Workplace Personality Test

Knowing an individual’s Big 5 personality traits can help identify what type of worker the person is. Big 5 personality traits include Conscientiousness, Emotional Stability, Extraversion, Openness, and Agreeableness.

Conscientiousness is a trait that has big influence on your performance. People high on conscientiousness are usually orderly and more self-disciplined. People with high emotional stability are better at dealing with workplace conflict and fast-paced, unexpected change. Extroverted people tend to take charge of situations, while people high in openness are usually more adaptable. Agreeable people generally tend to follow the rules and are more compromising.

Strengths are personality traits that one is “naturally” good at. Strengths include - for example - curiosity, social intelligence, courage, grit, adaptability. On the other hand, soft skills, like any other skills, are something you can learn and improve through repetition. Soft skills are traits that are essential for interacting with others and succeeding in the workplace. Examples of soft skills include time management, communication skills, negotiation, leadership aptitude, bias to action.

One’s professional strengths are closely linked to their personality traits. Thus, you can identify your strengths in the workplace by learning your personality type. The Myers–Briggs Type Indicator in the workplace is very popular among corporations but very unpopular, and considered invalid, by psychologists. The most empirically validated and useful personality assessment is the Big Five (OCEAN) model which provides a scientific, psychometric tool for assessing personality traits both in personal life and at work, which our free online assessment is based on.

Soft skills at work are tightly linked to personality traits. For instance, conscientiousness implies good organizational skills, time management, being on time, setting timeframes for completing work, and sticking to them. Openness is related to creativity, openness to criticism and differing opinions of colleagues, which is good for conflict management. Agreeableness implies higher levels of cooperation, teamwork, and ease in following instructions. Extraverted people are good at communicating and negotiating with colleagues and clients and tend to have strong leadership skills. Emotional stability involves strong stress management skills and coping abilities.

Strengths in the workplace are linked to personality traits. Examples of strengths implied by conscientiousness are being hardworking, dependable, and responsible. As for openness, it's curiosity, a wide range of interests, independence, and innovativeness. Agreeableness means being helpful, trusting, empathetic, and cooperative. Being extraverted implies proactiveness, imitativeness, sociability, and risk-taking. Emotional stability means self-confidence and being easygoing.

Personality tests can provide some insights into an individual's tendencies and preferences, but their effectiveness depends on several factors. The validity of a personality test can depend on the quality of its design and the extent to which it accurately measures the constructs it purports to measure. Tests that are based on sound psychological theory, are properly validated, and are administered and interpreted by trained professionals can be more effective in predicting behavior and performance.

Using personality tests in the workplace can be highly beneficial for both employees and organizations. By taking an empathetic approach and understanding the reasons behind their use, we can appreciate the value they bring to the work environment.

Self-awareness: they can help employees gain insight into their own strengths, weaknesses, and preferences. This increased self-awareness allows them to better understand their work styles and areas for improvement, contributing to personal growth and development.

Improved communication: understanding one's own personality traits and those of colleagues can foster more effective communication. When employees are aware of each other's preferences and tendencies, they can adapt their communication styles accordingly, leading to better collaboration and reduced misunderstandings.

Team building: tests can help managers and team leaders identify the unique strengths and skillsets of their team members. This knowledge can be used to assign tasks that align with individual strengths, creating a more balanced and efficient team dynamic.

Conflict resolution: by understanding the personality traits and communication styles of team members, conflicts can be resolved more effectively. Recognizing the root causes of disagreements and acknowledging differences in perspectives can lead to more harmonious working relationships.

Engagement: when employees feel understood and appreciated for their unique traits, they are more likely to be engaged and satisfied with their work. Personality tests can help organizations create an inclusive environment that values diversity and leverages the unique skills of each employee.