Using Assessments as a guide to team building

As stated in a previous blog post “Discovering Individual Strengths”

Tests

Some qualities can be measured by tests, but others can be discovered only in practice. It is fairly easy to test objective knowledge and skills, but much more difficult to test such intangibles as attitudes, judgment, and motivation. Tests are valuable in identifying individuals with the foundation or training needed as a starting place for development of the special skills required by the organization. Tests, however, must be clearly designed to produce specific information, and they must be given and interpreted by a qualified administrator.

Investing your time, money, and resources into understanding your team can pay dividends in the end. You can gain insight into the strengths of the teams as well as identify the gaps.

As stated in “10 Answer Keys, Communicating with the 5 Generations in the Workplace”

…another key leadership/management skill set is having a sincere interest in which your employees are in their aptitudes and dimensions. In addition, creating an environment or exercise where the employees understand each other at this level. This can melt away generational diversity. Good assessment tools have been designed to address generations, gender, heritage, income backgrounds, etc. It levels the playing field. They also can show where people are overcompensating for their perceived weakness. Examples would be someone who is highly sensitive may come across edgy and sarcastic to cover his hypersensitivity to hurts and harms. Another could be someone who comes across a bit too carefree and que sera sera about life may actually be someone who has a deep need for security and has a strong fear base. Age does not matter in either of these, but awareness is critical.

If the security focused Gen Y individual was outed in an exercise (one that I conduct regularly), the traditionalist in the group may serve as a great mentor. This can melt away the perception that this Gen Y doesn’t care.

If the highly sensitive Boomer realizes that sensitivity can be a plus in business, the generations above and below can respond differently. They may see this person as a crabby and unapproachable. Overcompensation abounds here, with some awareness, understanding, and tools, this situation can be transformed.

Companies that use these tools have benefited by gaining and retaining employees, increasing productivity, strategically hiring quality employees, and ultimately increasing financial profits by using these assessment tools.