This little post
draws upon an online
diagnostic tool that I've used as an aid to self-reflection. The tool purports to describe your personality and so underline strengths and weaknesses. It does this by presenting a series of binary choices - both with merits - and forcing you to make a decision.
My personality type
according to the Leadership Matters tool is: ISTJ. Where this equates to:
In summary (a bit Barnum-statementy perhaps?) the tool says about me:
- You are naturally thoughtful, diligent and like things to be done properly
- You will often take charge of situations to make sure things are done efficiently
- You might benefit from being more open to other people’s ideas or ways of doing things
Then it continues:
YOUR NATURAL STRENGTHS ARE…
- You are very reliable and committed
- You are well organised, polite and courteous
- You make sure things are done to the proper standard
- You ensure sure the detail is right and plan things thoroughly in advance
- You are not afraid to tackle poor performance
- You are happy to assume control of situations and get things organised
- You communicate clearly and meticulously
- You are someone who can hold a team to account so it does the right thing, not the easy thing
YOU ARE LIKELY TO BE MOST PRODUCTIVE IF…
- You are working with other people who work hard and put in the effort
- Things are done properly first time and don’t need correcting
- People argue with you or take things you say too personally
- You are operating within a clear stable structure, where roles and systems are clearly defined
- Your boss respects what you bring to the team
- You are given clear direction and a degree of autonomy
- People respect your privacy
- Change happens gradually and is based on what has worked somewhere else
- People don’t properly look at all the evidence when making a decision
- People are inefficient or sloppy
- People are moaning or whinging
- People with less experience than you think they know it all
- Colleagues rely on their intuition or ‘gut-feelings’ rather than the facts of the matter
- People are over-familiar
- Decisions are made in a rush
- Your boss micro-manages you
YOU MAY BECOME MORE EFFECTIVE BY…
- Going out of your way to consult with others more when deciding on something
- Not giving the impression (often without realising) that you are always right
- Taking more time to stand back and see the big picture
- Remembering that some decisions are best left open for a while
- Being a bit more open about your own feelings – showing your human side more
- Not being afraid to let your hair down sometimes
- Asking questions of others in a way that avoids them feeling interrogated by you
- Asking others for their ideas rather than dismissing those who challenge the status quo
So there you have it. On balance not a bad pen-picture for a 1-minute test!