Interpersonal Traits:

"How I Interact With People"

Recognition:

Proper, cooperative, courteous, accommodating, considerate, polite, respectful. Have a strong desire to be viewed as a socially desirable person by friends, coworkers and others. Try to do things correctly and meet the expectations of others. Want their accomplishments to be recognized and rewarded.

Recognition:

Influential (Score 8-9-10 = High):

You have a strong need to be viewed as a socially desirable person to friends, co-workers and most others. You need approval and recognition, and are very concerned about your reputation. A large part of your drive to achieve is the acknowledgment you will receive as a result of your accomplishments.

Defining Adjectives: proper, well-behaved, cooperative, courteous, pleasant, considerate, mannerly, polite, respectful, agreeable, obliging, accommodating. This trait is an asset because your desire to do the right thing and to meet the social expectations of others motivates you to behave appropriately in most situations.

Related Traits: High scores in Conscientiousness, Coachability, Nurturance, Composure, Self-confidence, Control, Contentment, Sociability, Trust, and Flexibility will enhance your ability to be viewed by others as desirable. Low scores in these same traits will diminish the positive aspects of your personality and behavior.

Career: This attitude will benefit you in your career, as you try to focus on doing your work correctly in order to gain respect and recognition from managers and peers. Management can rely on you to behave appropriately with customers and co-workers.

Social: Friends and family know you will be socially proper, considerate of others and make a good impression. You will make every effort to avoid drawing attention to yourself in a negative way. How friends, acquaintances and even strangers view and respect you, is very important to you.

Suggestions:

1. Make certain your words and actions are sincere, and not solely attempts to manage the impression you make. Be cautious that your desire to be well-liked does not prevent you from making decisions or taking action that may be unpopular, but necessary.
2. Social recognition is usually a positive characteristic. However, to allow it to dominate your life could result in losing your individuality, spontaneity and creativity. Be cautious not to be excessively motivated by what others may want from you or think about you.
3. Examine your values and behavior to determine if you are currently benefiting from this characteristic. Make sure that you do not place the opinions of others ahead of your own internal sense of what is right.

Conscientious:

Influential (Score 1-2-3 = Low):

You are a self-centered person who is motivated primarily by what you want and what is good for you. You take a rather casual approach to your commitments and obligations to others, and lack the dedication required for many undertakings.

Defining Adjectives: self-centered, nonchalant, casual, self-indulgent, conceited and possibly selfish. This trait is a concern because you do not have a strong sense of your obligation to keep commitments, and often place your desires before those of others. This lack of dependability could prevent you from meeting the demands of your career or social life.

Related Traits: Low scores in the traits of Recognition, Sociability, Nurturance, Coachability, Responsibility, Trust, and/or Contentment will further decrease your Conscientiousness. High scores in these same traits will motivate you to be more conscientious than indicated.

Career: You have a strong tendency to do what you want to do, and readily change things to suit your own purposes. Employers rarely give authority to individuals who lack dedication and commitment, and who do not follow necessary, established guidelines. You frequently place your personal interests before career obligations which could negatively influence your performance and opportunities for advancement.

Social: In social situations you can be demanding of others and yet show very little concern about them. Chances are you do not normally respect the rights of others and may take advantage of them. You are late for appointments more frequently than most, which can be annoying to others and ultimately detrimental to you. This characteristic may offend many people and cause them to avoid socializing with you.

Suggestions:

1. Most likely you have long term issues with authority and are basically a rebellious person. Past experiences of being taken advantage of or being betrayed may have caused you to develop your current attitude as a method of self-protection. Your first goal should be to allow yourself to be open to the benefits of cooperation, commitment and trust.
2. Review your commitment to your organization, group and co-workers. It is essential to realize that you have made a personal decision to join your organization and that all organizations require discipline. By choosing to participate you automatically accept certain obligations.
3. Analyze which rules you are most likely to break or ignore. If they seem unnecessary, discuss them with your manager. Try to understand and accept that most rules have a meaningful purpose.

Conscientious:

Influential (Score 1-2-3 = Low):

You are a self-centered person who is motivated primarily by what you want and what is good for you. You take a rather casual approach to your commitments and obligations to others, and lack the dedication required for many undertakings.

Defining Adjectives: self-centered, nonchalant, casual, self-indulgent, conceited and possibly selfish. This trait is a concern because you do not have a strong sense of your obligation to keep commitments, and often place your desires before those of others. This lack of dependability could prevent you from meeting the demands of your career or social life.

