Here is another great article by my friend and guest author Mary Jo Asmus, President of Aspire Collaborative Services LLC.
The Power of Self-Assessment ToolsThere are many assessment tools available for "getting to know yourself". They may be electronic or hand-written. They can provide you with information about your behavior, your personality, your preferences, and many, many other facets of "you".
Use Only High Quality Tools
Most of the assessments that you find for free on the internet are either "knockoffs" of the real thing or are there for fun. If you are serious about your self development using professional assessments that have had some scientific testing to back them up (always a good thing), I suggest you consult a professional.
This advice is not just self interest (since I administer several professional assessments), it is provided to you in your best interest in "you getting to know yourself" using tools that have been thoroughly tested and can be trusted to provide you with the most accurate results possible. Your human resources professional should be able to find consultants and coaches who are qualified to administer high-quality assessments.
Now What?
Once you complete the questionnaire for your assessment, you will receive a report. Ok, now what? If you are working with a conultant or coach you should expect that they will walk you through your report. If they are qualified to administer the assessment, they have received some training to help you interpret your results properly (another advantage of using a professionally- administered assessment).
Once you have received your interpretation, you will want to spend some time with the results, on your own. There may be a workbook that comes with your report - I highly recomment you set aside the time complete it. Even if there is not a workbook, this is your chance to have a great conversation with yourself and ask:
- What does this information tell me about myself
- What surprised me?
- What do I disagree with?
- What did I already know?
- What am I willing to change?
- What do I want to stay the same?
At this point, a professional coach can assist you in setting goals and creating an action plan. A coach can also help you figure out how to achieve those goals and hold you accountable for doing so.
Mary Jo Asmus is a credentialed executive coach, speaker, and president of Aspire Collaborative Services, a leadership solutions firm. Her blog, "Intentional Leadership", furthers the dialog of the importance of healthy, sustainable relationships to leadership.
Copyright 2009 From the Aspire Collaborative Services Monthly Newsletter, August 2009. Reprinted with permission. For an online version of click here.
