind and use them as one of many resources to understand yourself and others better. By embracing the insights they provide, you can enhance your self-awareness, improve your relationships, and unlock your full potential.
If you want to learn more about your design, your team’s design, or how to reap the vast benefits of personality assessments please schedule a free coaching call with me. I love to help people and team’s know and grow their design so they can experience wild success!