5 Ways Personality Tests Can Supercharge Your Career Growth
Want to supercharge your career? Personality tests can help. They reveal your strengths, improve teamwork, and guide career decisions. These assessments provide valuable insights into your behavioral tendencies, motivations, and preferences, helping you understand how you operate best in a professional environment.
Leveraging this knowledge can help you make more informed career choices, build stronger relationships, and achieve greater success. Let's explore how incorporating personality assessments into your professional development can lead to significant career growth.
Start Your Personal Development Journey
Free • Science-Based • Instant Results
1. Understand Your Strengths & Weaknesses: A Foundation for Career Success
Using personality assessments can give you a better understanding of your traits and how they impact your work life. Tools like the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) break down personality into 16 types, offering insights into your tendencies and areas where you can grow professionally. Based on Carl Jung's theory of psychological types, the MBTI helps individuals understand their preferences in four key areas: where they focus their attention, how they take in information, how they make decisions, and how they deal with the outer world (Jung, 1921).
Another option is the Big Five assessment, which looks at five key traits: openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism. For instance, being highly conscientious may point to strong organizational skills, while high openness often suggests creativity and a willingness to explore new ideas (Costa & McCrae, 1992). This model is widely respected in the field of personality psychology for its empirical basis and reliability.
The DiSC Profile, focuses on behavior, categorizing it into Dominance, Influence, Steadiness, and Conscientiousness. This can help you see how you handle challenges, interact with others, maintain balance, and focus on precision. Understanding your DISC profile can provide insights into your natural behavioral tendencies in the workplace (Marston, 1928).
Another powerful tool is the Enneagram, which identifies nine distinct personality types, each with its own core motivations, fears, and desires. This can help you understand the underlying drivers of your behavior and how they impact your professional life.
Research backs up the value of these tools. A study published in the Journal of Applied Psychology found that companies using personality assessments experienced a significant improvement in employee engagement and retention (Arthur et al., 2003). To make the most of these insights, write down your key strengths, create action steps for improvement, and check your findings with feedback from supervisors or colleagues. These tests are meant to guide your growth, not define your limits.
Actionable Steps:
Take a variety of assessments: Explore different personality tests like the Big Five, MBTI, DISC, and Enneagram
Reflect on the results: Identify your key strengths and areas for improvement.
Seek feedback: Discuss your results with trusted colleagues, mentors, or a career coach to gain additional perspectives.
Create a development plan: Outline specific steps you can take to leverage your strengths and address your weaknesses.
2. Improve Workplace Relationships Through Self-Knowledge: Building Stronger Connections
Understanding your personality type can greatly influence how you interact with colleagues and handle workplace dynamics. For example, personality assessments can identify whether team members are more logic-driven or emotion-driven and whether they lean toward spontaneity or planning. This allows managers to adjust communication styles and team structures effectively.
Sharpening Communication
When you know your personality traits, you can tweak your communication style to better match others. For instance, analytical individuals can use personality insights to collaborate more smoothly with emotionally-driven colleagues, improving interactions and teamwork. Someone high in Conscientiousness might appreciate clear, detailed instructions, while someone high in Openness might prefer a more flexible, brainstorming approach.
Better Conflict Management
Personality assessments can also make handling conflicts easier. By understanding different work styles, you can turn disagreements into constructive conversations. Research by the Harvard Business Review highlights how organizations using personality insights see reduced workplace conflicts and improved team cohesion (Gallo, 2019). For example, knowing that a colleague has a high "D" (Dominance) in the DISC profile can help you approach them directly and assertively when conflicts arise, while understanding that a teammate is high in "S" (Steadiness) can remind you to approach disagreements with patience and empathy.
How to Apply These Insights
Share your personality test results with your team and explain how your traits influence your work style. For example, if you're an introvert, let others know you prefer to think things through before contributing in meetings. This kind of openness encourages understanding and mutual respect. It fosters an environment where individual differences are valued and leveraged for the benefit of the team.
Actionable Steps:
Share your results: Discuss your personality profile with your team to foster mutual understanding.
Learn about your colleagues' types: Encourage your colleagues to take assessments and share their results.
Adapt your communication: Tailor your communication style to better suit the preferences of your team members.
Use insights during conflict: Apply your knowledge of different personality types to navigate disagreements more effectively.
3. Match Your Career to Your Personality: Finding the Right Fit for Long-Term Success
Using personality assessments to choose a career can greatly improve both your job satisfaction and success. Your personality traits can highlight careers where you're more likely to excel. A report by Forbes noted that aligning roles with personality traits significantly boosts employee performance and engagement (Hu, 2023).
How Personality Aligns with Careers
Certain personality traits naturally fit better with specific careers. For instance, people who are highly conscientious often do well in jobs that require organization and planning, such as project management or accounting. Meanwhile, those high in openness may thrive in creative fields like design, marketing, or the arts.
Here's a table that illustrates how different personality traits might align with various career paths:
| Personality Trait | Aligned Careers | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|
|
High Openness
|
|
Thrives in environments that encourage creativity, innovation, and exploration of new ideas.
|
|
High Conscientiousness
|
|
Excels in roles that require organization, attention to detail, and adherence to procedures.
|
|
High Extraversion
|
|
Energized by social interaction and excels in roles that involve communication and collaboration.
|
|
High Agreeableness
|
|
Thrives in environments that require empathy, cooperation, and a focus on helping others.
|
|
High Neuroticism
|
|
Can benefit from environments that offer stability, clear expectations, and emotional support.
|
Putting Personality Insights to Work
Use insights from tests like the MBTI, Big Five or Strengths Finder to explore career paths that match your strengths. For example, if you score high in extraversion, consider roles that involve frequent collaboration, such as sales or public relations.
