10 Best Workplace Personality Tests for Team Building
November 8, 2023Think of your workplace team as a group of different instruments in a band. Each person has a unique role, just like each instrument in a band plays a special part in creating music. But, imagine if the band members didn’t know how to play their instruments or follow the same tune. It would sound like noise instead of music, right?
Understanding the personalities of your team members is like learning how to make beautiful music from these different instruments. It’s important because it helps your team work together smoothly, just like a conductor leads a band to play harmoniously.
So, how do you get to know your team members’ unique tunes? That’s where personality tests in workplaces come in. These tests are like a guide that shows you how each person likes to work and what they’re good at. They help you understand your team members better and use their skills to achieve your team’s goals.
In this journey of discovery, we’ll introduce you to the 10 best workplace personality tests. Think of them as tools that help you understand your team better and make your team stronger. It’s like learning how to lead your musical band to create a beautiful symphony. We’ll explore how these tests play a big role in making your team work well together. So, get ready to learn how to make your workplace a more harmonious and successful place. The stage is set, and it’s time to start the show!
10 Best Workplace Personality Tests for Team Effective Teams
1. Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI): Unveiling Personality Preferences
The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is a widely recognized personality test that categorizes individuals into 16 personality types based on four key dimensions: extraversion or introversion, sensing or intuition, thinking or feeling, and judging or perceiving. In a corporate context, MBTI proves invaluable as it enables team members to comprehend each other’s personality preferences. This understanding facilitates enhanced communication, more effective collaboration, and an appreciation of the diverse problem-solving and decision-making approaches that each team member brings to the table.
For instance, if a team member is identified as an introvert who leans towards thinking and perceiving, this knowledge can be used to create a work environment that aligns with their need for introspection and independence. MBTI as a revered personality test for work environment promotes the celebration and acceptance of these differences, ultimately fostering improved team dynamics and yielding better results.
2. DiSC Assessment: Enhancing Communication Skills
The DiSC Assessment characterizes individuals into four primary behavioral styles: Dominance, Influence, Steadiness, and Conscientiousness, reflecting how people prefer to interact and tackle tasks. In the corporate realm, DiSC acts as a user manual for team members. Understanding the predominant behavioral styles among team members allows for tailored communication and collaboration strategies that align with their preferences. This approach fosters more effective teamwork and equips teams to anticipate potential conflicts and find constructive resolutions.
For instance, if a team member exhibits a Dominant style, knowing this empowers colleagues to engage in more direct communication and offers opportunities for them to take the lead on projects, ultimately enhancing overall team efficiency and cooperation.
3. Big Five Personality Test: A Comprehensive View of Traits
The Big Five Personality Test measures five fundamental personality traits: Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism. These traits provide a comprehensive view of an individual’s personality and help in understanding their behavior in various situations.
In corporate teams, the Big Five offers a rich understanding of team members’ personalities and how they may react to different challenges and opportunities. For instance, if you know a team member has high Agreeableness, you can expect them to be cooperative and diplomatic, making them well-suited for roles that require collaboration and relationship-building.
The Big Five can guide you in forming teams with balanced trait profiles, ensuring a mix of personalities that complement each other and lead to a harmonious and efficient working environment.
4. StrengthsFinder: Leveraging Individual Strengths
StrengthsFinder, or CliftonStrengths, reveals an individual’s top strengths from 34 themes, emphasizing the celebration of one’s strengths rather than focusing on weaknesses. In a corporate context, StrengthsFinder serves as a treasure map to uncover the unique abilities of team members. This knowledge allows for the identification of each person’s dominant strengths and the alignment of their roles and responsibilities with these strengths.
For example, if a team member excels in “Strategic” and “Analytical” strengths, they can be assigned tasks that require a sharp analytical mind and a strategic approach. This not only enhances individual job satisfaction but also boosts overall team effectiveness as everyone operates within their areas of expertise. StrengthsFinder promotes a positive, strengths-oriented approach to team building, highlighting the valuable contributions each team member brings to the table, rather than fixating on weaknesses.
5. Enneagram Personality Test: Navigating Inner Motivations
The Enneagram Personality Test categorizes individuals into nine personality types, each of which has a core motivation and a unique way of approaching life and work. Understanding these core motivations can be incredibly useful for team dynamics.
In a corporate team, the Enneagram can help you uncover what drives each team member. For instance, if you have a team member who is a Type 1, they may be motivated by a desire for perfection and a strong sense of responsibility. Knowing this, you can provide them with tasks that allow them to contribute their meticulousness and sense of duty.
