The foundation of our professional identity stems from how we view ourselves as individuals. Typically, the perceptions we carry are our reality. Self-perception gives us direction, guides our career choices, and defines how we view professional success. That said, many of us struggle to identify our true needs due to an inability to comprehend and relate self-image and fulfillment.
Perception, is the foundation of The Birkman Method assessment due to its powerful influence on an individual’s thoughts and opinions. If applied positively, one’s perceptions can provide great insights and judgment. However, negative perceptions can take you completely off track – damaging your prospects and career growth. Birkman, addresses this challenge by examining three crucial dimensions: Usual behaviors, needs, and stress behaviors. This multi-faceted approach helps us understand the hidden needs that drive behavior and factor into productivity and career satisfaction.
The Gap Between Image and Reality
At work, we find may ourselves masking our needs or true self, trying to be the ‘super-employee’ we believe others expect. But in most cases, there is a stark difference between and the actual reality of the situation. This is where Birkman provides valuable insights that help us identify disparities between how we present ourselves and what we actually need to thrive in our workplace.
Let’s say for instance, when at work, you present yourself as someone who is highly independent and self-sufficient, yet your Birkman assessment results reveal that you have a strong need for regular feedback and collaborative support. It is only when you understand and bridge the gap between ‘what you are’ and ‘what you need’ that you can achieve true career and personal fulfillment.
Translating Self-Perception into Career Needs
The Birkman Method helps translate self-perception into concrete career requirements across the following key areas:
Work Environment
Your self-perception can influence your choice of a work environment – a place where you feel you can thrive best. Perhaps, you view yourself as someone who is easygoing and adaptable. You assume you can work anywhere. Yet, according to your Birkman assessment results, you have a strong need for structure and consistency. The reality is you will experience better job satisfaction working for larger, established organizaitons rather than start-ups and small businesses.
Communication Style
Your perception of the way you communicate may completely differ from what you need or expect from others. Perhaps, you think that you’re a direct communicator. Yet, your Birkman results indicate that you feel more comfortable during one-on-one conversations rather than formal meetings.
Birkman’s assessment results reveal that people who consider themselves direct communicators often need a more diplomatic and nuanced form of communication from their supervisors and colleagues to feel more accepted and supported in their teams. It’s complicated; that’s why we could all use the insights from Birkman.
Decision Making
In most instances, your self-perception with regard to decision-making may not align with your actual needs. For example, you view yourself as an intuitive decision-maker, but your Birkman results reveal a need for further consideration and analysis before you feel completely confident in the choices you make. Therefore, careful judgment and a practical approach will result in better decision making and ultimately higher satisfaction levels.
Career Development Through Birkman
Individuals can leverage the power of Birkman tools to articulate their needs and requirements to supervisors and colleagues. Let’s assume that an employee craves timely recognition and feels demotivated and disengaged without it. By making this clear, the manager has the opportunity to meet this employee’s need, providing appreciation and recognition for his contributions. The payoff? Better job satisfaction and higher engagement.
Through Birkman, employees can also identify situations and become aware of the factors that trigger their stress behaviors. With the help of the assessment results, one can develop strategies to manage situations and express concerns before they become bigger issues. In doing so, employees will open doors to better communication, enjoy higher engagement, experience less burnout, and remain more satisfied with their jobs.
Final Thoughts
In Roger Birkman’s words, “May all your perceptions from this point be clear and precise and may all your relationships grow stronger day by day.” (True Colors – p. 195)
The Birkman Method serves as a powerful connection between self-perception and career fulfillment, offering invaluable insights into what we truly need to thrive in our careers. As individuals, once we gain a better understanding of the relationship between how we view ourselves and what we need from our work environment, we find ourselves making decisions that help us achieve long-term career satisfaction.
Intrigued about how the Birkman Method can identify your career needs? Download a sample Birkman Report today as a preview to gain insights into understanding your personality, behaviors, and traits.