Personality Tests!

Myers Briggs, Insights, Gallup StrengthsFinder, the Enneagram, DiSC…there are so many personality assessments out there and chances are if you worked for an organization for any length of time you’ve taken at least one of these tests.

And while each of these modalities have benefits and limitations, there is one thing that all personality tests all have in common.

What is the one underlying, unintended positive side effect of all personality tests in the workplace?

PEOPLE FEEL SEEN.

When you invest in a personality test for your organization, you say to your team members: 

“I see your uniqueness. I see your innate talents and strengths. I see how you contribute and are a valuable part of this team. 

I see you.  You matter here.

Fostering a space where your employees feel seen and valued for their unique qualities is one of the most important things you can do as a leader.  

Organizations where people feel like they matter have better levels of engagement, greater productivity and yes, stronger bottom lines!

In my work I utilize Gallup StrengthsFinder & The Enneagram, I call it the How and Why of you. StrengthsFinder provides the illuminates the innate behaviors you do best the how of you, and the Enneagram gets to the deep underlying motivation of personality type what I call the Y of you.

However, it doesn’t truly matter what personality assessment you invest in. The important thing is that you enable your people to discover their unique Talents and contribution to the team.

And most importantly, don’t just do Personality Tests one time.  this once. So many times, organizations bring someone in to facilitate a program around a personality assessment and then they never speak of it again. In my opinion, this can do more damage than not doing it at all.

This is deep work with huge benefits if done correctly. It must be ongoing. It must be baked into the culture.