Comments on: How to recognize the good and the bad of team diversity http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/11/21/how-to-recognize-the-good-and-the-bad-of-team-diversity/ Advice at the intersection of work and life Fri, 29 Aug 2008 22:25:27 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: mclee http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/11/21/how-to-recognize-the-good-and-the-bad-of-team-diversity/#comment-147758 mclee Fri, 23 May 2008 03:05:27 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/11/21/how-to-recognize-the-good-and-the-bad-of-team-diversity/#comment-147758 I’m an empathizer! Thanks for linking to this test. I found it very insightful especially when thinking of past jobs that I hated. I’m an empathizer!

Thanks for linking to this test. I found it very insightful especially when thinking of past jobs that I hated.

]]> By: Secrets of an obsesssive note taker gone bad » Brazen Careerist by Penelope Trunk http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/11/21/how-to-recognize-the-good-and-the-bad-of-team-diversity/#comment-138454 Secrets of an obsesssive note taker gone bad » Brazen Careerist by Penelope Trunk Fri, 14 Mar 2008 17:56:13 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/11/21/how-to-recognize-the-good-and-the-bad-of-team-diversity/#comment-138454 [...] got very complicated, and surely you know, I am not a finance person. Ryan Healy is actually good at finance, and I was thinking he should have been there. Then I thought: He should have been there because he [...] [...] got very complicated, and surely you know, I am not a finance person. Ryan Healy is actually good at finance, and I was thinking he should have been there. Then I thought: He should have been there because he [...]

]]> By: Marcia Robinson http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/11/21/how-to-recognize-the-good-and-the-bad-of-team-diversity/#comment-113348 Marcia Robinson Wed, 28 Nov 2007 12:32:51 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/11/21/how-to-recognize-the-good-and-the-bad-of-team-diversity/#comment-113348 Love all the comments. Kristen wrote: "Not all accountants have the same personality and not all managers do…. not even close". This is absolutely correct. However, although not all accountants have the same personality one will enjoy being the accountant at a ski resort more than s/he would enjoy being the accountant at a Big 4 Accounting firm or in a large insurance company in a corporate setting. I have seen that before for many many people. The key is balance, I think, and to look for the right "fit" regardless of what your role is. Love all the comments.

Kristen wrote:
"Not all accountants have the same personality and not all managers do…. not even close".

This is absolutely correct. However, although not all accountants have the same personality one will enjoy being the accountant at a ski resort more than s/he would enjoy being the accountant at a Big 4 Accounting firm or in a large insurance company in a corporate setting.

I have seen that before for many many people. The key is balance, I think, and to look for the right "fit" regardless of what your role is.

]]> By: Charlie http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/11/21/how-to-recognize-the-good-and-the-bad-of-team-diversity/#comment-112937 Charlie Sun, 25 Nov 2007 14:04:30 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/11/21/how-to-recognize-the-good-and-the-bad-of-team-diversity/#comment-112937 <p>First, to be completely nitpicky, danah's name has no capitals in it. :)</p> <p>http://www.zephoria.org/thoughts/archives/2003/07/20/my_capitalization_rules.html</p> <p>The one thing I don't like about these tests though, is that they do a great job of identifying your personality but then they profess to know all sorts of things about what careers are right for you. In any given job I've ever known about, there were multiple types of people in it who approached them very differently and were fulfilled in very different ways. Not all accountants have the same personality and not all managers do.... not even close.</p> * * * * * * * <I>Oh, thanks for the danah boyd tip -- and the link! I made the change. --Penelope</I> First, to be completely nitpicky, danah's name has no capitals in it. :)

http://www.zephoria.org/thoughts/archives/2003/07/20/my_capitalization_rules.html

The one thing I don't like about these tests though, is that they do a great job of identifying your personality but then they profess to know all sorts of things about what careers are right for you. In any given job I've ever known about, there were multiple types of people in it who approached them very differently and were fulfilled in very different ways. Not all accountants have the same personality and not all managers do…. not even close.

* * * * * * *

Oh, thanks for the danah boyd tip — and the link! I made the change.

–Penelope

]]> By: Kristen http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/11/21/how-to-recognize-the-good-and-the-bad-of-team-diversity/#comment-112928 Kristen Sun, 25 Nov 2007 10:14:43 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/11/21/how-to-recognize-the-good-and-the-bad-of-team-diversity/#comment-112928 Interesting, but something seems familiar... These four types correspond pretty directly to the four core Kiersey/MBTI temperaments. Contemplater, empathizer, energizer, and commander = NT, NF, SP, and SJ, respectively. All the same, definitely useful to keep in mind when working with diverse personalities. Interesting, but something seems familiar… These four types correspond pretty directly to the four core Kiersey/MBTI temperaments. Contemplater, empathizer, energizer, and commander = NT, NF, SP, and SJ, respectively. All the same, definitely useful to keep in mind when working with diverse personalities.

