As seen in the trade publication Cleaning Management Magazine
Do you make decisions quickly? Do you do exactly the same things, year in and year out? Do you analyze every aspect of your job? Or is an after work coffee with friends the favorite part of your job?
Well, the same way that we all have different habits when it comes to our personal and professional lives, we also display different personality traits when it comes to our jobs. Helping to identify your "personality" can help you understand your preferences, and help you choose responsibilities that are best suited to you. For those who find it difficult to understand why other people do things differently, a look at your profile can be insightful, and can be used to help you understand others you interact with.
Here is a quick method of assessing your personality type. This formula has been adapted from a much more detailed Personal Profile SystemT, developed by John G. Geier, PhD. at the University of Minnesota. The system was developed to analyze personal and professional behavior and can also be used in a variety of situations. In my seminars utilizing the Profile, the outcomes can be the objectives. i.e., teamwork, sales, customer service, hiring, or inter-personal relationships. As a self-scoring instrument individuals who take the profile often understand themselves better, gain a greater understanding of other peoples behavior and develop new techniques to build better bridges of communication.
This is not a system to "pigeonhole" people. Everyone is a combination of all four quadrants of behavior. However, one style usually dominates which is affected by your secondary style. Yet any of the styles may appear when behavioral situations call for it. We usually gravitate to those who are most like us. If we can shape and understand the behaviors of others we interact with, we can enhance and improve all our relationships. If you meet someone who speaks Spanish, it would help the communication process if you spoke the same language. Therefore, if you work with a "D" personality and you're a different type it would be helpful for you to draw upon your knowledge of D behavior and adapt to the situation, in essence, "talk their language". First, look at the four personality types. See if you can determine which of the four types you are from these four descriptions:
Take this quick test to see what style suits you best!
D=DOMINANT
Main Characteristic:
Control-oriented
Other characteristics
• decisive
• competitive
• a risk-taker
• demanding
Personality Type
Description
We should discuss the "D" personality first, because they are impatient and they may not read the rest of the article. "D" types are ego-driven, self-confident individuals who thrive on change. They enjoy activities with lots of versatility and challenge. "D"s are selective listeners and do not get involved with activities that have a lot of rules and regulations (they prefer to make their own).
You know you are a "D" if when walking around a lake, you decide to walk across it for a change of pace!
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I=INFLUENCING
Main Characteristic:
People-oriented
Other characteristics
• social
• emotional
• trusting
• generous
Personality Type
Description
"I" personality types are the easiest to get along with, because they thrive on attention. (That's probably why most fitness instructors are "I"s.) Their face is an "emotional TV screen" -- if you compliment an "I", their face lights up, their smile widens and they stand up taller. But if an "I" is corrected or criticized, they clearly appear broken-hearted because their delicate feelings have been hurt. They are people lovers, and it is their greatest strength. Their greatest weakness is being disorganized - they often forget their car keys, appointment times and birthdays!
You know you are an "I" if you have to call back four times to leave an entire message on an
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S=STEADINESS
Main Characteristic:
Team-oriented
Other characteristics
• participatory
• patient
• loyal
• friendly
Personality Type
Description
The "S" personalities are most loyal and do not like change, so you can be sure to find them in the same bowling league or aerobics class year in and year out.
They are possessive, and often make references like "my job" or "my desk."They are also the best listeners ... You know you are an "S" if you listen for 30 minutes to a health club employee expound on the virtues of aquafitness, when the only water sport you enjoy is a bath!
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C=COMPLIANCE
Main Characteristic:
Adhere to standards
Other characteristics
• perfectionist
• fact finder
• analytical
• systematic
Personality Type
Description
The "C" personalities are truly all the 'c' words-compliant, competent, cautious, conservative and correct. Accuracy motivates them, so everything they do must be thorough, detailed and well-explained. They need to know the long term benefits of whatever they indulge in and how it will help them achieve their very specific goals.
You know you are a "C" if you run out of gas on purpose just to find out exactly how far your car will go on a tank of fuel!
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In one particular training session for a large company in Florida, the attendees were all Sr. management including the CEO. After the full day session, he approached me and said, "I'd like to thank you for solving a 20 year marital dilemma." I didn't solve it, he just became aware of the all important "why?" "My wife", he said, "comes to pick me up at the office monthly for lunch and inevitably, the argument ensues. "Why don't I have pictures of her and the kids on my desk?" D's, as he was, often have pictures of themselves, the awards, or the big fish they caught, as a result of the ego-driven behavior. His wife, who he realized in the seminar was an S personality, is motivated by family, the unit, the "team". When he realized that she was not trying to control him, the D's greatest fear, and that she was just operating from her need base, family, belonging, security, he no longer rejected the idea. Conflict resolved as a result of understanding the other persons perspective or in the vernacular "where they're coming from".
The essence of using personality types is to promote understanding and improve the ability of people with different needs to successfully interact. The root of every individuals actions are their goals and desires. There is no "one size fits all" application here. One situation will most likely provoke four different responses. Behavioral analysis is not the end, but the beginning of understanding. It does not represent concrete boundaries to an individual personality. It is based on the old adage "know thyself" and it admonishes us to understand and respect the uniqueness of others. The essence of this article and the whole Personal Profile system is captured so eloquently in the closing poem by David Kiersey "A Different Drummer".
Mikki Williams keynoted the 1993 Cleaning Management conference in Washington D.C. and the 1994 conference in Chicago where she also presented this session on "How to Develop Your Personnel-ity." Mikki Williams is a professional speaker/trainer and consultant. She specializes in personal and professional development, business dynamics and wellness/fitness. Books, audio/video tapes and other products are available. The complete version of the Personal Profile System, copyrighted and marketed by Carlson International, is a self-scoring instrument available for $15.00 each or discounts on orders over 25. For more information: Mikki Williams Unltd.
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