“It’s here! The promotion I’ve been working toward for two and a half years. But the thing is…”
Marcus paused, let out a long, deep sigh, and began to share startling information with our Crosworks team.
“You see, I know I’m finally successful. I mean, this is exactly what I’ve been working for. But I feel no joy. None at all,” he shared with his gaze lowered to the ground.
As a new team leader, Marcus should’ve been celebrating; instead, we found him second-guessing every move. His achievements brought him no satisfaction. In fact, leading his team made him feel burdened, exhausted, and withdrawn.
His Myers-Briggs results revealed that he was organized, detail-oriented, and a perfect fit for management roles. Then why such discontent? Crosworks turned to none other than the trusted Birkman Assessment for help, through which we learnt that beneath Marcus’s organized exterior lay a strong need for clear authority and defined boundaries. With the help of our coaching sessions, Marcus has now learned to set clear expectations, make confident decisions, and lead a successful team.
“Working with Crosworks has changed everything. I finally understand how to lead in a way that works for me,” shares Marcus in his thank you note to Crosworks.
Ever found your job more draining than energizing? Let Crosworks help you discover your true motivators and needs to enable you to thrive in your role. Schedule a call with our Birkman Certified Coaches and uncover secrets to transform your struggles into success stories.
The Truth Behind Personality Tests
Personality tests have taken over. They’re sliding into our corporate training rooms, accompanying us at coffee meets, and casually hanging around in our daily conversations. But that’s a good thing, right? Absolutely. Understanding how individuals are and what makes them work best is key to having happy people and ultimately happier workplaces.
But there’s a catch. Not every assessment tool gives you the same value. Some offer quick labels that look fantastic on a resume, while others dig deeper to show you what you actually need to succeed. In short, some assessments are like fun team-building activities, and others are strategically designed tools that can genuinely help you transform how you work.
Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI): An Overview
The MBTI is a popular personality assessment tool that’s based on the theories of psychologist Carl Jung. It sorts people into 16 personality types using four scales. It tells you if you’re an introvert or an extrovert, explains how you process information, reveals how you make decisions, and taps into how you interact with the world around you.
It’s simple. It’s quick. It gives you four scales, hands out your type description, and awards you with the much-anticipated “Aha!” moment of recognition. For a surface-level understanding of personality preferences, MBTI does the job and does it well.
Why We Choose Birkman (And You Should Too)
Shelly Stotzer, CEO of Crosworks, explains why we’re so captivated by the Birkman Method: “There are two reasons we lean on the Birkman Method rather than MBTI. First, the validity of MBTI has been questioned because of the lack of scientific rigor behind it. Second, given the work we do, understanding the motivators behind people’s behaviors is incredibly important to identify an environment in which someone can be successful and fulfilled.”
Let’s explain how Birkman uncovers your hidden traits (even the ones that you’re probably not aware of) and lays out an actionable plan to help you achieve your best career results.
It Reveals Your Hidden Needs
This is where the Birkman Assessment really shines. As Shelly brilliantly puts it, “Birkman does an exceptional job of breaking out what someone needs separately from the way the world might see them. We have found this over and over again.”
Perhaps, you’re someone who comes across as self-assured and confident. Your colleagues assume you’ve got it all figured out. But, in reality, your personality type is one that needs more structure, detailed guidelines, and communication of clear expectations. What do you think happens in this case?
The best thing about Birkman is that it identifies and highlights your needs. If unmet, it sets off an alarm – roaring and blaring through corridors, alerting relevant firefighting teams to step in promptly.
It’s Reliable and Holds Scientific Validity
Let’s talk about credibility for a second. The Birkman Method has been refined through decades of research and has a complex scoring system that’s been validated repeatedly. No, this is not just your regular personality quiz – this one’s fun, robust, and scientifically backed. It’s a powerful tool that leaders and companies worldwide rely on and trust while making high-stakes decisions about hiring, team building, growth, and development.
It Gives You an Action Plan
Here’s the biggest, most impactful difference between the two personality assessments. Drumroll…
MBTI highlights your traits and helps you understand your personality by giving an overview – at the surface level. Honestly, this does sound great. But how do you use this information to plan your future and make better career choices?
Birkman, on the other hand, takes it a step forward and gives you a clear path – a personal roadmap. With Birkman, you get actionable insights about:
- The type of work environment that’s most likely to bring out your best.
- The roles and career paths that align well with your motivators.
- Ways to identify and leverage your natural strengths.
- Needs (from managers and colleagues) that need to be met so you can thrive.
- Tips on how to work more effectively with different personalities.
In a nutshell, Birkman provides accurate, clear, and focused results that can help you become more self-aware and choose the right role in an ideal environment so you’re able to appreciate a truly fulfilling career.
Moving Forward
Here’s what we love about working with Birkman at Crosworks: watching our clients get clarity about things that have puzzled them for years and gaining freedom by understanding their true selves. What freedom, you ask?
Freedom to stop forcing yourself into roles that don’t fit. Freedom to unapologetically ask for what you need, and freedom to make career choices based on what works best for you.
Ready to go beyond surface-level personality types and discover what really drives your success? Schedule an introductory call with a Birkman Certified Coach to learn how Crosworks can help you become more self-aware by determining your true needs and motivators to achieve career success.