Additionally, the Enneagram can assist teams in recognizing potential sources of stress and conflict. By understanding how each type reacts under pressure, teams can take preventive measures to maintain a positive and productive working environment.
6. Hogan Assessments: Predicting Workplace Behavior
Hogan Assessments focus on predicting how an individual’s personality traits may manifest in the workplace. The assessment consists of three parts: Bright Side, Dark Side, and Inside.
- Bright Side: This part reveals how an individual typically behaves and is often used for hiring and team composition.
- Dark Side: It uncovers potential challenges or negative behaviors that may emerge under stress.
- Inside: This delves into a person’s core values and drivers.
Hogan Assessments play a crucial role in the corporate environment by helping organizations understand potential behaviors and challenges team members may encounter. This insight informs informed hiring decisions, aids in building teams that complement each other, and guides the provision of specific development opportunities for individuals.
For instance, if a team member’s Hogan talent Assessment reveals a tendency toward perfectionism when stressed, the team can proactively address situations that might trigger this behavior and offer support to minimize potential negative impacts on team dynamics.
7. Predictive Index (PI): Building High-Performing Teams
The Predictive Index (PI) focuses on workplace behaviors and cognitive abilities. It’s a tool for matching individuals to roles where they are most likely to succeed. PI provides insights into what drives and motivates team members.
In corporate teams, PI is like having a puzzle where each piece fits perfectly. By understanding the behavioral and cognitive profiles of team members, organizations can create teams that work harmoniously and efficiently. For instance, if a team member has a high “Dominance” factor in their PI profile, they may excel in leadership roles. Knowing this, the team can assign them leadership responsibilities where their strengths will shine.
The Predictive Index fosters a collaborative work environment by ensuring that each team member’s role aligns with their natural tendencies and preferences.
8. Gallup StrengthsFinder: Fostering Employee Engagement
Gallup’s StrengthsFinder, now called CliftonStrengths, identifies an individual’s top strengths among 34 themes. This workplace personality test is designed to increase employee engagement by celebrating and leveraging these strengths.
In corporate teams, Gallup StrengthsFinder is like a recipe for boosting morale and productivity. It encourages team members to focus on what they do best and what they are passionate about. By aligning tasks and roles with these strengths, teams can create a work environment where everyone feels fulfilled and engaged.
For example, if a team member’s top strengths include “Empathy” and “Communication,” they may thrive in roles that involve client interaction or teamwork. Acknowledging and utilizing these strengths can lead to happier, more engaged employees and improved team dynamics.
9. Team Role Inventories (Belbin): Crafting Effective Teams
Belbin Team Role Inventories define specific team roles, such as “Plant,” “Resource Investigator,” and “Coordinator,” which are crucial for creating effective teams in a corporate context. It’s akin to assembling a sports team where each player fulfills a unique role. Balancing these roles ensures that corporate teams possess a diverse range of skill sets, working styles, and strengths, ultimately resulting in well-rounded, high-performing teams.
For instance, a “Plant” team member is typically creative and generates new ideas, while a “Coordinator” excels at organizing and leading the team. Recognizing and assigning these roles helps build teams that comprehensively cover all aspects of a project, preventing oversights. Furthermore, Belbin fosters more effective communication within teams, as members appreciate the significance of each role and collaborate cohesively.
10. 16Personalities (Based on Jung’s Typology): Unveiling Cognitive Functions
16Personalities, inspired by Carl Jung’s typology, categorizes individuals into 16 distinct personality types and delves into cognitive functions, providing insights into their information processing, decision-making, and worldview. In a corporate context, 16Personalities offers a detailed understanding of team members’ cognitive preferences, allowing for strategic task assignments based on their strengths. This approach enhances work efficiency and satisfaction by aligning team members with activities that suit their natural inclinations.
Furthermore, comprehending cognitive functions promotes effective communication, enabling team members to tailor their messages to resonate with their colleagues’ cognitive preferences, resulting in clearer and more engaging interactions within the corporate team.
Benefits of Personality Tests in the Workplace
Workplace personality tests and pre-employment personality tests have become increasingly popular in the workplace for a variety of reasons. One of the main benefits is that they can help employers make better hiring decisions. By understanding a candidate’s personality traits and strengths, employers can determine if they are a good fit for the role and the company culture. Personality tests for employees can also be used to improve team dynamics by identifying potential conflicts and finding ways to resolve them. Additionally, these tests can help employees better understand themselves and their colleagues, leading to improved communication and collaboration. Overall, personality tests can be a valuable tool for creating a more productive and harmonious workplace.
