If I could go back in time and change one thing, I think it would be my college major. Finance was a great choice, but if I could do it all over again, I think I would’ve double majored and included Psychology. I absolutely love learning about the human mind and why we behave the way we do. And while we’re on this topic, I’ll let y’all in on a little secret – sometimes, before bed, I’ll read a chapter of my sister’s Psychological Science textbook for the hell of it. Sigh…I wish I could go back in time!
Since I can’t quite do that, I take every opportunity I can to learn more about the science. Luckily for me, working in human resources has proven to be very beneficial in this regard. I feel like I study human behavior on a daily basis!
I often also have the opportunity to learn more about myself through various trainings, workshops, and assessments. You can’t imagine how excited I get when asked to take a personality assessment. It’s actually kind of ridiculous. So far I’ve taken the DiSC assessment, Myers Briggs, StrengthsFinder, Conflict Mode Instrument, etc.
I know lots of people who are super skeptical when it comes to these kinds of “tests.” However, I really believe that if you follow the instructions and answer honestly and to the best of your ability, you’ll find that the results reveal a lot.
For example, when I took the MBTI (Myers Briggs) Assessment, I learned that I’m an ENTJ. Each letter stands for a “type preference.”
E vs. I: How you direct your energy and attention.
S vs. N: How you prefer to take in information.
T vs. F: How you prefer to make decisions.
J vs. P: How you orient the outer world.
According to my results, I’m Extroverted, Intuitive, Thinking, and Judging.
Key words used to describe this type are: driving organizer, planner, vision focused, decisive, initiating, conceptual, strategic, systematic, assertive, critical, logical, organized, pursues improvement and achievement.
No one type is better than another. Each one has its own strengths and areas of improvement. For example, an area of improvement for my type is patience level. We ENTJs tend to be impatient and critical when under pressure. No one is perfect!
After recently learning more about my Myers Briggs type, I took the StrengthsFinder assessment to see if the results correlated.
This book talks about how we spend more time focusing on our so called weaknesses versus our innate strengths. The researchers behind this book think that this way of thinking is backwards. By simply understanding our weaknesses and growing our strengths, we can be more of who we are instead of constantly fixing who we are.
Anyway, after taking the assessment, I learned that my top five themes out of 34 are: Input, Intellection, Activator, Connectedness, and Learner.
Input: Crave to know more and collect and archive all kinds of information.
Intellection: Appreciate introspection and intellectual discussions.
Activator: Turn thoughts into actions and are often impatient.
Connectedness: Believe there are few coincidences and that every event has a reason.
Learner: Have a great desire to learn and continuously improve.
Again, no theme is better than another. The point of the assessment is to figure out what things you’re good at and develop in those areas. Interesting concept for sure.
And as I read my results and the descriptions, I did in fact notice a strong correlation between both sets of findings. Everything was pretty much in parallel.
If you ever have the opportunity to take these or any other personality assessment, I highly recommend it. If nothing else, you’ll learn something new and have a little bit of fun reading your results. I had so many “aha” moments reading about my tendencies!
And if you can get your significant other to humor you and take the same assessment, imagine how much fun you’d have then!
What’s your take on personality assessments? If you’ve taken the MBTI, what’s your type?
I think Personality Assessments are a tool. Like any tool, it can be useful IF and ONLY IF individuals understand it and use it properly. Having studied in Pyschology in school, I definitely think they are valuable and like you said, can create great insight into personality traits which were dormant. Have a great weekend, P!
You’re right, assessments are tools and they must be used the way they were intended. I’m kinda jealous you majored in Psych…I bet it was so fun!
I love taking these assessment. I know we did this one at Tech at some point, but I cannot remember what I was. This may be a good Friday activity at work… 🙂
i’ve taken assessments but usually those in a magazine.. i think it’s good if you are willing to change, but once i take an assessment i forget all about it. i think i should take a real one and see what the results are. i’m really into astrology though, at least it’s some kind of science. 🙂
I used to take magazine tests all the time…still do! I think the key to any major assessment is to walk away with one thing you want to work on and keep that thing front and center until you get the hang of it. That’s what I do anyway!
I am also ENTJ…rock on girl 🙂
Twins! 🙂
Oh I love tests like this…even if I disagree. It’s like how I would take “What Kind of Girlfriend Are You?” tests in magazines in high school, long before I ever would have one. 🙂
I THINK I am ENFP, but I can’t remember…
OMG! I used to take those tests too…waaaaaay before I ever had a boyfriend! Too funny!
Heheh I love taking tests like these – I think I am the complete opposite lol in the Myer-Briggs test. I agree with Khusbhoo – it’s a useful tool but if used properly. I do like it though just to get an insight into my own personality hahah
I’m an INFJ! I actually wrote a post about it too. 🙂 http://wp.me/p25QAo-89 I’ll have to look into that Strength Finder! Thanks for the info.
So funny…instead of finance I would have done something totally different too! Or at least I would have found a job in a different area like publishing or being a book agent.
If only we could turn back the clock huh?
I haven’t ever taken this one I have done the color assessment and Now the DiSC through my business is usually what we use, but what I found that was so interesting is me and a friend had our husbands take the tests for us and we took it for them and how differently they would answer the questions than how we would answer the questions. I just thought that was so interesting. You should have your husband take it for you and see if it gets the same results. Let me know what happens. I love taking these tests I think they are so cool.
Love this. I’ve taken most of those tests although I can’t recall my results off the top of my head. And of course, I love psychology. It was my undergrad major and I’ll continue studying it for the next 4-5 years! 🙂