YOUR TYPE

PERSONALITY TYPES and SWOT

INNOVATIVE TYPE

Strengths and opportunities: A bold, active, risk taking doer, who wants to make a difference and often inspires others as well. Motivated by competition and opportunities to shine and to be seen. With enough latitude and personal needs reasonably fulfilled, the innovative type is diligent and ready to do much. Fires up easily and is willing to take up challenge. Sees opportunities, finds new solutions and gets excited about changes that are presented in a right way. A fast thinker and decision maker. Expresses opinions spontaneously and often colorfully. Possesses good sense of humor and visionary abilities. Wants visibility. Often an important contributor to a relaxed and energetic team spirit.

Based on character, the decisive type is well qualified as a leader. If the team spirit is bad and/or the teamwork passive, he or she can bring new energy and purpose to the group by own example.

Weaknesses and threats:Sometimes acts selfishly and alone and takes excessive risks. Wants liberties and sometimes also takes them. Focuses in own thoughts and cannot bother to listen. Is impatient and neglectful and has a short attention span. Excessive presence, selfishness and colorful opinions can annoy or offend others. Easily accuses others of own mistakes. When angered or loosing self-confidence, can get totally discouraged and/or defiant and break the rules. As a team leader may cause conflicts and confusion; is too self-centered and sometimes ignores other people's opinions and facts.

Publicity and representation:Likes publicity. Arouses interest by his or her colorfulness and wits. There is a risk to put oneself forward too much at the cost of others or the task at hand.

SOCIAL TYPE

Strengths and opportunities: Takes responsibility, creates and maintains team spirit. Often offers mental support to his or her boss or team leader and expresses loyalty to the values and rules of the organization. Good social and "soft" influence skills. Aims to get along with everyone. Adapts to changes and to any kind of group. Is the best at sensing the atmosphere of the team. Does not seek too much attention but supports and encourages others. Treats others with dignity, thus being able to exert positive influence on the conduct of the whole team. Is willing and able to solve problems and personal conflicts through discussion. Is fairly easily satisfied with his or her lot. Often a very important contributor to the team spirit.

If the social type wins over the respect of the team, he or she can be a leader whose leadership is based on interaction, trust and good teamwork. If the team spirit is bad or teamwork incoherent, the social type can calm the situation down by his or her social skills and improve the atmosphere.

Weaknesses and threats:: Sometimes acts too unselfishly and can sacrifice too much. Does not venture boldly into situations. Cannot say "no" and thus becomes susceptible to being led on and used by others. Sometimes puts too much emphasis on the team spirit. Conflicts and/or bad atmosphere in the group have too much effect on motivation. May be afraid of stronger personalities. Feels guilty easily. Loss of self-confidence and/or offences manifest as cautiousness, lack of initiative and even timidity. As a team leader may hesitate too much to address faults; focuses too much on relationships within the group

Publicity and representation:Publicity is ok. Arouses interest by balanced and honest manner of speaking. The risks include cautiousness in expressing opinions and belittling oneself.

DECISIVE TYPE

Strengths and opportunities: A mentally strong person. A responsible, systematic and purposeful doer. Follows common rules and does as agreed. Develops his or her skills with purpose, discipline and diligence. Aims at anticipating situations and prioritizing things. Bosses "right hand", who among other things makes sure that ground rules are followed. Is practical, does not usually let feelings take control and is not afraid of hard work or difficult situations. Shares opinions concisely, clearly and directly. His or her word can be trusted. After things are agreed upon, proceeds quickly from words to deeds. Thinks and acts practically. Actions are based on facts and well tried methods. Takes controlled and reasonable risks.

Based on character, the decisive type is well qualified as a leader, because he or she wants to reach the goals and accomplish results. If the team spirit is bad and/or the teamwork passive, the decisive type can clarify the situation with his or her strong will and make the team work with more effectiveness and goal-orientation.

Weaknesses and threats:Sometimes humorless, obstinate and bossy. Can be intolerant and inconsiderate towards others. Fixed on routines and therefore opposed to change. Prefers to work alone. Does not always understand or value cooperation. Avoids creative and inspiring work that includes risks. Strong-willedness ("I am right") may have a negative influence on others and even create fears. Loss of self-confidence can manifest as aggression, steamrolling or withdrawal. As a team leader will not inspire or excite the group, because focuses too much on facts and results.

Publicity and representation:Direct manner, strong will and a certain colorlessness awake interest. The risk is to shun publicity and express opinions too directly.

