#TLDR: #SelfAssessment Tools and how to use them effectively
Many self-assessment tools are available online - many free, and some that have a fee. These differ in their focus and scope. How should one use these self-assessments? Which one is the best, and how can one work for you?
I like to think of self-assessments as mirrors - they show you something about yourself. The image they hold up is partial, and depending on your frame of mind while answering the questions, may be more or less accurate. But at their best, self-assessments tell you something about yourself - your strengths and weaknesses, preferences, biases, character traits, behaviors and styles.
For this reason, it is a good idea to look at the results of your self-assessment more than once, and in a relaxed, unhurried state of mind. Doing so will help you evaluate yourself honestly and increase awareness of your operating beliefs, values, interests, drives and tendencies. You can use this knowledge as an input in understanding your career preferences and trajectory, or to make sense of your relationships, explore different behaviors, or put a new habit in place. In the long run, self-assessments can help kick-start or refresh a practice of self-reflection and self-monitoring.
Below are some of the many self-assessment tools available online. Do tell us about your experiences with these and other self-assessments in the comments below!
1. Adam Grant has some quizzes based on his books; in his words, they 'offer a window into your styles of thinking and interacting': https://www.adamgrant.net/quizzes/
2. Grant has also worked with others to create a tool to help identify our personality archetypes, reflect on, and learn from the results: https://principlesyou.com/
3. This test is based on the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. While there are several versions available online, here is a free test: https://www.16personalities.com/free-personality-test
4. Another popular assessment is the Enneagram of Personalities, a typology of nine interconnected personality types: https://www.truity.com/test/enneagram-personality-test
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