Whenever I look at something, I ask myself two questions. Firstly, is it interesting? Secondly, is it useful? While interesting is good, interesting isn’t always fruitful and it is unlikely to create an impact on your organisation. When I find something that is both interesting and useful, however, I immediately start thinking of ways I can implement it into my business to ensure that I get the best possible outcomes.
For me, Psychometric testing is a subject that is both interesting and extremely useful. Used to measure a person’s ability, personality, interests and aptitude, Psychometric testing has become a part of the recruitment process at many schools, hospitals and businesses in the UK. The question is, how can the results of this type of testing be used to ensure that you get the most from your team?
Psychometric testing is interesting because it allows you to reflect on yourself, understand who you are and why you make the decisions that you do. It becomes really useful when you use the information that you have learnt about yourself and apply it to the people around you. Psychometric testing allows you to see how your personality effects the people you work with, your leadership style and the overall impact of your actions.
Psychometric testing becomes useful when you realise that what you do with the information allows you to approach your workforce in a way that will ensure that you get the best out of them.
In his book, 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen Covey talks about how communication is the most important life skill we ever learn. We spend time learning to speak, read and write, but no one ever teaches us how to truly listen and understand the people around us. Covey’s fifth habit, Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood, questions why we’re so keen to get our own point across that we prepare our responses without really paying attention to what other people are actually saying. I believe that Psychometric testing can be used to help us be understood.
If, for example, you were to introduce a new initiative within your department, it is important to think about how the changes will impact on the various members of your team and use their personality types to help them. For instance, if there is a member of your team who thrives on stats, provide them with the information they need. If another member of the team is more dynamic and acts on impulse, it is important that they are monitored and made accountable for their actions to ensure the initiative is introduced smoothly.
It may seem difficult at times, but when a leader ensures that everyone’s needs are met, the systems put in place will be more sustainable and successful.
Here at PBR Education, we understand that getting the most from your team has a direct impact on pupils, which is why we offer Psychometric testing. What’s more, our training session, Psychometrics – Understanding your team to get the best from them, will give you a much deeper understanding of Psychometric testing.
During the training session, delegates will undergo a Psychometric test to discover their personality type and get an idea of who they are before learning about the other personality types and how this information can be used to get the most out of their teams.
For more information on our training sessions visit http://www.pbreducation.co.uk/events.php
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