Having taken a Psychometric test recently I was reminded of others I did in previous years.
My first encounter would be in the late 80s or early 90s.
Everyone from our Managing Director down was to have one.
I remember everyone wondering why and some being anxious.
What was funny was that our Managing Director, the best I have ever worked with, was so horrified with his own that he said it would never be seen on “pain of death!”
We never let him forget it and much as he shared his amusement at how creative we were at reminding him, it never did get to be seen.
One brave colleague offered “did it confirm you were a Psycho then?”
We never had them again!
What’s Interesting is that we must already have an “Image” of ourselves, so the results may question our Ideas.
I have no Issues with this since it helps to measure an alternative view.
Usually you read “there are no right and wrong answers”
It would be Interesting to finish the test by being able to add “there are no right and wrong Interpretations”
All the tests taken by me have approached the exercise differently.
I guess it might be argued that with time better methods have been found.
Until recently my last test was in 2010.
It’s fair to say that over twenty years since my first I might find some changes.
I won’t know until reading the latest but I was pleased in 2010 that I had retained my positive approach.
In fact my motivation and commitment has never been higher.
I like to think I have become “smarter” with time though.
My measurement will be 2010 which revealed these views:
This is an individual report generated from the responses made on the GPQ personality questionnaire. The report looks at ways of dealing with the world and other people. It reflects the value they place on certain ways of behaving. It does not measure skill, but rather their comfort in acting that way. As a general personality questionnaire it synthesises the particular responses on a number of scales and reflects these back. If there is any doubt about the interpretation of this report, please ask the person who produced it. It has been produced with every care and in good faith, and should be read as indicative of certain trends in attitudes at the time of taking it. No liability can be accepted by the interpreter.
Influence
They enjoy selling, are comfortable using negotiation, like to change other people's views.
In controlling others they are similar to the majority, less likely to take the lead, are less comfortable with being in charge, may tell others what to do in some situations
They may express their opinions on many occasions, tend to make disagreement clear, are prepared to criticise others from time to time.
They act in a similar manner to most people in following their own approaches, and are less prepared to disregard majority decisions.
Sociability
They are lively and animated in groups, talkative, enjoying attention.
The company of others provides some enjoyment, they prefer to be around people, and can miss the company of others if operating alone for even a short time.
They feel as comfortable as most people do when first meeting others and maybe at ease in formal situations.
Empathy
They prefer not to have to discuss their achievements, and often keep quiet about personal success.
Consulting widely is their style, involving others in decision making, and less likely to make decisions alone.
They are sympathetic and considerate towards others, helpful and supportive, and involve themselves in others' problems.
Analysis
They like working with numbers and analysing statistical information as much as the majority of people do, and may base decisions on facts and figures.
Critically evaluating information is their strong preference, looking for potential limitations, and focusing upon errors.
They have a very strong preference for understanding and analysing the motives and behaviours of people.
Creativity and Change
They are average in their willingness to operate with well-established methods, and in their preference for more conventional approaches.
Their interest is in theories, and they enjoy discussing abstract concepts.
They have some preference for generating new ideas, being creative, thinking of original solutions
They have a strong preference for variety, trying out new things, a liking for changes to regular routine, and can become bored by repetitive work.
They may make some changes in behaviour to suit the situation and adapt their approach to different people but these are not the norm.
Structure
There is a tendency for them to take a long-term view, setting goals for the medium term, and comfortable with strategic thinking.
They focus on detail, prefer to be methodical, organised and systematic, and are likely to become preoccupied with detail.
They have a strong focus on getting things finished, persisting until the job is done.
They follow regulations to an average extent with some preference for knowing what the standards are, and breaking only those rules which are seen as very trivial.
Emotion
They normally find it easy to relax, do not often feel tense, and have a tendency to be generally calm and untroubled.
They always feel calm before important occasions, are not affected by key events, and do not worry.
They are not offended more than are most people by negative comments, can ignore some insults and criticism depending on who is being critical.
They expect things will turn out well, look to the positive aspects of a situation, and have an optimistic view of the future.
They trust people to a very significant extent, seeing others as reliable and honest, and believing what others say.
They openly express feelings, finding it difficult to conceal their emotions.
Dynamism
They thrive on activity, like to be busy, enjoy having a lot to do.
They have a moderate need to win, prefer competitive activities, and moderately dislike losing.
Ambitious and career-centred, they like to work to demanding goals and targets.
They make decisions at average pace, and are as cautious as many others.
Social Desirability
They have been less self-critical than most others in responses, and are more concerned to make a good impression, either consciously or subconsciousl
With Five as the accepted “average” when compared with the “general population” this is how I fared:
Bear in mind the scale considers a balance e.g. am I less or more relaxed than a typical person tested?
