I love assessments for both personal and professional development. The insights gained can quickly lead you to personal responsibility and growth without wasting a lot of time and energy wondering where in the heck your efforts should be focused.
I remember the first time I took the Winslow Behavioral Assessment through a Franklin Covey coaching program... I quickly had a snapshot of where I was at the time and “Oh my gosh....” because I was slightly burned-out, it definitely wasn’t where I wanted to be!
Finally though I had a tool, a blueprint identifying where I wanted/needed to change some of my negative (cynicism is so tiring) behaviors, and also a new appreciation of a few of my newly discovered strengths.
Remember, sometimes all “behavioral” parts are well oiled and working smoothly. Other times there may be areas that you need to focus on and develop to help overcome an obstacle or learning curve.
Stew Friedman in the HBR article "The Power of Preventive Assessment" tells us.
Many of us wait until we're sick to see a doctor. However, preventive medical assessments have been shown to improve health, save lives, and reduce medical costs. Prevention can be beneficial to leadership assessments, too. Often people are asked to see a coach or participate in a 360 when troubles surface. Yet, time and money (not to mention headaches) could be saved if leaders underwent thorough assessments before problems arose.
My encouragement is to use assessments and the feedback they provide wisely.... Pay attention to what the results are telling you and be willing to modify so that you can grow both personally and professionally.
When I look back at my original Winslow Report results now, I simply smile... I’m so glad I took the assessment years ago, and I’m so grateful for the person it has helped me to become. It definitely would have taken me much longer to adjust myself without its feedback.
** And no the graph above is not my first Winslow Assessment... it is my mid-term results :-)
Take the plunge yourself Individual Self-Improvement Report
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