SELF-KNOWLEDGE AND ASSESSMENT
"Above all else this: To thine own self be true, then it follows as night the day, thou cans't not be false to any man". Hamlet, William Shakespeare
Self knowledge is the foundation of success in clinical practice, leadership roles, and in our personal lives. This drawer reviews basic tools of self-awareness to provide feedback about our personalities, values, capabilities, and styles. The discipline of self-reflection, based on self-awareness, deepens our understanding of ourselves as well as establishing positive regard. Assessing other people's styles and preferences is useful in managing group dynamics and team building.
We recommend that you begin your leadership training with a self-analysis and evaluation. This would be similar to establishing a point on a graph of the XY axis and then choosing a direction, connecting points as you learn. Self-awareness is a fundamental skill that applies to all areas of life. The time invested in introspection is well worth the results.
We suggest beginning with exploring:
- self-esteem through personal insight
- internal and external self-observation conducted with a trusted individual
- establishing personal boundaries and needs
- becoming both a mentor and a protege
- seeking formal, structured training
- identifying your personality traits, core beliefs/values, and leadership style
TOOLS AND TESTS
Self-assessment tests can be helpful in providing feedback throughout your personal exploration. It is beneficial to answer honestly, quickly, and to compare the results from a variety of tests to gain a more accurate summary of your responses. Reviewing results with a trusted colleague, friend, or mentor provides constructive feedback.
Personality:
Personality is a pattern of behavior, thoughts, and emotions utilized to adapt to varying situations of life. The following tests are recommended to gain a deeper understanding of your personality and how it affects your life.
- Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)
- In-Depth Self Knowledge (MBTI evaluation)
- Mental Muscle Diagram Indicator
- Barbara Barron-Teiger and Paul Teiger books and assessments
- Temperament Sorter II Personality Instrument
- The Big 5 Personality Test
- Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Indicator (MMPI)
- Personality Tests and Profilers
- Million Index of Personality Styles (MIPS)
- Organizational Diagnostics Online
David S. Maurer, Lieutenant Colones, USA (RET) discussed the following lists of specific traits in a presentation given at the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York.
Core values, principles, and beliefs
Core values, principles, and beliefs guide decisions made for our personal and professional lives. We suggest you make your own list and define each in order to decide what is important to you.
- Problem Solver Integrity
- Compassion
- Courage Honesty
- Respect for Others
- Responsiveness Trust Character
- Self-Esteem Personal Accountability
Leadership Capabilities/Liabilities
- Evaluating both your capabilities and liabilities as a leader leads to a realistic assessment of your potential and positive steps toward improvement.
- Decide Vision Irresponsible Tentative
- Delegate Assuming Proactive Priority
- Dump Creativity Sense of Urgency Clarity
- Done Avoidance Multi-directional Timid
- Stamina Anticipation Energy Organizer
- Apathy Personal Discipline Transparency Passion
- Procrastination Plan Tenacity Commitment
- Endurance Execution Punctuality Communication
- Initiative Follow up Perseverance Reflection
- Reactive Reliability Boundaries Balance
- Articulate Self-Reliant Confidence
Leadership Styles
Leadership styles can be altered to fit certain circumstances where a particular approach may be more effective.
- Visionary Statesman Dictatorial
- Active Followership Confrontational
- Decisive Strategist Politician
- Teacher Team Builder Possessive
- Lead by Example Hard Worker Permissive
- Controlling
Personal Styles
You personal style may change over time so it's useful to examine your self-appraisal with a trusted colleague, friend, or mentor.
- Quietly Competent Coping Skills Sense of Humor
- Loyal Inquisitive Time Management
- Credible Reputation Teammate
- Tough Skin Confident Working Relationships
- Inquisitive Assured Risk Taker
Learning Styles
Identifying your preferred method of instruction helps you understand how you learn best in different environments and to identify how those around you may excel with a difference style.
- Development and Growth Auditory Active
- Visual Tactile Passive