Actionable Steps:
Take assessments: Use tools like the Big Five, MBTI 16 Personalities at Work , and Strengths Finder to understand your personality profile.
Research careers: Explore careers that align with your dominant traits and preferences.
Seek guidance: Talk to career counselors or mentors who can provide personalized advice based on your assessment results.
Experiment: Don't be afraid to try out different roles or industries to find the best fit.
4. Build Leadership and Teamwork Skills: Enhancing Collaboration and Influence
Once your career aligns with your personality, the next step is to use this understanding to improve leadership and teamwork abilities. Personality assessments can offer valuable insights into how you lead and collaborate with others.
Understanding Your Leadership Style
Your personality type often influences the way you lead. The DISC assessment categorizes behavior into four styles, each with its own strengths and ideal team scenarios:
| Leadership Style | Key Traits | Strengths | Ideal Scenarios |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Dominance (D)
|
|
|
|
|
Influence (I)
|
|
|
|
|
Steadiness (S)
|
|
|
|
|
Conscientiousness (C)
|
|
|
|
Practical Applications
The Enneagram test, which identifies nine personality types, can help leaders fine-tune how they communicate with team members, assign tasks that align with individual strengths, and handle conflicts effectively. This approach ensures teams function more smoothly while respecting each member's unique traits.
Actionable Steps:
Self-Assessment: Take leadership-focused personality assessments like the DISC to identify your leadership style.
Team Analysis: Use assessments to understand the personality profiles of your team members.
Adapt Your Approach: Tailor your leadership and communication style to better resonate with your team.
Seek Feedback: Regularly solicit feedback from your team on your leadership effectiveness.
5. Increase Self-Awareness for Personal Growth: A Path to Continuous Improvement
Self-awareness plays a key role in advancing your career, and personality tests can offer a deeper understanding of your behavior and tendencies. A report by McKinsey & Company emphasizes the importance of self-awareness in effective leadership and decision-making (Goffee & Jones, 2019).
Understanding Your Emotional Intelligence
The EQ test sheds light on how your personality traits shape workplace behavior and decision-making. By identifying these traits, you can better understand emotional patterns, make smarter decisions, and foster stronger workplace relationships. This can be especially helpful when resolving conflicts or collaborating with a team.
Turning Insights Into Action
Use personality test results to create actionable plans for self-improvement. For example:
| Focus Area | Assessment Tool | Suggested Strategy |
|---|---|---|
|
Emotional Intelligence
|
EQ Test
|
Practice daily mindfulness to manage stress and improve emotional regulation.
|
|
Communication Skills
|
|
Host weekly presentations to strengthen teamwork and communication abilities. Seek feedback to refine your approach.
|
|
Leadership Development
|
|
Identify your leadership strengths and weaknesses. Enroll in leadership development programs that align with your strengths.
|
|
Stress Management
|
Big Five (Neuroticism)
|
Incorporate stress-reduction techniques like exercise, meditation, or time management strategies into your daily routine.
|
| Test Name | Primary Focus | Career Benefits | Best Used For |
|---|---|---|---|
|
16 personality types based on 4 dimensions
|
Highlights work styles and communication patterns
|
|
|
|
Measures 5 core personality traits (OCEAN)
|
Analyzes workplace behaviors and flexibility
|
|
|
|
4 behavioral styles (D, I, S, C)
|
Enhances team dynamics and communication
|
|
|
|
9 personality types and core motivations
|
Boosts EQ and self-awareness
|
|
Conclusion: Embracing Personality Insights for Career Success
Personality tests have become a go-to resource for career growth, with nearly 80% of Fortune 500 companies using them to support employee development (Morgeson et al., 2007). Research shows that employees who align their roles with their personalities are more likely to experience job satisfaction and professional success (Holland, 1997).
The real value comes from choosing the right tools and applying them effectively. Whether you're looking to uncover your strengths, build stronger team dynamics, or refine your career path. These assessments offer practical insights that can guide you toward a more rewarding and successful career path.
Through embracing the insights provided by personality assessments, you can enhance your self-awareness, improve your relationships, and make more informed decisions about your career. Remember, these tests are valuable tools for growth and development, not definitive labels. Use them as a starting point for your journey toward greater professional fulfillment and success.
Incorporating these strategies and resources can help organizations leverage the power of personality assessments to build stronger, more collaborative, and higher-performing teams. Leaders can develop their skills and create a more positive and productive work environment, while Individuals can gain valuable insights into their own strengths and weaknesses, leading to greater career satisfaction and success.
References:
Arthur, W., Jr., Glaze, R. M., Villado, A. J., & Taylor, J. E. (2003). The magnitude and extent of cheating and response distortion effects on a personality test. International Journal of Selection and Assessment, 11(2‐3), 173-181.
Costa, P. T., Jr., & McCrae, R. R. (1992). *Revised NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-PI-R) and NEO Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) professional
Gallo, A. (2019). HBR Guide to Dealing with Conflict. Harvard Business Review Press.
Goffee, R., & Jones, G. (2019). The Character of a Leader: A Handbook for Inspiring, Empowering, and Challenging People to Achieve Greatness. Harper Business.
Holland, J. L. (1997). Making vocational choices: A theory of vocational personalities and work environments. Psychological Assessment Resources.
Hu, J. (2023). Personality and career success. In Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Psychology.
Jung, C. G. (1921). Psychological types. Routledge.
Marston, W. M. (1928). Emotions of normal people. Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner & Co.
Morgeson, F. P., Campion, M. A., Dipboye, R. L., Hollenbeck, J. R., Murphy, K., & Schmitt, N. (2007). Reconsidering the use of personality tests in personnel selection contexts. Personnel Psychology, 60(3), 683-729.
Start Your Personal Development Journey
Free • Science-Based • Instant Results
