Dad is a Joke and Mum Means Business — Day 4 of 365 Leadership Blogging

Are Myers Types Briggs Test’s Really Right?

Last year I answered a series of questions as part of the Myers Briggs personality assessment. I don’t pay much mind to these tests but I guess they can act as good indicators. It was on the back of a conversation with colleagues at my previous place of work, who were planning for a team away day.

I did do one of these test years ago and although I can’t recall the outcome, I do remember the feeling of being disgruntled with the outcome. After taking the test this time round, I was informed I am an Entertainer.

I’m no clown, trust me, but as I read more into the profile descriptors words like explorer and risk taker and visionary came to light. Sweet. Then I came to a section about Entertainer parenting traits. Turns out people with this personality trait are great with there kids and emotional support but bad at discipline as they generally avoid structure.

What? That’s so not true. OK, maybe it is somewhat true. Just don’t ask my wife as she will laugh and show you how true it is. Here is an excerpt from the report:

“Entertainers are some of the most relaxed, fun-loving parents out there. Playing with children is a genuine pleasure for them, and people with the Entertainer personality type constantly devise new and exciting ways to enjoy their time with their children.

From the first moment they hold their babies, Entertainers are taken with the joy and wonder that their children experience in everything around them, and share and encourage it as much as possible.”

Then it goes on to say:

“Discipline is far from their strongest suit, but hindsight and maturity have their effects, and Entertainers are often keen to prevent their children from suffering the same hurts and setbacks they themselves experienced.

People with the Entertainer personality type are quite sensitive themselves and expect their children to be respectful and considerate of what rules there are, a point of contention through the teenage years.”

Although I don’t agree with everything here I do recognise some areas of challenge and some areas I have clearly conquered. Being honest with yourself is a great place to start for self improvement. Taking personality or psychological tests shouldn’t be a surprise to any one, in fact they should reinforce what you already know about yourself.

My only surprise was to find out that as a dad I really am the joker and mum means business. All this to say that leadership tests are a good indicator to support our coaching work, but it’s not as far as rich as enriching clients with questions that can help them understand the why’s behind the why’s. We are testing out a number of leadership personality assessments which we will share during our 365 days to discover if this really helps our clients move to their goals.

I realise that depending on the environment that I work in, the culture that’s cultivated, the curiosity provoked and the character of the team I work with, really determines how I respond to my outside world as well as leadership personality test.