Whenever I take a personality test, I never know what to think about the results. Do the results portray me spot on or not? Everyone's personality is different and unique, that sometimes it is hard for me to believe that a personality test, that puts people into four or whatever number of categories, can tell people who they are and how to approach them. Also, there are many different factors that can affect your results. For example, you may answer differently to questions in different situations, or you may even fib/stretch the truth to certain questions to arrange a more favorable result in your eyes. But, I guess if I like the results, then the personality test got it right!
Well, on the recent leadership/management diagnostic that I took in class, I think the result was close to my personality, so I guess the test got it right. The results of the DISC test stated that I am a C sub d, which means I am conscientious and slightly dominant as well. I think I am conscientious because I am the kind of person who loves planning ahead, needs to know what my job is exactly so I know how to execute my work to the best of my ability, and I am very analytical. Yet, I am, also, slightly dominant in that I do enjoy challenges and new situations that just make work interesting and allows me to come up with creative ways to approach things. Also, I like freedom from supervision and I am looking for opportunities for advancement (I mean I, ultimately, want to be a CEO of a hotel or other business that I've created.).
Although, this test was pretty accurate in identifying my management orientation, I don't think it was 100% accurate because some days I behave like an S type, steadiness, with emphasis on cooperating with others. This leads me to the issue of whether or not this kind of diagnostic is helpful to determine people’s management "type" to better understand where they are coming from and how to interact with them. I think it is both helpful and not. It is helpful because, at least for me, it can show my employer that I have the ability to be dominant and authoritative, which s/he, probably, wouldn't have thought of at our first interaction since I tend to act shy with new people. On the other hand, it isn't helpful because how can a test tell the boss who you are and how to interact with you. Maybe you're different or better in person than in paper. Also, as I said before we all are different, and if the boss is just managing you based on your C type, he/she might be missing out on another effective way of managing you based on your unknown S type. I don't wish I was another management "type" because I think Cd portrays me the best in how I work, but on any test, I think we should look to the results not as an accurate depiction of someone, but more as a guideline for yourself on determining how this person works, something to get the ball rolling. Meeting or working with the other person never hurts, too.
I agree with you that it was not 100% description, however it gave a pretty clear idea who people really are.
ReplyDeleteHello Alexandra,
ReplyDeleteI don't really see you as a Dominant person at least not when it came to that decision-making day regarding the material on the test. I think you are more of a CS person, one who can think critically but at the same time is patient and willing to listen to others rather than interrupt another. This is just what I think anyhow.
I agree with you that it is not fair to characterize a person as having a single personality trait. Because we can sometimes be a little of each (as the test demonstrated itself).