{"id":57834,"date":"2022-01-07T19:04:52","date_gmt":"2022-01-07T23:04:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/?p=57834"},"modified":"2022-01-13T19:53:23","modified_gmt":"2022-01-13T23:53:23","slug":"benefits-of-personality-tests","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/benefits-of-personality-tests\/","title":{"rendered":"The Benefits of Personality Tests in the Workplace"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Are there any benefits to taking a personality test? How can understanding different personality types help you become a better communicator<\/a>?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While not all psychologists agree with the benefits of personality tests, Thomas Erikson (the author of Surrounded by Idiots<\/em>) believes that personality type knowledge is power. Erikson says that understanding the personality types of others is like understanding another language.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Continue reading for the benefits and uses of personality tests<\/a>, particularly in the workplace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Why This Knowledge Is Power<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

How will knowing your personality and others\u2019 help you in business and communication? According to Erikson, the short answer is that all communication happens in the listener\u2019s language, not yours. <\/strong>He argues that by learning how to communicate in the listener\u2019s language, or style, you\u2019ll become a better teammate and leader within your organization.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You Will Learn Other \u201cLanguages\u201d<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Erikson says that one of the greatest challenges of communication is how little control the speaker has over what the listener hears.<\/strong> Think of each color or personality type as having its own language. If you\u2019re not speaking in the listener\u2019s language, he will not understand you. However, Erikson asserts that if you adjust your behavior and communication style to the listener\u2019s way of hearing, your intended message will be more accurately communicated. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Erikson doesn\u2019t claim to have the silver bullet for effective communication. Rather, he says this book aims to educate the reader enough to avoid major blunders when it comes to communication basics.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Shortform note: Learning how to effectively listen<\/em> is equally as valuable as learning how to speak<\/em> in another person\u2019s \u201clanguage.\u201d One strategy for engaging in active listening is to ask thoughtful questions<\/a> that solicit detailed answers. People are usually willing to go deeper with their answers and share more information if they trust that you haven\u2019t already made up your mind about the topic. As a result, you might receive additional information that can open your mind and strengthen your relationship.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You Will Become a Better Teammate and Leader<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One of the biggest benefits of personality tests is that you will learn to become a better listener and communicator. Erikson explains that because there are four personality types, the majority of people you work with won\u2019t<\/em> be like you<\/strong>. They won\u2019t think or behave in the way that you do, and this can cause frustration on both ends. He says that once you\u2019re able to recognize other people\u2019s personality types, you\u2019ll be able to collaborate with greater ease and efficiency.<\/strong> You will see that your weaknesses are their strengths, and vice versa. Erikson adds that you will also become better at predicting how others will react in certain situations, as well as recognizing where they\u2019ll struggle and where they\u2019ll shine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you manage employees, you will find these tools helpful when creating teams<\/a>. Erikson stresses that when you put the right group of people together, there are fewer disagreements, greater employee retention, and higher quality of work. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Workplace Conflict Carries a High Price<\/strong>

Erikson argues that this book will help you be a better employee, leader, and colleague because it will cut down on workplace conflict. How valuable is this, exactly?

The Uncommon League, a business training organization, estimates that each year, private companies in the United States spend more than $350 billion on conflict management<\/a>. Conflicting leadership methods, work style<\/a> differences, and personality clashes between co-workers were listed as three of the five most common types of workplace conflict. These conflicts cause employee disengagement, more absences, higher turnover, and greater risk of lawsuits.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Things to Keep In Mind\u00a0<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Erikson acknowledges that the process of categorizing people can feel like an oversimplification <\/strong>and rub some people the wrong way. For this reason, he\u2019s clear about a few things before diving in:<\/p>\n\n\n\n