]]> By: leslie http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/11/21/how-to-recognize-the-good-and-the-bad-of-team-diversity/#comment-112846 leslie Sat, 24 Nov 2007 03:25:30 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/11/21/how-to-recognize-the-good-and-the-bad-of-team-diversity/#comment-112846 I am a commander according to the test. I don't have any problem choosing between logic and heart now but there were times when I was really conflicted about this in a difficult work situation. I work in a collaborative field which means that all of the elements of a project are equally important so when one person is not trying very hard it results in a bad result for all members of the team. I am a commander according to the test. I don't have any problem choosing between logic and heart now but there were times when I was really conflicted about this in a difficult work situation. I work in a collaborative field which means that all of the elements of a project are equally important so when one person is not trying very hard it results in a bad result for all members of the team.

]]> By: J.T. http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/11/21/how-to-recognize-the-good-and-the-bad-of-team-diversity/#comment-112826 J.T. Fri, 23 Nov 2007 21:47:52 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/11/21/how-to-recognize-the-good-and-the-bad-of-team-diversity/#comment-112826 RE: MBTI It's actually from my own experiences with MBTI that I've embraced using more simplistic tests in my consulting practice - the ISAT being one of several. Although MBTI is more comprehensive and proven through studies, I've found its strength can be its weakness. Rarely, have I met an individual, let alone a team, who are adept enough to contemplate and leverage all the elements of their MBTI results. Not to mention, go on to understand it well enough to assess those they work with so they can leverage the tool on a daily basis. Agile tools like this one have helped me give individuals and teams an immediate ability to apply what they've learned. I don't deny, there is certainly a trade off in using a more simplistic tool - as many posts mention above. But, if you take the test for what it's worth, I find the ROI ten fold to a more intense test in terms of application. RE: MBTI

It's actually from my own experiences with MBTI that I've embraced using more simplistic tests in my consulting practice - the ISAT being one of several. Although MBTI is more comprehensive and proven through studies, I've found its strength can be its weakness. Rarely, have I met an individual, let alone a team, who are adept enough to contemplate and leverage all the elements of their MBTI results. Not to mention, go on to understand it well enough to assess those they work with so they can leverage the tool on a daily basis.

Agile tools like this one have helped me give individuals and teams an immediate ability to apply what they've learned. I don't deny, there is certainly a trade off in using a more simplistic tool - as many posts mention above. But, if you take the test for what it's worth, I find the ROI ten fold to a more intense test in terms of application.

]]> By: Karen http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/11/21/how-to-recognize-the-good-and-the-bad-of-team-diversity/#comment-112819 Karen Fri, 23 Nov 2007 20:06:12 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/11/21/how-to-recognize-the-good-and-the-bad-of-team-diversity/#comment-112819 I took the test three different times (sometimes having 4+ email addys for work and play can be useful!) and came up with three different answers each time. Was trying to "hack" the test and figure out which question(s) equaled which personality description. My first result was Commander, second Energizer, and third Empathizer. I suppose I'm a mix of all three, but probably more skewed toward the first two. ("Do what I say, but feel good about it." probably sums up my schizoid mixture of work personalities as defined by this test!) My favorite career-related books are Barbara Sher's "Refuse to Choose" and Marci Alboher's "One Person/Multiple Careers" because after years of grappling with conformity, it's obvious I'm never going to be satisfied with a singletrack career path. I took the test three different times (sometimes having 4+ email addys for work and play can be useful!) and came up with three different answers each time. Was trying to "hack" the test and figure out which question(s) equaled which personality description. My first result was Commander, second Energizer, and third Empathizer. I suppose I'm a mix of all three, but probably more skewed toward the first two. ("Do what I say, but feel good about it." probably sums up my schizoid mixture of work personalities as defined by this test!) My favorite career-related books are Barbara Sher's "Refuse to Choose" and Marci Alboher's "One Person/Multiple Careers" because after years of grappling with conformity, it's obvious I'm never going to be satisfied with a singletrack career path.

]]> By: GreatManagement http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/11/21/how-to-recognize-the-good-and-the-bad-of-team-diversity/#comment-112785 GreatManagement Fri, 23 Nov 2007 14:38:26 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/11/21/how-to-recognize-the-good-and-the-bad-of-team-diversity/#comment-112785 Well I'm a Commander, so stand by your beds and listen :)) I am a huge advocate of using individuals strengths and I love Marcus Buckinghams work / books. I recommend to all my staff and coaching clients to start with his work to find out their strengths. I shall add this test as a compliment as well. Thanks. Well I'm a Commander, so stand by your beds and listen :))

I am a huge advocate of using individuals strengths and I love Marcus Buckinghams work / books. I recommend to all my staff and coaching clients to start with his work to find out their strengths. I shall add this test as a compliment as well. Thanks.

]]> By: Carol http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/11/21/how-to-recognize-the-good-and-the-bad-of-team-diversity/#comment-112776 Carol Fri, 23 Nov 2007 12:29:14 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/11/21/how-to-recognize-the-good-and-the-bad-of-team-diversity/#comment-112776 BrandonA - liked the article you posted. I thought the test was way too vague. I'm supposedly an energizer, but could see aspects of myself in all the others, especially contemplater, which is supposed to be thre complete oppposite. So yes, play to your strengths and compensate for your weaknesses, but without relying on such a simplistic test as this one. BrandonA - liked the article you posted.

I thought the test was way too vague. I'm supposedly an energizer, but could see aspects of myself in all the others, especially contemplater, which is supposed to be thre complete oppposite.

So yes, play to your strengths and compensate for your weaknesses, but without relying on such a simplistic test as this one.

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