Shortly after starting my new job back in June, I was subjected to an intense psychological evaluation. Okay… it was only a bunch of multiple choice questions, but it resulted in eerily correct profile of myself. It even identified things about me that I didn’t even realize existed, but are clear to me now. This week I was presented with my 33 page profile (!) and I’ve copied some of it here for you to see.

---

This Insights Discovery profile is based on Robbie White’s responses to the Insights Preference Evaluator.


Generated from several hundred thousand permutations of statements, this profile is unique. It reports statements which your Evaluator responses indicate may apply to you. Modify or delete any statement which does not apply, but only after checking with colleagues or friends to identify whether the statement may be a “blind spot” for you.

Use this profile pro-actively. That is, identify the key areas in which you can develop and take action. Share the important aspects with friends and colleagues. Ask for feedback from them on areas which seem particularly relevant for you and develop an action plan for growth personally and interpersonally.



Overview

These statements provide a broad understanding of Robbie’s work style. Use this section to gain a better understanding of his approaches to his activities, relationships and decisions.


Personal Style

Because he lives by principles and rules, Robbie is very consistent and dependable. In order to perform at his best he prefers specific and detailed instructions before starting a task. Robbie is a steady individual who lends a quiet stability to everything. Serious, conscientious and loyal, Robbie is a dedicated worker. He will seek an environment in which he can be quietly productive. Enjoying a “low profile”, one of Robbie's great strengths is his natural, unobtrusive, accepting manner.

He likes a harmonious environment, where each person can be appreciated for their contribution and can feel a sense of personal accomplishment. His sense of duty may make him appear rather serious at times. Easy-going, neat and orderly, he nonetheless values appreciation from others. He tends to take the things he does well for granted and usually underrates and understates himself. One of Robbie's strengths is an ability to let others work at their own pace coupled with an awareness of the unique contribution each person makes.


Robbie is dependable and responsible, with a high sense of duty. Robbie tends to be alert and often uncannily correct. It is as if he has an antenna that enables him to detect dangers long before other people do. He needs to take care to put forward his own accomplishments, otherwise he may be overlooked. The kind of work that best suits him requires patience, devotion and adaptability. Although he is quite ingenious and idea-oriented, he is rather modest about his finer qualities.

He can complete practical tasks and do repetitive work effectively. He will tend to seek solutions to current challenges in the successes of his past experiences. Robbie prefers to live his life in a structured and organised manner and prefers to work within established guidelines on tasks requiring detail and routine implementation. He has a distrust for the ostentatious, the speedy and the fanciful. Interested more in the realities brought to him by his senses, he is blessed with a special appreciation of natural things.

He may benefit from taking a step back to consider the cause and effect of his actions, and from practising becoming more tough-minded. He may impress others, albeit unintentionally, by knowing something worthwhile about many things, especially when he speaks about one of his specialised subjects. Robbie knows what is important to him and will protect it at all costs. Tenacious persistence and dedication to a cause are his character hallmarks. Finding it hard to understand why some others try to impose limits, order and structure upon others, he avoids attempting to change or control people.

Interacting with Others

Robbie seeks relationships which provide growth and development. Building harmony, understanding and common acceptance is a life-long assignment for him. His dependability and willingness to lend a sympathetic yet objective ear makes him a supportive team player. Robbie cares deeply - and shows it through his strong sense of responsibility which makes him very loyal to certain individuals or the organisation. When his loyalties and values are threatened, he can become very stubborn, rigid and demanding. He has little motivation to lead others through control, but hopes to see everyone living together harmoniously.

In conflict, he will listen to all sides before forming a conclusion and supporting a particular view. He is immensely loyal to respected persons or causes, occasionally to the point of idealising those people and organisations he respects. He may occasionally appear to lack self-confidence, which can be remedied by regular reassurance from people he trusts. He has strong family ties and to keep in close contact is an essential part of his make-up. He does not seek positions of “front-end” leadership, preferring to act behind the scenes.

As his feelings are intense, he may be unable to repress them at times. Robbie is gentle, sympathetic, tactful and supportive of friends and colleagues. Gracious, considerate and sympathetic, he is usually quietly effective in relating to others. He may have a tendency to repress anger. While appearing to agree with others, he may internally disagree, using passive strategies to release his tensions. Bringing a quiet enthusiasm and loyalty to his work, Robbie encourages co-operation and flexibility on the team.

