You’ve been asked by someone at work to take a personality test before the next team meeting. You sit down to take it before the deadline, but you’re tired, your to-do list is spiralling, and someone just reheated fish in the office microwave. Naturally, this feels like the perfect moment to reflect on the core of who you are… But maybe it’s not.
It’s tempting to assume that a personality assessment will hand you a perfectly wrapped summary of who you are; something fixed, final, and ready to file away. But even the best assessments, like Personality Dimensions®, can only reflect the information you provide. If what you’re bringing to the table is “I haven’t slept properly all week, I just argued with a customer, and I skipped lunch,” you’re probably not operating from a place of clarity and insight. You’re probably answering from your stress response, or your coping strategy, or the version of you that shows up when everything feels like a little too much. That version of you might still be part of the whole picture, but it’s definitely not the part you want front and centre when defining your personality style.
Take a moment and think about how differently you respond to the same question on a good day versus one that’s not going so great. On a calm, well-fed, well-rested day, you might describe yourself as flexible and collaborative, but if you’re feeling chaotic and running on fumes, you might start leaning into structure, order, and “just tell me what to do so I can get home and unwind.” Neither answer is wrong, but one is a reflection your temporary state of mind more than your natural preferences.
When you read through your results at a later date, and realize that it isn’t describing you at all, it doesn’t mean the results aren’t valid; it just means you should take them with a grain of salt if you were filling out the assessment in the middle of an off day. The real insight shows up in the workshop that follows, where you get to interact with others, test your results, and take part in activities that dig a little deeper. One of the most valuable parts of the experience is seeing how the different colours show up in other people. This is why the workshop is just as important as the assessment itself.
Over the years, I’ve heard people complain about why they have to participate in a whole workshop, when they’ve got the results of their personality test printed out in front of them; and it’s not just the Introverted Inquiring Greens. Once they get involved and see Personality Dimensions® play out in real time, their attitude tends to shift, and the biggest skeptics end up being the ones who buy-in the most.
The Brightening exercises, give you a chance to explore not just your strongest preference, but how your other colours play a role in your life. This is when those famous “aha” moments happen. Maybe you thought you were a strong Authentic Blue because you care about people, but then you see how others in that group respond emotionally, and you realize your connection to people shows up in a more Organized Gold kind of way. Or you’ve always described yourself as logical and fact-driven like an Inquiring Green, but when you get into the Resourceful Orange group, you finally feel seen. Those realizations don’t always come from the report alone; They come from those real-time moments where something someone says makes you go, “wait… that’s me!”
It’s easy to forget how much your day-to-day role shapes how you see yourself. If you have to put a certain colour forward every day, that can influence how you interpret the questions on an assessment. If you’re answering from the lens of your job or family responsibilities, you might miss some of the traits that show up when you’re off the clock. That’s why Personality Dimensions® looks at you as a whole person, not just who you are at work, or who you are under pressure.
The next time you’re asked to take a personality assessment, give yourself the best chance at a result that actually feels like you. Take it when you’re in a relatively neutral headspace; not overly stressed, not hangry, not five minutes before a deadline. Close your browser tabs, take a breath, and maybe grab a Snickers. Treat it like you would any other thoughtful process, and you’ll get the most out of it
Brad Whitehorn – BA, CCDP is a lifelong Introvert, and the Associate Director at CLSR Inc. He was thrown into the career development field headfirst after completing a Communications degree in 2005, and hasn’t looked back! Since then, Brad has worked on the development, implementation and certification for various career and personality assessments (including Personality Dimensions®), making sure that Career Development Practitioners and HR Professionals get the right tools to do their best work. Brad is also on the board of directors for the Career Professionals of Canada, and an advisory committee member with the Career Development Professionals of Ontario.
2 Responses
Spot on, Brad! I often share with teams I coach that any assessment will only tell you what path you’re currently walking. We can use the results as a gauge to help us decide if we wish to continue on that path or shift into a new direction.
Brad, this is such a thoughtful reminder that personality assessments are just a snapshot in time. I love how you highlight the value of self-awareness, the workshop experience, and seeing ourselves through different lenses. It’s a great reminder that who we are is more dynamic than a single moment or mood.