Posts Tagged ‘HBDI’
Can an assessment actually tell me how I listen at work?
There are all sorts of assessments available to people who are curious to learn about themselves. They range from the pop psych quizzes to the well-researched and validated ones often used in business settings.
When I was deciding how to share my accumulated knowledge about listening habits, it was natural to think about creating an assessment. But first, I needed to address the reasons people turn to the instruments, and why more and more seem to pop up yearly.
Broadly, people take assessments to:
- make self-discoveries that add knowledge about what makes them tick
- get a framework that organizes descriptions of who they are
- be provided with information that can be used in real life
- gather hints about how to have better relationships, make better decisions, and be a more effective collaborator
I found that most hard working people want to feel good about themselves and contribute to the satisfaction of others in the workplace.
For example, with my assessment, Hear! Hear? Your Listening Portfolio®, people learn how they listen, what they pay attention to and what they leave on the table, what their body language signals to others, what triggers them to drift off, what questions they use to satisfy their listening habits, and how others read them as listeners.
If we look at some of the more popular assessments, such as MBTI, HBDI, EQi or FIRO-B, they enable the assessment-taker to understand his personality, thinking styles, emotional intelligence and relationship requirements. All these instruments are valuable and enriching, and each sheds a slightly different light on the person. But, if the individual does not use the assessment as a platform for discussion and growth, it is just information, and not much better than one of the pop psychology ones that can be found in Cosmo or FB.
The real benefit comes when an assessment highlights where to make changes that will be of personal and professional benefit, and the user sets about a course that results in real, valuable growth.
I’m often asked if there’s a process to make real change, not just cosmetic upgrades, but lasting and significant change. From what I’ve read, researched and observed, there does seem to be a process. It is:
test, practice, reflect, modify, practice
Read the next blog for more on the process.