Decision Making

Robbie seeks to unite all parties in a controversy and can readily see the validity of alternative points of view. He can be overly lenient with non-producers, which often results in problems in matters that require the application of discipline. Robbie will usually listen to, value and accept ideas and opinions from others, even those who may be viewed as unusual or even “odd”. He recognises judgements that rely heavily on logical analysis, but then may ignore this in making his decisions. He is frustrated by authoritative restrictions and resents being told how to work. He may dislike time disciplines and he may avoid conflict and unpleasantness in resolving the issue.

Using past experiences to help him solve current problems and get things done is one of his strong points. He is very firm about his inner loyalties and sets very high standards for himself in this area. Where he holds strong values, Robbie is firm and uncompromising in expressing and enacting his beliefs on these subjects. Robbie is good at easing tense situations, enabling competing or conflicting groups to unite. Robbie is extremely realistic and relies on and trusts what his senses tell him about his world.

He is prepared to make decisions through group consensus. His natural leadership style is to resist change for change's sake and to slow down impulsive decision making. Robbie makes better decisions when other people he knows share his values. He tends to make sound future decisions only after deeper reflection. His decisions are influenced by ethical and moral issues.

Strengths

This section identifies the key strengths which Robbie brings to the organisation. Robbie has abilities, skills and attributes in other areas, but the statements below are likely to be some of the fundamental gifts he has to offer.

Robbie’s key strengths:

•Consistent and trustworthy.
•Trusting and tolerant of others' actions.
•Honourable and easy going.
•Usually reads non-verbal signs effectively.
•His word is his bond.
•Can gain personal fulfilment through helping others.
•Affectionate, self effacing and accommodating.
•Good at undertaking routine tasks.
•A steady day-to-day planner.
•Curious and keen observer of life.

Weaknesses

Jung said “wisdom accepts that all things have two sides”. It has also been said that a weakness is simply an overused strength. Robbie's responses to the Evaluator have suggested these areas as possible weaknesses.

Robbie’s possible weaknesses:

•Avoids conflict like the plague.
•His steady approach to work may be seen as laziness by some.
•Can be manipulated by supervisors or significant others.
•Digs in if not convinced of need for change.
•May not respond well to sudden change.
•Settles snugly into his comfort zone with ease.
•Seems to lack drive or initiative when pressured.
•Masks his true feelings to avoid unpleasantness.

Possible Blind Spots

Our perceptions of self may be different to the perceptions others have of us. We project who we are onto the outside world through our “persona” and are not always aware of the effect our less conscious behaviours have on others. These less conscious behaviours are termed “Blind Spots”. Highlight the important statements in this section of which you are unaware and test them forvalidity by asking for feedback from friends or colleagues.

Robbie’s possible Blind Spots:
Although he may not readily display it, Robbie can be so committed to his own principles that he develops tunnel vision. A rather private nature may prevent Robbie from asking questions. Encourage him to demonstrate his grasp of new ideas by slowing the pace of the interaction. He should attempt to analyse what it is that is making him feel resentment on occasions. He is highly effective in specialist areas of work that require consistent performance, but may sometimes not see the big picture. Because of his well developed tolerance of himself and other people, Robbie may appear detached and disinterested.

When under stress at work, he may need to curb a tendency to become secretive or even rebellious in order to meet the demands of the moment. He is perceived by others as a natural helper and needs to feel appreciated. Robbie may have difficulty dealing with conflicts in relationships and may become deeply disappointed or disillusioned if a conflict develops from one of his interventions. He is not productive if he is not working towards his ideals. Unless he has the complete plan he may experience tension or frustration.

In touch and at peace with himself and the world around him, he automatically resists change to sustain the status quo. He may not fully appreciate how relaxed he appears to some people. Making a list and prioritising goals each day can help him overcome his casual approach to life. His own personal feelings in relationships and decision making are trusted by him and used to the exclusion of more objective data.

Suggestions for Development

Insights Discovery does not offer direct measures of skill, intelligence, education or training. However, listed below are some suggestions for Robbie’s development. Identify the most important areas which have not yet been addressed. These can then be incorporated into a personal development plan.

Robbie may benefit from:
•Not being afraid to make mistakes.
•Resisting the urge to introduce long-winded, complex solutions to straightforward issues.
•Maintaining a high level of exercise.
•Maintaining a greater balance between his feeling and his objectivity.
•Asking more forcibly for his needs and wants.
•Bringing more variety of activity into his life.
•Using others' objective criticism as a means of self development.
•Recognising the need for heightened urgency in some projects.
•Taking an active part in the process of change.
•Gaining a clear understanding of his true potential.