Related Traits: Low scores in the traits of Recognition, Sociability, Nurturance, Coachability, Responsibility, Trust, and/or Contentment will further decrease your Conscientiousness. High scores in these same traits will motivate you to be more conscientious than indicated.

Career: You have a strong tendency to do what you want to do, and readily change things to suit your own purposes. Employers rarely give authority to individuals who lack dedication and commitment, and who do not follow necessary, established guidelines. You frequently place your personal interests before career obligations which could negatively influence your performance and opportunities for advancement.

Social: In social situations you can be demanding of others and yet show very little concern about them. Chances are you do not normally respect the rights of others and may take advantage of them. You are late for appointments more frequently than most, which can be annoying to others and ultimately detrimental to you. This characteristic may offend many people and cause them to avoid socializing with you.

Suggestions:

1. Most likely you have long term issues with authority and are basically a rebellious person. Past experiences of being taken advantage of or being betrayed may have caused you to develop your current attitude as a method of self-protection. Your first goal should be to allow yourself to be open to the benefits of cooperation, commitment and trust.
2. Review your commitment to your organization, group and co-workers. It is essential to realize that you have made a personal decision to join your organization and that all organizations require discipline. By choosing to participate you automatically accept certain obligations.
3. Analyze which rules you are most likely to break or ignore. If they seem unnecessary, discuss them with your manager. Try to understand and accept that most rules have a meaningful purpose.

Exhibition:

Exhibitionistic, entertaining, demonstrative, expressive, flamboyant, colorful, dramatic. Have a strong desire to be the center of attention and to have an audience. Will use words, actions and possessions to draw attention to themselves. Sometimes this behavior can be inappropriate or over-whelming depending upon their timing and tact.

Exhibition:

Influential (Score 8-9-10 = High):

You have a strong desire to be the center of attention and will usually go out of your way to have others notice you. Rarely are you merely "one of the crowd," since it is your style to conduct yourself in such a manner to be noticed.

Defining Adjectives: entertaining, demonstrative, expressive, flamboyant, colorful, dramatic, flashy, possibly ostentatious or pretentious. This trait is an asset if your attention-seeking behavior is appropriate for the situation. If your exhibitionist behavior is inappropriate or offensive, this trait could be a concern.

Related Traits: High scores in Self-confidence, Boldness, Recognition, Sociability, Assertiveness, Responsibility, Coachability, Control, Contentment, Conscientiousness, Nurturance, Alertness, and Creativity will enhance your behavior when entertaining others or attempting to become the focus of attention. Low scores in these traits will moderate your dramatic behavior or cause your efforts to be ineffective, inappropriate or even offensive.

Career: Because of your exhibitionistic behavior, you will enjoy careers that allow you to be demonstrative, such as management, sales and training. Since your behavior causes you to stand out from others, managers and clients are more likely to notice you and your talents.

Social: This trait should be an asset in your personal life because it can add an entertaining dimension to relationships and social activities. However, if overdone or inappropriate for the situation, it may create problems and lead to your being socially ostracized . . . timing is most important.

Suggestions:

1. Analyze the effect your extroversion is having on your career, management, and co-workers. Be open to feedback on the impact of your attention-seeking behavior.
2. Determine if you are coming on too strong, or drawing attention to yourself at the expense of others. Do not make others the victims your jokes or demean them in order to draw attention to yourself. Perhaps you are offending others without realizing you are doing so.
3. If your exhibitionism is appropriate and productive, try to find environments in which it enhances your effectiveness in your career and personal life.

Nurturance:

Compassionate, sympathetic, kindhearted, benevolent, caring, protective, charitable. Very nurturing individuals who provide compassion and support to others. Readily communicate their concern for the well-being of others and express their willingness to do whatever they can to assist others. May take on the problems of others inappropriately.

Nurturance:

Influential (Score 1-2-3 = Low):

You are usually insensitive to the emotional needs of others and are reluctant to listen to their problems, to be supportive and helpful.

Defining Adjectives: unsympathetic, unfeeling, dispassionate, unconcerned, inattentive, cold. This trait is a potential concern because others may refrain from interacting with you because of your unsympathetic attitude. This could limit your opportunities for career and personal growth.

Related Traits: Low scores in the traits of Conscientiousness, Recognition, Sociability, Trust, Leadership, Contentment, and/or Control will further diminish your Nurturance. High scores in these same characteristics will enhance your willingness to be compassionate and supportive.

Career: You may miss out on positions involving responsibility for others, since you do not show concern for those reporting to you. Others, in turn, may withhold their support of you because of your indifference toward their needs for sympathy and support. If you are in a customer service role you may not convey to customers the level of interest they require.

