Are you making the most of your strengths?
Using a personality test is a great way to learn more about yourself and your co-workers. Aligning strengths, or just understanding them better, can help you to organize teams, develop relationships, and plan for growth. Imagine the positive outcomes that you and your teams could have by leveraging strengths as opposed to focusing on weaknesses.
At Zumasys, we like the Clifton StrengthsFinder test, though there are number of other popular tests, such as the Myers Briggs Type Indicator. We started using the StrengthsFinder test with our management team in 2012, and since then, we’ve rolled it out to every employee at Zumasys. We found it to be a valuable tool for both our managers and our employees.
Whether you’re a manager or an employee, here are three ideas for how you can get the most out of personality tests at your work.
FOR MANAGERS
Look for trends. Determine what strengths lead to success in your department and work to develop those strengths throughout your team. Similarly, if someone on your team has a unique strength, look for opportunities to enable that person to use that strength in a way that complements your team. Put people in a position to exercise their signature strength by asking, “Are there things my people could be doing that would make them more effective and satisfied at work?”
Do your homework. Personality tests like StrengthsFinder come with a wealth of background information and ideas for action. Study up on the strengths of your employees and pull out a few ideas specific to their strengths. If an employee is struggling in your organization, their strengths may hold the key to their success.
Start a conversation. Use the results of the tests to start conversations among your team members. Bringing your team together to discuss the results of the test can help your employees get to know each other in different ways, improve collaboration, and strengthen relationships.
FOR EMPLOYEES
Evaluate yourself. Instead of looking at the qualities that affirm what you already know about yourself, take a look at the ones that may be less familiar to you. You may discover less obvious strengths that you could easily leverage. Seek feedback from managers on the strengths that are useful in your role and work to cultivate them.
Exercise your strengths daily. Did you know that by consciously exercising your signature strengths at work, you can have a lasting effect on your satisfaction and happiness? Make it a goal to exercise at least one signature strength each day. You’ll drive positive results for your company and yourself.
Lather, rinse, repeat. People change. If you’re growing personally and professionally, chances are good that your strengths will change too. Keep checking in with yourself to see how your strengths develop over time.
INTERESTING FINDINGS
President Paul Giobbi is the only person in entire company that has Activator strength
75% of Operations team share the Responsibility strength
Over 50% of Software team share 2 strengths: Achiever and Learner
Over 60% of Sales team share 2 strengths: Responsibility and Strategic
60% of Tech Support share 2 strengths: Achiever and Learner