Relationships with people
Low score (1 – 3)
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1
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2
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3
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4
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5
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6
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7
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8
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9
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10
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High score (8 –10)
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Influence
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Persuasive
8 |
rarely pressures others to change their views, dislikes selling, less comfortable using negotiation
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l
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enjoys selling, comfortable using negotiation, likes to change other people's views
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Controlling
6 |
happy to let others take charge, dislikes telling people what to do, unlikely to take the lead
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¡
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likes to be in charge, takes the lead, tells others what to do, takes control
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Outspoken
7 |
holds back from criticising others, may not express own views, unprepared to put forward own opinions
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¡
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freely expresses opinions, makes disagreement clear, prepared to criticise others
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Independent Minded
5 |
accepts majority decisions, prepared to follow the consensus
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¡
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prefers to follow own approach, prepared to disregard majority decisions
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Sociability
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Outgoing
8 |
quiet and reserved in groups, dislikes being centre of attention
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l
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lively and animated in groups, talkative, enjoys attention
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Affiliative
7 |
comfortable spending time away from people, values time spent alone, seldom misses the company of others
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¡
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enjoys others' company, likes to be around people, can miss the company of others
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Socially Confident
6 |
feels more comfortable in less formal situations, can feel awkward when first meeting people
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¡
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feels comfortable when first meeting people, at ease in formal situations
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Empathy
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Modest
7 |
makes strengths and achievements known, talks about personal success
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¡
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dislikes discussing achievements, keeps quiet about personal success
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Democratic
9 |
prepared to make decisions without consultation, prefers to make decisions alone
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l
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consults widely, involves others in decision making, less likely to make decisions alone
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Caring
9 |
selective with sympathy and support, remains detached from others' personal problems
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l
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sympathetic and considerate towards others, helpful and supportive, gets involved in others' problems
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Thinking style
Low score (1 – 3)
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1
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2
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3
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4
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5
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6
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7
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8
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9
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10
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High score (8 –10)
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Analysis
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Data Rational
6 |
prefers dealing with opinions and feelings rather than facts and figures, likely to avoid using statistics
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¡
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likes working with numbers, enjoys analysing statistical information, bases decisions on facts and figures
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Evaluative
9 |
does not focus on potential limitations, dislikes critically analysing information, rarely looks for errors or mistakes
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l
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critically evaluates information, looks for potential limitations, focuses upon errors
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Behavioural
8 |
does not question the reasons for people's behaviour, tends not to analyse people
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l
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tries to understand motives and behaviour, enjoys analysing people
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Creativity and Change
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Conventional
6 |
favours changes to work methods, prefers new approaches, less conventional
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¡
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prefers well established methods, favours a more conventional approach
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Conceptual
10 |
prefers to deal with practical rather than theoretical issues, dislikes dealing with abstract concepts
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l
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interested in theories, enjoys discussing abstract concepts
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Innovative
7 |
more likely to build on than generate ideas, less inclined to be creative and inventive
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¡
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generates new ideas, enjoys being creative, thinks of original solutions
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Variety Seeking
9 |
prefers routine, is prepared to do repetitive work, does not seek variety
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l
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prefers variety, tries out new things, likes changes to regular routine, can become bored by repetitive work
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Adaptable
5 |
behaves consistently across situations, unlikely to behave differently with different people
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¡
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changes behaviour to suit the situation, adapts approach to different people
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Structure
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Forward Thinking
7 |
more likely to focus upon immediate than long-term issues, less likely to take a strategic perspective
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¡
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takes a long-term view, sets goals for the future, more likely to take a strategic perspective
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Detail Conscious
10 |
unlikely to become preoccupied with detail, less organised and systematic, dislikes tasks involving detail
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l
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focuses on detail, likes to be methodical, organised and systematic, may become preoccupied with detail
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Conscientious
8 |
sees deadlines as flexible, prepared to leave some tasks unfinished
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l
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focuses on getting things finished, persists until the job is done
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Rule Following
5 |
not restricted by rules and procedures, prepared to break rules, tends to dislike bureaucracy
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¡
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follows rules and regulations, prefers clear guidelines, finds it difficult to break rules
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Feelings and emotions
Low score (1 – 3)
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1
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2
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3
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4
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5
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6
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7
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8
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9
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10
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High score (8 –10)
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Emotion
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Relaxed
7 |
tends to feel tense, finds it difficult to relax, can find it hard to unwind after work
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¡
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finds it easy to relax, rarely feels tense, generally calm and untroubled
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Worrying
3 |
feels calm before important occasions, less affected by key events, free from worry
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l
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feels nervous before important occasions, worries about things going wrong
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Tough Minded
6 |
sensitive, easily hurt by criticism, upset by unfair comments or insults
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¡
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not easily offended, can ignore insults, may be insensitive to personal criticism
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Optimistic
10 |
concerned about the future, expects things to go wrong, focuses on negative aspects of a situation
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l
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expects things will come out well, looks to the positive aspects of a situation, has an optimistic view of the future
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Trusting
9 |
wary of others' intentions, finds it difficult to trust others, unlikely to be fooled by people
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l
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trusts people, sees others as reliable and honest, believes what others say
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Emotionally Controlled
2 |
openly expresses feelings, finds it difficult to conceal feelings, displays emotion clearly
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l
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can conceal feelings from others, rarely displays emotion
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Dynamism
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Vigorous
8 |
likes to take things at a steady pace, dislikes excessive work demands
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l
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thrives on activity, likes to be busy, enjoys having a lot to do
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Competitive
7 |
dislikes competing with others, feels that taking part is more important than winning
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¡
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has a need to win, enjoys competitive activities, dislikes losing
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Achieving
10
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sees career progression as less important, looks for achievable rather than highly ambitious targets
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l
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ambitious and career-centred, likes to work to demanding goals and targets
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Decisive
5 |
tends to be cautious when making decisions, likes to take time to reach conclusions
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¡
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makes fast decisions, reaches conclusions quickly, less cautious
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Social Desirability
8 |
has been more self-critical in responses, is less concerned to make a good impression
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l
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has been less self-critical in responses, is more concerned to make a good impression
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