Social: Low Nurturance is of particular concern in social situations since positive interpersonal relationships require mutual emotional support. Your inability or reluctance to be nurturing can seriously hinder your opportunities for close relationships. This is particularly true for those individuals in your life who are emotionally dependent.

Suggestions:

1. You currently do not realize when others are in need of your compassion and support. Analyze the behavior of the significant individuals in your life to determine who frequently desires or needs your support. Once you know who needs and wants your help, and how they go about asking for it, you will be more aware and, hopefully, more responsive.
2. Be alert to those situations in which others are seeking your attention and support. Try listening to their needs and attempting to provide the emotional support they desire, even though it is not natural for you to do so. You may begin by asking them what it is that they want from you.
3. Individuals who do not respond well to the emotional needs of others have frequently had their own emotional needs not met in their past. Determine if your emotional distance is connected to some personal rejection or disappointment that you experienced. Focus on not letting past trauma to dominate your present behavior and relationships.

Organizational Traits:

"How I Handle Tasks and Responsibilities"

Structure:

Meticulous, exacting, precise, definite, perfectionistic, fastidious, exacting, planful. Have highly structured thinking processes. Have the ability to structure their thinking and organize their thoughts effectively. Carefully plan and organize activities and make few mistakes. This structure, however, may limit their creativity.

Structure:

Influential (Score 8-9-10 = High):

You are a person with highly structured thought processes and require precise and complete information. You have the ability to structure your thinking and to organize your thoughts and actions very effectively.

Defining Adjectives: meticulous, exacting, precise, definite, systematic, perfectionistic, fussy, fastidious, planful, organized, possibly hypercritical and rigid. This is a valuable asset because your organization and thoroughness enhance your decision-making processes. However, it could be a concern if you become excessively regimented and rigid in your approach to life.

Related Traits: High scores in Order, Alertness, Endurance, Self-confidence, Control, Conscientiousness, Flexibility and Responsibility will enhance your cognitive Structure. Low scores in these same traits, a 10 in Assertiveness, or a low score in Creativity will reduce your effectiveness.

Career: Your discipline and exactitude can make the difference between success or failure on many projects. Your attention to details and organizational capacity can motivate coworkers to be more precise in their work. You should excel in situations that require high levels of organization.

Social: Your ability to organize and plan activities can help others and should serve as a model for them. You do not often make mistakes in social situations. You try to know and understand others, rather than accept surface impressions.

Suggestions:

1. Identify your areas of primary personal interest and concentrate your organizational and planning capabilities on them.
2. A high need for structure is an asset in most career situations, but a liability in some. Set aside time to carefully consider the compatibility between your need for structure and the behavioral requirements of your current career.
3. Be aware that a score of ten may indicate extreme rigidity and perfectionism, which could be detrimental in some career situations and personal situations.

Order:

Methodical, tidy, orderly, neat, clean, organized, systematic. Constantly strive to maintain physical order in their environment and have a strong dislike for disorder and clutter. For them to be comfortable, both their career and personal environments should reflect this physical order.

Order:

Influential (Score 8-9-10 = High):

You constantly strive to maintain physical order in your environment and have a strong dislike for disorganization. For you to be comfortable, both your career and social environments should reflect this physical order.

Defining Adjectives: orderly, methodical, tidy, neat, clean, thorough, organized, deliberate, systematic. This characteristic is an asset because a high degree of orderliness saves time, effort and usually results in increased effectiveness.

Related Traits: High scores in Structure, Alertness, Conscientiousness, Recognition, Responsibility, Endurance, Self-confidence, Autonomy, Coachability, Control, and Flexibility will enhance your ability to organize your environment. Low scores in these same traits will diminish your effectiveness in organizing your possessions and things.

Career: By keeping your work environment neat and orderly, you are more effective. Your systematic methods allow for the maximum utilization of your time and also enhance job performance. Your concern for order and organization should provide additional opportunities for advancement in your career.

Social: Your tidy and well-ordered manner probably makes a good "first impression" on those whom you meet socially. Others are probably willing to loan you their possessions because they are confident you will take good care of them.  Orderly people will be more inclined to socialize with you.

Suggestions:

1. Seek out career opportunities and projects that require a disciplined environment and organizational efficiency. Think of specific ways you can use this trait to positively influence your other personal traits.
2. Be aware that your focus on an orderly environment could make you somewhat rigid and inflexible and could limit your enjoyment of spontaneous events and opportunities.  Your orderliness could irritate and alienate those close to you who are not as orderly as you.
3. If your score is a 10, be careful not to waste time and effort by being excessively neat or perfectionistic when that level of order is not required. Also, be aware of your inclination to turn simple organizing tasks into major, complex projects.

