Knowing Who We Are Helps In Determining Who We Want To Be: The Power of Personal Assessments

by Eileen Nonemaker

Using the Paradigm Success Formula we create a path to success by discovering "what" we have and where we are, to help us get "what" we want and where we want to be.

The formula describes a journey -

Talents + Attitudes (Skills + Knowledge) + Goals = Positive Behavior Change ---> Improved Results

As with any journey, in order to know the path to our destination, we must be aware of our starting point. The life journey is no different. In order to find the starting point we need to gain self awareness through self assessment.

Self-assessment is a process by which you learn more about yourself -- what you like, what you don't like, and how you tend to react to certain situations. Knowing these things can help you determine which occupations and work situations, as well as personal life goals, could be a better fit for you.

Given the pressures of day-to-day business, it is hard to step away and get an objective look at how we are operating and what our strengths are. There are simple to administer tools that objectively measure effectiveness both at an organizational and individual level.

There are many varieties of assessment tools, easily measuring a particular facet of you, like your interests, skills, personality, and values and decision making styles. Self-assessment tools can be also either Self- Directed or Requiring Interpretive Assistance.

• Self-Directed means the tool is designed so you can use it and review your results without a licensed or trained professional interpreting the data for you. Even though they do not require intervention to read the results, you may still find you have questions.
• Tools Requiring Interpretive Assistance means your results will have to be discussed with a person certified or trained in this particular tool so you can understand what the data is saying.

Sometimes the problem is finding the right tool to help you in a particular situation. The assessments we use at Paradigm reflect decision making style, personality/behavior style and personal values. After many years of searching, we have found three assessments that are congruent with our people development processes. We were looking for something that without question was quantifiable, valid, reproducible, and objective. They are the Attribute Index, DISC Index and Values Index.

Today, business success is measured in human capital - the right talent for the job. Lack of job performance and related employee turnover can result in missed business opportunities and increased costs. Eventually this lowers the value of the company. It makes business sense that companies are now seeking better ways to accurately assess, develop, and retain top talent.

Unique to the Attribute Index is its ability to assess individual's cognitive structures (i.e., how their mind perceives themselves and the world around them). Unlike any other instrument, the Attribute Index has a direct relationship with mathematics, and this is the secret behind its ability to accurately measure the core dimensions of how we think and make decisions. The result is an accurate ranking of personal attributes describing individual potential for workplace performance. Unlike many other instruments intended for a clinical setting but adapted to a business one, the Attribute Index was designed, from the beginning, exclusively for a business environment.

The DISC Index is the most contemporary interpretation of Dr. William Marston's groundbreaking work into understanding and measuring a person's natural and adaptive behavioral styles. Since each individual has their own unique preferences and habits for how they like to behave, this understanding is crucial when working with team members, as a leader or manager, or in an environment that requires conflict resolution.

To reach optimal performance, you must understand what natural talents you possess, why you are motivated to use them, and how you prefer to use them. The DISC Index reviews the HOW portion of the What, Why, and How trilogy. By understanding how you prefer to behave, you are able to better align your environment, select the work that ensures more meaning and success, and produce less stress while doing so. Myers Briggs is another popular assessment used by many organizations to help determine psychological type.

The Values Index provides a single profile that delivers the world's most comprehensive understanding of a person's value structure or their motivational style. Everyone has their own unique mix of personal drivers and motivators that helps to guide them toward success. Understanding what really drives a person is a crucial part of success.

The Values Index merges two complimentary theories to create the most complete understanding of what drives an individual and what rewards him/her with a sense of accomplishment. It is this understanding that helps to ensure that optimal motivation, passion, and drive are always created-to achieve the highest levels of personal and professional success.

Assessments have great value in developing individual performance, but also become valuable when developing successful teams. Understanding if each person is in the right place on the bus can facilitate a smoother organizational journey as well.

Most importantly in gaining any self awareness, the self assessment process is important. Determining the starting point, then the destination, and deciding on the most appropriate route is key to the formula and the success of that formula.