Since the end of the year is typically a time of self-reflection, it was appropriate that all of us at NineSigma were asked to take part in a Caliper personality assessment. NineSigma has developed a joint program with Caliper launching next month (more on that coming soon!) and we all took the Caliper test to become familiar with the process and learn something about ourselves in the meantime.

Although I was very interested in the assessment process from a professional standpoint, I’ll be honest there was a fleeting moment of apprehension. I thought, do I really want to know what makes me tick? Furthermore, do I want my manager to know that I’m short on patience and skeptical of others? I think all of us approach our work with a good sense of where we are strong and where we need development, and I was therefore quite surprised by how significantly the Caliper process was able to provide new insights into my work behavior/performance.  After taking the Caliper test and discussing the results with one of their trained consultants, an entire picture emerged that drew upon and made sense of everything I thought I knew. The picture showed my strengths, limitations (even though we don’t want to admit it, everyone has them) and motivations. By understanding the bigger picture, it has become much clearer on how I can work effectively with my teammates and maximize my performance.

If your organization is like NineSigma, there is real diversity in the backgrounds and personalities of your fellow team members. We have all enjoyed some private laughs and “ah-ha” moments as we compare and contrast our findings. We may joke that we are low on empathy or accommodating others, but high on urgency as we rush through our days trying to get everything done. Kidding aside, it has become clear that there is now a higher level of self-awareness and team awareness within the organization. As we enter the New Year ahead, we will do so with even greater resolve and confidence that every goal is achievable since we understand ourselves and know how to put our best foot forward.