Creativity:

Innovative, inquisitive, artistic, curious, experimenting, theoretical. Have an experimental approach to life, with a strong desire to make improvements and create new ways of doing things. Frequently discontent with the way things are and spend much time thinking about how they could be improved.

Creativity:

Influential (Score 1-2-3 = Low):

You are a practical, rather than creative person. One who is concerned with immediate interests and guided by objective realities. When completing tasks, you can be so practical that at times you are uncreative or unimaginative.

Defining Adjectives: conventional, pragmatic, logical, "down-to-earth," practical, systematic, realistic. This trait is an asset in many situations because your practical attitude enables you to focus on what is immediately important. However, if your career requires creativity or involves frequent innovations, this trait will serve as a concern.

Related Traits: Low scores in the traits of Flexibility, Self-confidence, Structure, Alertness, Trust, Ambition, Boldness, Autonomy, and/or Composure will reduce your Creativity. High scores in these same characteristics will improve your Creativity.

Career: Employers value employees who are able to concentrate on the priorities of the organization. Your logical approach to solving problems helps you to attain realistic solutions, and you are able to focus on your responsibilities, regardless of the distractions you encounter. However, if your career requires you to be creative or innovative, this trait can be a concern.

Social: Since you are more practical, than creative, you probably make good decisions, which will cause others to seek your opinions. Your judgment and awareness of the practical needs of others should also make you a valued friend. You may find yourself incompatible with those in your life who are extremely creative.  You will enjoy the companionship of others who are more practical than creative.

Suggestions:

1. Rather than attempt to become creative, focus instead on becoming more innovative. Explore how you can improve on existing products, services, procedures, etc. Also, think about how you can modify or enhance the creations and ideas of others.
2. Since you are driven to do the right thing at the right time, your focus on details could cause you to be unimaginative. Be alert to recognize when you are automatically doing something in a routine way and explore if there are other, better ways to do the task.
3. Set a goal of taking one adventure every week, by doing something you have never done, such as approaching a problem in a new manner, spending time with new people, doing a new activity, etc.

Dedication Traits:

"The Fundamental Motivators of My Personality"

Coachability:

Cooperative, dependable, compliant, responsive, respectful, considerate, obliging, accommodating, devoted, loyal. Have respect for managers and the management process. Believe that direction, feedback and even criticism are crucial to career development. Strive to meet their managers' demands and will respect other authority figures.

Coachability:

Influential (Score 8-9-10 = High):

You are an individual who shows respect for managers and the management process. You also respect other authority figures and willingly accept direction from them.

Defining Adjectives: cooperative, dependable, responsive, respectful, considerate, compliant, accommodating, devoted, loyal, and dutiful. This characteristic is an asset because your receptivity to leadership and suggestions for development will assist you in attaining your potential.

Related Traits: High scores in the traits of Trust, Responsibility Conscientiousness, Recognition, Contentment, Flexibility, Sociability and Tough-mindedness will enhance your behavior in this characteristic. Low scores on any of these traits and/or high scores on Assertiveness or Autonomy indicate that you may not be as Coachable in some situations, or with some leaders.

Career: Responsiveness to management, and confidence in their actions and policies, is very important in most organizations. Organizations value employees who are receptive to direction and willing to work as a team to achieve goals and objectives. Management can rely on you to be very receptive to their direction and guidance.

Social: Respect for authority figures in one's personal live usually results in more harmony and fewer problems. Your respect for teachers, coaches, religious and organizational leaders, and other authority figures serves as good examples for others. Your Coachability makes you more receptive to suggestions to improve your skills and to avoid repeating mistakes.

Suggestions:

1. In your desire to satisfy your manager, be careful not to take action without a complete understanding of what is expected from you. Make certain you have the information required to perform the task or carry out the assignment; if not, ask questions.
2. There is a danger in becoming excessively reliant on your managers and others for advice, praise and guidance. Be cautious not to become excessively reliant on authority figures for guidance and direction. Whenever appropriate, think and act on your own, and express your ideas and opinions more openly.
3. In your desire to function as a cooperative team member, do not stifle your capacity to make independent decisions, or lose your initiative to challenge ideas with which you do not agree.

