MBTI Careers - Be and Do What You Are

Online Personality Tests as Career Productivity Tools

(In addition to the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator)

Enneagram:

The Enneagram is one of the newest personality systems in use, and emphasizes psychological motivations. Its earliest origins are not completely clear - the circular symbol may have originated in ancient Sufi traditions, and was used by the esoteric teacher George Gurdjieff (1866-1949). However, it is most likely that neither the Sufis nor Gurdjieff taught a system of personality types. The modern version of the Enneagram personalies emerged in the 20th century, from Oscar Ichazo who was a student of Gurdjieff, but whose personality system stands apart from Gurdjieff’s teachings. Ichazo taught his system to many pupils in Arica, Chile, of whom Claudio Naranjo is the most prominent. In the last few decades, the system has undergone further change, incorporating modern psychological ideas in the writings of Naranjo, Helen Palmer, Kathy Hurley/Theodorre Donsson, and Don Riso/Russ Hudson.

Scientific testing of the Enneagram has a long way to go. The RHETI is a widely used test and has been subject to scientific tests that showed internal consistency, but not accuracy. Other tests may be more accurate. The Enneagram’s underlying structure is based on testable ideas about motivations and emotions.

What is the Enneagram useful for? The Enneagram is mainly a diagnostic tool of one’s emotional outlook on life. It will not cure one’s problems, but may help point out their underlying fixations. It is also useful as a guide to how other people see the world differently. The Enneagram has become particularly popular within the self-help and personal growth movements, but other professions use it as well, including therapists, teachers, psychologists, managers, and businesspeople.

[From 9types.com]

Archetypal Astrology - don’t knock it until you try it.  Archetypes are powerful forms that teach personality types in action.  Stories teach character motivations, values; all sorts of fun things we call life.

Now What?

Are you an HR professional?  So; how do you, as a human resource professional, fine-tune your personality to best detect the desired qualities, aptitudes and attitudes of potential new hires?  The Standard software that quality HR Professionals need is the program running between your ears. 

Self-awareness — notice how what you think affects what you think.  Take a step back and watch the watcher.  Learn more about how you tick, and then apply how you tick in ways that don’t tick others off.  :)The goal is a mutually satisfying interview/hiring/work/evaluation/feedback process to best support the natural strengths of all involved to reach the same aim. Check out Australia’s ‘The Standard’ [Team Building pdf]:It provides a framework for improving an organisation’s performance and competitiveness, through a planned approach to setting and communicating objectives and developing people to meet these objectives. The result is that what people can do and are motivated to do, matches what the organisation needs them to do. The process is cyclical and should engender the culture of continuous improvement.

Is your organization getting the largest ROI, by investing in its people?

Being recognised as an ‘Investor in People’ involves a number of steps:

• Understanding the Standard and its strategic implications for the organisation
• Undertaking a review against the Standard to identify any gaps in current practice
• Making the commitment to meet the Standard and communicating that commitment to all members of staff
• Planning and taking action, to bring about change
• Bringing together the evidence for assessment against the Standard
• Achievement or recognition as an Investor in People
• Working to keep the culture of continuous improvement alive.

Significant commercial benefits may be gained by organisations that achieve the Standard, and they begin to appear while working towards becoming an Investor in People. Happy people are productive people willing to go the extra mile for you, as you’ve gone the extra mile for them.

The practical benefits of working towards and achieving the Standard include:

• Improved earnings, productivity and profitability. Skilled and motivated people work harder and better.
• Productivity will improve. Extra effort will be made to close sales and a positive impact will be seen on the bottom line.
• Reduced costs and wastage. Skilled and motivated people constantly examine their work to contribute to reducing costs and wastage.
• Enhanced quality investing in people significantly improves the results of quality programmes. Investors in People adds considerable value to BS 5750, ISO 9000 and other total quality initiatives.
• Improved Motivation. Through greater involvement, personal development and recognition of achievement, motivation is improved. This leads to higher morale, improved retention rates, reduced absenteeism, readier acceptance of change and identification with the organisation beyond the confines of the job.
• Customer satisfaction. Investing in People is central to helping employees become customer-focused, thus enabling the organisation to effectively meet customer needs at a profit.
• Competitive advantage through improved performance, Investor in People organisations develop a competitive edge.
• Public recognition. Investor in People status brings public recognition for real achievements measured against a rigorous National Standard. Being an Investor in People helps to attract the best quality job applicants. It may also provide a reason for customers to choose specific goods and services.