The fact that I know I’m an ENFJ and an Enneagram 9 with Maximizer, Developer, Adaptability, Communication, and Strategic as my top 5 strengths – already tells you I’m a fan of personality assessments.

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Tools like the Gallup CliftonStrengths Finder and the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator^®, offer valuable insights into our behaviors, strengths, and potential career paths. They are, however, a double-edged sword, presenting both benefits and concerns.

As someone deeply invested in communications, I was curious to see how my CliftonStrengths assessment results align with my personal and professional trajectory as the years have passed. I know that my Adaptability trait has allowed me to switch roles in three unrelated industries and that my Maximizer trait drives me to look at everything I work on with the mindset of, “how can we make this even better?” I know that my Developer strength fuels my passion for nurturing potential in others, which I can see the mentorship roles I’ve taken on in the past.

Similarly, being an ENFJ (Protagonist or Mentor) according to the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator underscores my empathy and desire to help others. This personality type – my personality type – thrives on fostering harmony and guiding teams. Understanding this about myself has helped me understand why I’m so drawn to mentorship and to excel in environments where collaboration and leadership are key.

As I was reviewing the results of my recent assessments, I also couldn’t help but think about their potential misuse. What if, for example, these assessments were used in hiring processes that lead to biases? Candidates might be pigeonholed by would-be employers based on their assessment results.

I think it’s also important to consider that personality assessments capture a moment in time. We grow, evolve, and our experiences shape us in ways these assessments might not capture. Today, I’m an ENFJ, but who’s to say I won’t develop traits associated with other types in the future? Or, let’s consider someone who is introverted – what if labeling someone as an introvert might unfairly disqualify them from roles requiring teamwork, despite their potential to excel or their own motivation for improve in this specific area? This dynamic nature means that relying too heavily on these assessments can box individuals into fixed identities.

In the end, while personality assessments provide valuable insights, they are not definitive labels. They are tools to help us understand ourselves and make informed decisions. They promote introspection, helping us understand our strengths, weaknesses, and preferences better so that both our professional and personal lives are enhanced by endeavors that truly align with what we excel at and what makes our lives satisfying and happy.

As we navigate our personal and professional journeys, it’s essential to remember that we are dynamic beings, capable of growth and change.