Self-Control Traits:

"My Level of Emotional Maturity and Stress Management"

Self-Confidence:

Self-assured, certain, secure, brave, fulfilled, poised, self-reliant. Believe they have the knowledge and ability to be successful at whatever they attempt. Cope successfully with challenges and are not easily discouraged. Handle unexpected situations well, make decisions with assurance, and are quick to express ideas and opinions.

Self-Confidence:

Influential (Score 8-9-10 = High):

You are a very confident individual who believes that you have the knowledge and ability to be successful at whatever you attempt.

Defining Adjectives: self-assured, confident, certain, secure, brave, fulfilled, poised. This trait is an asset because you are not hampered by self-doubts and are able to concentrate on achieving your tasks and goals.

Related Traits: High scores in Conscientiousness, Recognition, Coachability, Responsibility, Alertness, Structure, Autonomy, Control, and Trust will enhance the positive aspects of this characteristic. Low scores in these traits, plus low scores in Assertiveness, Boldness, and/or Composure, will amplify the negative aspects of Self-confidence.

Career: You are able to accomplish goals in your career which others find difficult to even attempt. Regardless of how tough a project might be, you are convinced you have the knowledge and ability to do it. This confidence makes possible career success that might not otherwise occur.

Social: You are not hindered by fear when meeting or interacting with others. You impress others with your self-assurance, and provide strength for your family and friends. However, this attitude could cause you to be insensitive to the approval or disapproval of others.

Suggestions:

1. Make certain that you maintain the knowledge and skills required to back up your Self-confidence. However, be careful not to assume that you are always right, and be alert to the possibility of evoking quarrels and disturbances when individuals or groups do not agree with you.
2. Look for opportunities to put this aspect of your personality to use. Since your positive attitude can be helpful to others, feel free to express it openly to assist co-workers during times of stress or transition. Encourage them to accept challenges and tasks they normally would not have the confidence to attempt.
3. Be sure to avoid complacency by making certain that you continue to improve upon the knowledge and skills that is the foundation for your Self-confidence. Monitor any tendencies you may have to become overconfident or argumentative.

Tough-Mindedness:

Resilient, realistic, unsentimental, tough-minded, durable, hard, possibly insensitive and callous. Can function normally in difficult and unpleasant situations. Not deterred by obstacles, disappointments or setbacks. Can accept strong criticism, do not become easily upset, and recover quickly when things go wrong. Do not need excessive praise or encouragement from others.

Tough-Mindedness:

Influential (Score 8-9-10 = High):

You are a tough-minded person who can function normally in difficult or unpleasant situations, and you are not deterred by obstacles, disappointments or setbacks.

Defining Adjectives: resilient, hard, tough, realistic, possibly callous. This is an asset because you are able to function without interference from your emotions, and can quickly recover from disappointments and failures.

Related Traits: High scores in Coachability, Self-confidence, Composure, Sociability, Conscientiousness, Nurturance, and Flexibility, will enhance the positive aspects of this trait. Low scores in these traits and low scores in Endurance, Boldness, and Autonomy will amplify the negative aspects of Tough-mindedness.

Career: This trait enables you to effectively handle the difficult conditions and circumstances confronted in your career. Employers can rely on you to cope with grueling situations and disappointments. You usually act on practical, logical information, rather than whims or impulses, and realistically deal with career challenges and problems.

Social: Your feelings are not easily hurt by the words or actions of others. Rarely do you depend upon others for support and encouragement when the going gets tough. You are able to handle difficult family or personal situations quite well. However, scores of 9 or 10 in this trait may indicate insensitivity to the emotional needs of others.

Suggestions:

1. This trait could cause you to be inconsiderate when dealing with sensitive individuals and delicate situations. Be aware of this possibility when relating to the more sensitive people in your life. Be on guard you do not come across as blunt, callous or uncaring. Keep in mind there is a subtle but vital difference between tough-mindedness and insensitivity.
2. As one who always faces situations realistically, be prepared for others to turn to you in a crisis. Use your steadiness to reinforce the group and reassure others who are less able to cope with difficult situations.
3. Use your ability to respond positively to difficult challenges, unpleasant circumstances and setbacks, to help bolster the morale of those around you. Develop an ability to listen to others and be aware of how others are reacting to your behavior in this trait.

Objectivity:

Objectivity measures whether you provided objective, unbiased answers to the assessment questions. Scores below 23 result in an invalid profile.

Accuracy:

The accuracy score reflects how well you paid attention while taking the profile, and if you can read English at a ninth grade level. Scores below 25 are considered "inaccurate" resulting in an invalid profile.