54 Comments
Mar 5, 2023Liked by Adam Grant

This is why I've been attracted to Gallup's Clifton Strengths. Much more data driven and individualised. I'm working with a Clifton Strengths coach as I enter the second 20 years of my worklng life to ensure I'm focussed on doing something where I both get and add value.

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Mar 5, 2023Liked by Adam Grant

Honestly, I started reading this with one eye open while snoozing with my pets, hoping for some relationship advice. 🤨😐🤔🫣🤭🤣 I love it! What a thoughtful and beautifully composed argument for growth and change! Thanks for linking the different assessments. Might need to mosey on over and do some “look in the mirror” as part of my personal growth commitment and journey. Gracias!

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In my 10-year full-time coaching practice, I constantly have to "warn" my newly-diagnosed adult (over 18 years old) clients NOT to "disclose" right away. THEN I warn them about their possible assessments during their job search! I share the truth about the MBTI, The Big 5 AND recommend that they watch "Persona" on Netflix. ADHD'ers might think of themselves as introverted or extroverted based on the time of day. AND...they always think that the "other one" is better than the other, lol. This type of inequality, in my eyes, is the EXACT reason I sought a Professional Career Coaching ICF Credential ALONG with my ADHD Coaching/Life Coaching Credentials, two master's degrees and 12 years of teaching. In my 20's and 30s, I worked in "corporate" America as a buyer for all Lord & Taylor stores. For the last ten years, I have been on a personal and, at times, lonely mission to support all ADHD Adults with career choice, company research, branding, networking, connecting with people and thus, career success! For most people with ADHD, a good career choice is being motivated by work so they can get out of bed each morning. People with ADHD are often empaths and need to take the time to find a business environment that is a good match for THEM. People with ADHD can be anything they want to be...and these assessments should NOT stop anyone from realizing their dreams! Unfortunately, ADHD'rs are also VERY impulsive and usually take the first job they are offered. If more people took time to work with a coach or professional to identify their interests, strengths, skills, AND dreams...then the MBTI would not be so significant.

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Mar 5, 2023Liked by Adam Grant

“And I said you might be more like a horoscope than a heart monitor.”

….You and me both!

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Mar 5, 2023Liked by Adam Grant

If only all opinion and research papers were this engaging! Great Sunday morning read and something to think about. Thanks!

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Mar 5, 2023Liked by Adam Grant

Reading this was both painful and funny. Painful because my organization just paid $100 for each member of my team to take and be coached in MBTI. Funny because I could definitely see how personal this has gotten. And yes, I've also kind of broken up with MBTI and have started going out with Big Five. I've found it more helpful and insightful than the MBTI.

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Mar 5, 2023Liked by Adam Grant

Love this! Absolutely hilarious

As a nomad I’d love to hear more about the big five

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Mar 5, 2023·edited Mar 5, 2023Liked by Adam Grant

Beautiful, melodious, and caused me to have a potential break-up with MBTI too.

My blog post about personality assessments is outdated (https://souledout623.wordpress.com/2023/01/09/let-no-personality-go-unanalyzed/). Pardon while I go take the Big 5...

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Mar 5, 2023Liked by Adam Grant

I’ve just been asked to develop and organize not only an attitude/aptitude assessment but skills assessments as well for skilled trades. I was planning on diving (more) into your work and stumbling across this article made my day! I LOVE YOUR WORK 👏 👏

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Mar 5, 2023Liked by Adam Grant

You have not met the Enneagram.

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Mar 5, 2023Liked by Adam Grant

Thanks Adam ..you made my day with this analysis. Couldn't agree more!

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MBTI is the truth! Jung was an INTJ and every INTJ picks up on this better than anyone else. Sensors don’t like MBTI because they’re close minded and it exposes that… Big five is only useful for hiring people. -INTJ “OCEAN” is my big five and I couldn’t care less

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I love your take on this, especially as I work with a lot of neurodivergent adults for whom many of these personality tests are meaningless. And because my own personality type keeps changing, depending on where I am in my life at that point. I think of them in the same way I approach my Magic 8 ball (which I do use to make decisions): They help me clarify what I think about myself already. I'll see something that confirms what I want to believe about myself and think, "Yes! That's exactly it!" And then I'll see something that I don't want to believe about myself and think, "Oh, I must have answered that question incorrectly. That's not what I meant." So at least they provide a vocabulary to help me describe what I want to believe about myself.

One note: The link to the NEO questionnaire at the bottom is broken. I think it should be pointing here (https://www.personalitytest.net/ipip/index.html) for a choice between the original or shorter versions of the IPIP-NEO, or here (https://www.personalitytest.net/ipip/index.html#ipip1) to go directly to the original 300-question version.

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Psychologist love to dump on MBTI coz it’s not “scientific”. reality is it’s a useful and that’s why hundreds of thousands of people use it - but like all tools it depends on the skill of the person wielding the tool.

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I’ll add to the other comments … we all want to know your Enneagram number and your take on it - ha! I left the MBTI for the Enneagram :)

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Hi Adam: What is your relationship (!) with the enneagram? Occasional date? None??

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