SCIENTIST TYPE

Strengths and opportunities: A safe, thoughtful and reliable doer. A tenacious and diligent expert, who wants to develop in his or her profession. Emphasizes quality. Does as agreed and aims to follow common rules, but is also able to see alternatives and question things. Is creative and can generate new things and solutions from the existing resources. Balanced and calm; does not get sentimental or nervous. Understands the work progress and how individual decisions affect the whole. Opinions are based on facts, careful consideration and researched information. Is often overshadowed by others because of his or her calm disposition, but is a good and even excellent resource in planning and analysis. Keeps feet firmly on the ground. Is fairly easily satisfied with his or her lot.

Based on character, the scientific type does not usually want leadership roles, especially in teams where changes happen quickly and fast decisions are needed. In self-guided expert teams the scientific type can act as a skillful coordinator as well as work director and instructor.

Weaknesses and threats: Fast changes of pace and quick decisions are difficult. Is sometimes slow and needs more time than others, for example to embrace changes. Thinks often too broadly and is therefore not always able to find the heart of a matter. Seeks perfection and can get lost in details. Loss of self-confidence manifests as passivity and lack of initiative. If the team spirit is bad and/or the teamwork passive, the scientific type does not usually want to interfere but may withdraw into his or her shell, thereby slowing the work even further. As a team leader will not inspire or excite; focuses too much on things and plans.

Publicity and representation:Strong expertise and striving towards objectivity arouse interest among experts. Because the scientific type is not particularly keen on publicity, there is a risk to avoid public situations. Colorless personality and long presentations diminish the interest of others.

DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERISTICS

EMPATHY, example of swot

Threat (too much empathy): Cannot say "no". Submits too easily. Places too much emphasis on feelings. Is easily offended. Allows others to take advantage.

Opportunity (wonderful empathy): Uses empathy creatively in different circumstances. Can increase and decrease empathy in a skillful manner, so that things lead to a good outcome for everyone. Can identify with others without becoming captive of the situation.

Strength (good empathy): Understands and values relationships. Gets along with all kinds of people. Can persuade and influence. Is a good negotiator and can solve conflicts between people.

Weakness (little empathy): Weak emotional intelligence and influence skills. Cannot read between the lines. Is superficial and cold. Cannot identify with others or see what lies behind the facts.

PSYCHOLOGICAL BACKGROUND

• The innovative type prefers acting to analysing and theorizing (pragmatist).
• The social type aims to reconcile differing opinions (idealist).
• The decisive type does not see much need of synthesis, analysis or compromise, because he or she thinks that everyone must realize the obvious facts (realist).
• The scientist type emphasizes rational problem solving processes (analyst).

Temperament is the biological part of personality. When it is combined with upbringing and environmental factors, we talk about personality. For this reason an adult can mould his or her personality to the wanted direction (self-development/self-education). In the same way, through encouraging guidance, training and direction, we can reinforce good characteristics in people and help them develop their weaker areas.

IMPORTANT TO KNOW ABOUT PERSONALITY TESTS

When someone makes a written self-assessment or test, the results will show what he or she was thinking when answering the questions. It is likely that the results reflect much of his or her person, but they can also be influenced by inner and/or outer factors. Situational factors can affect the results as well. For example, conscious or unconscious intentions can come out even strongly. Therefore, no test is absolutely reliable; neither this nor any other. They are interesting and indicative. They provide a mirror, which enables you to understand better first yourself and then others. The human nature is such a wide concept that it cannot be defined exhaustively. Neither have the experts any common understanding of the word "personality".

If the results do not correspond your own understanding, you can ponder the reason for it. Is the result highlighting something that you might not recognize in yourself? Or does it emphasize a characteristics or aspect you want to develop in you? The "right" result (truth) is not even the goal. The goal is to get to know yourself and others better. The questionnaire is one way to get closer to the goal (better knowledge of oneself and others).

NOTE ESPECIALLY

All people manifest characteristics of all personality types, but the intensity of those characteristics varies. The results enable the study of different personalities so that people can find more or less suitable tasks for themselves. As a result, the work becomes relaxed and natural, and also motivating. In general it can be said that task-centered people thrive in task-centered work and people-centered people thrive in work where they can interact with others.

The results also help to form work pairs and teams so that the characteristics of different people serve the success of the whole group in the best possible way. For example, five adaptive persons get along well, but can the group produce right results at the agreed schedule? If the group consists of five controlling people, there is a lot of will and energy in the group, but will they get along with each other and co-operate, or will there be conflicts?

In the theory the limit between strengths and weaknesses is 40. But it is only a theory that cannot form a basis for conclusions. It is the outcome that decides. Real life experiences about skills, ways of working and cooperation tell more than test results. According to the test someone can be predominantly of a social type, but under the right kind of pressure the innovative or decisive type can surface. Self-confidence has a great significance. With a good self-confidence one can make a wide use of his or her personality, but a bad self-confidence will limit the area of expertise and the above mentioned threats will surface more easily.