After a long day of hiking in Northwest Arkansas, a group of friends and I decide to head downtown for pizza and karaoke.
Our go-to Karaoke spot is fairly small, so with 15 of us in the group we take turns sitting and eating, and standing near the table catching up. After eating, I give up my seat and decide to join Chris and Micah's conversation. Just as I approach, I see Micah scowl, shake his head, and walk away. "What was that about?" I ask Chris. He shrugs and tells me he has no clue before changing the subject to football.
A while later I catch up with Micah and ask him what I'd missed earlier when he'd scowled and walked away. Apparently, for the previous 15 minutes Chris had been telling Micah that the way he didn't really approve of the way he was raising his two year old daughter and if he had kids he would discipline them much more.
My jaw dropped. For one, telling parents how to raise their kid is an obvious taboo. Secondly, Chris had no idea he'd even done anything wrong. We all know a Chris in our lives. The unfortunate problem with individuals like Chris often comes down to a complete lack of self-awareness. What we know from the research is that people with high amounts of self-awareness have stronger interpersonal relationships, higher average salaries, and overall live much more gratifying lives than those who lack self-awareness.
As social science has progressed, so have the methods of self-discovery. Now, it is easier than ever to expand our self-awareness and tap into the benefits of knowing ourselves. Since the turn of the century, the number of self-awareness assessments has skyrocketed. I'm not referencing the "Which Harry Potter Character Are You?" quizzes on Facebook, rather, tried and true research backed assessments that provide common language for discussing different aspects of our personality.
Having taken over 20 tests, profiles, and assessments, here are three that I highly recommend for anyone looking to expand their self-awareness.
Best Test For Beginners
For those just venturing into the realm of self-awareness it can be overwhelming. The Enneagram is a great place to start as it's a simple 1 to 10 system that provides a well-rounded summary of that "type" of person. You can find a number of simple and free tests that will give you your number. This test from Truity is free, only takes between 15-30 minutes, and provides a great starting point for those that want a wholistic read on themselves.
Best For Knowing Your Strengths
With nearly 34 million people having taken the assessment, it's widely agreed upon that the Clifton Strengths by Gallup is the best comprehensive talents report out there. Not only will it help you prioritize where to get the. most out of the limited time and energy you have, but it provides a common language to communicate your talents and weaknesses with others that have taken the assessment. Right now the book (which comes with a redeemable test code) is on sale for $12. When you get your results you won't be able to stop asking, "What's your top 5?"
Best For Those Who Need Career Guidance
When it comes to choosing a college major or finding the right job, there can be a lot of pressure. The Johnson O'Connor Aptitude Assessment helps you differentiate between your interests (what you like) and your aptitudes (what you're naturally good at). Not only do your results come with a comprehensive debriefing by one of their professionals, but the test itself is a lot of fun. It's an in-person experience with a multitude of different challenges to establish what you're naturally good at. Think of it like a game show, but you're the only contestant and the prize is discovering what you're best at. The only downside is the cost, at $950, but what better investment in life than ourselves?
The biggest thing to remember when taking these assessments and increasing your self-awareness is that they do not define you. The results should provide you a starting point for your journey of self-discovery, not trap you or confine you to a number or color grid. At the end of the day our goal should be to learn more about ourselves so we can be less like Chris from the story above and more like ourselves, no matter the situation.
Fact
Personality assessments date back to 370 BC when Hippocrates theorized that humans could be divided into four character types based on the predominant fluid in their bodies: blood, mucus, yellow bile, or black bile.
Action
Take one personality assessment today.
Question
What aspect of your personality do you wish you knew more about?
Quote
“I am not what happened to me; I am who I choose to become.” - Carl Jung
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