After coaching for 27 years, I still like using personality assessment tests with my private coaching clients. I’ve found that they speed up the journey of self-discovery and can lead to career success. If you’re navigating the twists and turns of your professional career path, these assessments offer insights that help you understand yourself better and can help you unlock your full career potential.
The Power of Self-Knowledge
“The only journey is the one within.” – Rainer Maria Rilke
In the quest for career success, understanding who you are is the first crucial step. It’s like trying to solve a puzzle without knowing what the pieces look like. Personality assessment tests, like the widely used DISC model, offer a unique lens through which you can gain insights into your behavior, communication style, and interpersonal dynamics.
DISC: Decoding Your Personality Blueprint
The DISC model, standing for Dominance, Influence, Steadiness, and Conscientiousness, provides a comprehensive framework for understanding human behavior. Let’s break it down:
Dominance (D): Are you assertive and results-oriented, thriving on challenges and taking charge of situations?
Influence (I): Do you enjoy connecting with people, influencing others through persuasion, and fostering collaboration?
Steadiness (S): Are you calm, patient, and known for your reliability, valuing harmony and cooperation in your relationships?
Conscientiousness (C): Do you approach tasks with precision, focusing on accuracy, organization, and attention to detail?
My DISC Profile
Years ago, I took a DISC personality assessment test, and the results were eye-opening. As someone leaning towards a high Influence (I) and Steadiness (S), I discovered that my strength lies in connecting with others and supporting my clients to reach their goals. Knowing this helped me gain clarity on how I can best contribute to team projects and navigate professional challenges.
Life Coaching Tips: Understanding Your DISC Profile
Now, let’s explore some practical life coaching tips and action steps to leverage your DISC profile for career growth.
1. Embrace Your Strengths: Leverage your strengths in your current role or seek positions that align with your natural inclinations.
2. Identify Growth Areas: Recognize areas for improvement based on your profile. Seek opportunities for professional development that address these areas.
3. Tailor Your Communication: Understand the communication preferences of others in your professional circle. Adjust your communication style to build stronger connections and collaborations.
4. Collaborate Effectively: Recognize and appreciate the diversity of DISC profiles in your team. Foster an inclusive environment that values different strengths and working styles. Align your career goals with your personality traits.
Why Personality Assessment Tests Matter
So, why bother with personality assessment tests in your career journey? The answer lies in the ability to make informed decisions and tailor your professional path to fit your unique personality and qualities.
One client, Alex, a mid-level manager feeling stuck in his career, sought me out for some career coaching. I suggested he begin by taking the DISC assessment as well as the Highlands assessment (both part of the Career Change Kit). After completing these assessments, Alex discovered a strong inclination towards Dominance (D) and Conscientiousness (C) His motivating values were to lead and help others.
With a newfound understanding of his dominant and conscientious nature, Alex applied these insights to his leadership style. He began taking charge of challenging projects, showcasing assertiveness and meticulous attention to detail. In team settings, he adapted his communication style to resonate with his colleagues’ preferences, resulting in stronger collaboration. He adopted a coaching approach as his new management style.
Alex not only became a more effective leader, but also gained recognition within his organization. His ability to navigate challenges with assertiveness and precision led to a promotion to a senior management role. Moreover, his team’s productivity and cohesion noticeably improved.
What made this story truly remarkable was the lasting impact on Alex’s confidence and job satisfaction. By aligning his career choices with his personality traits, he not only achieved professional success but also found greater satisfaction in his work. This experience is just one example of many that reveal the benefits that personality assessment tests can bring to your career.
But that’s not all. Most of our coaching clients also benefit from:
A deeper sense of self-awareness
Developing a deeper sense of self-awareness is part of personal and professional growth. By understanding your preferences, motivations, and potential stressors, you lay the foundation for navigating challenges both personally and professionally. This heightened self-awareness enables you to make better decisions as you now know what your strengths and weaknesses are. You can face both decisions and obstacles with clarity.
More effective communication
Learning how to communicate with individuals of different personality types adeptly is a skill that you can learn with practice. By honing these communication skills, you not only enhance your ability to convey ideas but also strengthen your interpersonal connections so that you can build effective professional relationships.
Aligning your strengths with your career
When it comes to making career choices, aligning your path with your natural abilities, strengths and passions is a strategic move. Personality assessment tests can help you identify career paths that align with your unique qualities. Armed with this knowledge, you can make better decisions about job changes or transitions, ensuring that your professional journey aligns harmoniously with your aspirations.
Appreciating different styles and personalities
Recognizing and appreciating the diverse personalities within a team is essential for creating positive team dynamics. Contributing positively to team synergy involves more than just acknowledging differences; it’s about creating a collaborative work environment. By valuing the strengths that each team member brings to the table, you contribute to a workplace culture that maximizes collective potential and encourages innovation. This approach not only benefits the team but also enhances your professional growth as you learn from the varied perspectives around you.
Closing Thoughts
The benefits of taking the DISC assessment extend far beyond a mere exploration of personality traits. It opens the door to a journey of self-discovery and personal and professional development. By gaining insights into your behavioral style, hidden values, and hidden talents, you gain a deeper understanding of how you interact with others. This heightened self-awareness can increase your effectiveness at work in communication, collaboration, and decision-making.
The DISC assessment offers a unique lens through which you can identify your strengths, potential stressors, and areas for growth, helping you navigate challenges. In a professional context, these revelations are invaluable, providing a strategic advantage in career planning, team dynamics, and leadership effectiveness. Ultimately, the DISC assessment serves as a transformative tool, paving the way for enhanced relationships, improved decision-making, and a more fulfilling professional journey.
Resources:
- Career Change Kit, which includes the DISC assessment as well as the Highlands assessment.
- Coach Yourself to a New Career by Talane Miedaner.
