Beyond Skills: Using Personality Assessments to Build Unbeatable Teams
Introduction
When you’re building a Championship Team for a business, incorporating personality tests can be a smart move.
These tools offer valuable insights into team dynamics, individual strengths, and potential areas for development. Here’s a list of some well-known personality tests and insights into their application:
Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)
– What It Is: MBTI categorizes individuals into 16 distinct personality types based on preferences in four areas: how they focus their attention, how they perceive information, how they make decisions, and how they deal with the external world.
– When to Use: Ideal for team-building sessions and improving communication. It helps in understanding team members’ preferred communication styles and work preferences.
– Why: MBTI can foster a better understanding among team members, helping them appreciate diverse perspectives and approaches to problem-solving.
DiSC Assessment
– What It Is: This test measures dominance, influence, steadiness, and conscientiousness. It’s designed to provide insights into an individual’s behavioral tendencies in various contexts, including their preferred working style and how they interact with others.
– When to Use: Useful during recruitment, team formation, or development workshops. It can guide how to structure teams, leadership approaches, and conflict resolution strategies.
– Why: Understanding DiSC profiles helps in tailoring management strategies to suit individual team members, enhancing team cohesion and productivity.
Big Five Personality Traits (OCEAN)
– What It Is: This assesses individuals based on five broad dimensions: Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism.
– When to Use: This test is versatile, suitable for use in hiring, team-building, and personal development planning.
– Why: It’s backed by substantial research and can predict job performance and team fit. It helps in placing individuals in roles where they’re most likely to excel.
StrengthsFinder (Now CliftonStrengths)
– What It Is: Focuses on identifying an individual’s top strengths from a list of 34 themes, encouraging the development of these strengths.
– When to Use: Best used for personal development and team building. It’s particularly useful for understanding the unique contributions each team member brings to the table.
– Why: Leveraging strengths can boost team morale and effectiveness. It encourages a positive focus on developing what individuals already do well.
Predictive Index Behavioral Assessment
– What It Is: This tool assesses personality traits and workplace behaviors to predict how individuals will fit within teams or roles.
– When to Use: Can be used in the hiring process or for team alignment and development.
– Why: It provides actionable data that can inform recruitment, team composition, and leadership development strategies.
Why and When to Use Personality Tests:
– Recruitment: To ensure candidates are a good fit for the company culture and the specific team they’ll be joining.
– Team Building: To foster understanding and respect among team members, improving communication and collaboration.
– Personal Development: To help individuals understand their strengths and areas for improvement, guiding professional development plans.
– Leadership Development: To assist leaders in understanding their own leadership style and how to effectively manage diverse teams.
It’s crucial to remember that these tests should be used as one component of a comprehensive team-building or development strategy.
They offer valuable insights but don’t capture the full complexity of an individual’s personality or potential.
Always consider multiple factors, including experience, skills, and cultural fit, when making decisions based on these assessments.
