How Well Do You Know Yourself?

Have you ever completed a personality or strengths profile or assessment?  Throughout my corporate career I have done many: MBTI (Myers Briggs), Insights Discovery, Strengths Finder (Gallop), DISC, Talent Dynamics (Genius Group)  & LSI (Human Synergistics)

Some of these tools have more evidence based support than others, but for me the scientific rigour is less important than the overall theme which comes through when reading all these assessments. Many of these tools are based on the work of psychologist, Carl G Jung (Psychological Types 1921).  He integrated Eastern philosophy into his principles of psychotherapy and human psyche through his study of Richard Wilhelm’s translations of I Ching (The Book of Changes), The Secret of the Golden Flower, and their frequent interactions.

If you do have these assessments how often do you read them and make use of the information they provide about what your natural talents are?

To be honest, before starting my own business 8 years ago, I looked at them maybe once a year, if that.  However, starting out on my own to create something new, these assessments were and are really helpful, especially as you start to create a team.

Why is it important to know and understand your talents and strengths?  And what does this have to do with #resilience and being able to bounce back from times of stress?

By understanding yourself, exploring what you are naturally talented at, helps you to create a strategy which enhances and builds on these talents.  This then leads to more opportunities to be in a ‘flow’ state, where you are highly productive and feel good about what you are doing.

The concept of ‘flow’ was first shared by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi.  The flow state describes a feeling where, under the right conditions, you become fully immersed in whatever you are doing.  To hear more about this from Mihaly watch his TED talk in 2004, which is especially poignant as he started his work after growing up during WW2 and wanted to discover ‘what makes life worth living’.

Based on Mihaly and Jeanne’s research the people involved in their research stated the following benefits of the flow state:

1. Heavy sense of concentration
2. Sense of clarity
3. Lack of obstacles
4. Good feelings
5. Happiness

Reading through this list, when was the last time you felt these feelings and in a flow state?  If you keep a journal, it may help you discover when you are in flow and what you are doing when in flow.

For me, meeting and socialising with people, sharing my knowledge and experience to help others grow and reach their full potential & feel fulfilled is what I love doing.  Other things that create flow for me is playing sports or exercising especially in beautiful environments such as by the ocean or in the mountains.

So, if you do have one of these assessments tucked away somewhere why not get it out and re-read it.  Reflect on how much your current job or role has elements that help you get into flow by using your talents and strengths.

If you haven’t ever completed one of these assessments and would like to then please get in touch, either on LinkedIn or Facebook,  and I can provide you with access to one.

PS.  Here are a few snippets from the assessments I have completed - for those who know me I’d be interested in how accurate you think they are!

“Be a catalyst for change”

“Shift your career toward a field with constantly changing technology”

“Your futuristic talents could equip you to be a guide or coach for others”

“Charlotte’s strength is an ability to let others work at their own pace coupled with an awareness of the unique contribution each person makes.”