After reviewing several of the personality tests and assessments, I was able to confirm what I already knew, but did gain some new insight into myself and why I am the way that I am, and that my personality can be great in some situations and very hard in other situations for people to deal with. I’m going to break it down according to the assignment assessment.

1.) What did the assessments tell me about myself? Attitude? Work? Behavior? Personality? Perception?
Attitude: I’m sensible, the backbone of any group, and believe that work comes before play. This is truly me!! I’m the one that goes in early to work and stays late to make sure that things get done, and are done on time. People know that they can depend on me. I’m the person with sticky notes on my desk and computer, so that I remember that I need to do this at a certain time, or remind my boss of a particular appointment. They know they can count on me.

Work: I’m a planner, well organized, and dependable. This too, fits me like a shoe! I’m the one that two weeks before a mass mailing will be ordering in extra labels, tape, and updating mailing lists. I like to have my envelopes ready, so that all I have to do is insert and tape. I look ahead and what is coming down the road and plan my work and time accordingly.

Behavior: I learned that I’m punctual, responsible, energetic, ambitious, and I have a strong sense of right and wrong. This is me to a T! I hate it when people walk into work late, or show-up for a meeting late. I still believe that people should put in a day’s work for a day’s pay. If I’m the manager, I will set a good example. I expect people to work, if they want to get paid.

Personality: In the Meyers-Briggs test, I tested out as an ISTJ, meaning that I’m an Introvert, Sensing, Thinking, and Judging. Again, this is me! I’m an Introvert. I’m quite happy to take on a job and know that I’m the one that is responsible to get things planned, organized, and done. I’m a list maker from why back! I like to use a list both at home and at work. It helps me to use my time wisely. I do have friends, but I don’t feel like I have to be with them, or talk to them every day, to be able to call them my friends. We help each other out, and are there for each other in a time of need.

I also tested out as a Thinker. I’m not always sure being a thinker is a good thing or not. I spend a lot of my time worrying that everything looks just so, or that the house is just perfect, when we have company, or that this looks just right with this. Sometimes thinking gets in the way of being productive and even having fun. There are times, when I have to remind myself to just focus on my job at hand and things will take care of themselves.

As for Judging; (refer back to behavior) you can see that I am very judging; hence people should show up for work on time and give more than what is expected of them. One thing that really upsets me . . . is when I see people at work, on their cell phones. You are getting paid to work! So work! Put the cell phone away. I see this more and more all the time. Yes, I’m very judgmental. Do the work you get paid to do.

As for Sensing, I scored lowest in this area. If that is good or bad, I’m not sure. I like to deal in actual facts. I think this is good, if you are looking at being a manager. I’m a planner that likes to organize and manage. I like when things go right, and become upset, if things don’t go right, and blame myself for the lack thereof. I’m not a quitter and at times this can be a big fault in an individual and at other times a real blessing.

Perception: Because I’m an introvert I have a tendency to give off the aurora that I’m aloof and uncaring, because I don’t “chime in”. I guess sometimes that is true. I’m more reserved and don’t feel the need to share my personal opinions with everyone. I’m always cordial and willing to help people if they need it, but I want to get to know you a little more first, before I share too much personal information.

2.) What do the results tell me about my ethical inclination and social responsibility? I have a strong sense of right and wrong. I’m not going to try and cheat anyone out of anything. In fact, I’m just the opposite. I give more than what is actually expected of me. With regard to social responsibility, to me, that means what I do to help my community. When my boys were still home, I helped with Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, athletic programs and events, providing food, leadership, and assisting with transportation. I’ve helped at church by teaching Sunday School and assisting with Bible School. Now that our boys are grown and gone, I help with the Red Cross by donating blood and in other small ways around my community with events that need help. When it comes to ethics, I have a hard time trusting others. This is especially if they have lied to me. I can forgive them once, but not usually twice.

3.) How did the results compare with my perceptions of myself prior to completing the assessments? I think that at my age, I pretty well know who I am. I’m not going to change much. In fact, I think just the opposite is true. I’m set in my ways and find change hard at times. Sometimes I have to remind myself that it’s best go with the flow, instead of trying to fight it going up-stream. When I do, let things go, they usually work out for the best.

4.) Based on the information learned so far in the course, what do your results say about your interactions with others? Ability to work in teams? Your communications patterns and preferences? Based on what I have learned from the tests and experience, I like to work by myself, or in small groups. I prefer to not work in large groups, because it seems like things just get bogged down and nothing gets done. I like to see accomplishment. I’m ambitious and meticulous. I know what I like, and what I don’t like. I see flaws that others can just let go, but I have to correct it. I often find this true with people as well. I have a good sense in reading people.

When it comes to communication patterns, I like for people to just tell me straight forward what they are trying to say, after all, I’m not a mind reader. Don’t think that I’m intuitive and will be able to figure out what you are trying to tell me, in a round- about way, because I’m not interested in spending time wondering about what you are trying to say. If you have a question for me, just ask. I prefer face-to-face communication. Email is fine if you have several points or things for me to do, that way I have it right in front of me. If I’m in charge of a project, I will follow-up, to make sure things are getting done. If not, I’ll offer assistance.

I like the idea of lists, not only for myself, but for everyone involved in a project. That way everyone knows what needs to be done, who is in charge of doing it, and when it is to be completed.

5.) Reflect on how I would be able to use information like this as a manger of an organization. How might I manage an organization? What would be my planning propensities? My planning strategies? How might this information about others be helpful to me as a manager?

When I reviewed the Motivational Model, I see a lot of myself in both the Achiever and Influencer. In fact, I tested equally high in both. I have a high need for leadership, advancement, responsibility, to work alone, and tangible rewards. I like to respond to titles that denote authority, to seek positions of authority and responsibility, as well as have an impact on others.

I think I would be a good manager. I’m good at planning, organizing, leading, and thinking things through in a systematic process. I can control costs and find ways to cut a budget if needed.

How I might manage an organization, depends on the organization itself. Obviously, one would manage a physician’s office a lot differently, than say an advertising agency. Both however, would be customer oriented.

Step 1. I would develop a ten year strategic plan for either company. With Board Members, I would decide on a company mission statement. We would set financial goals, discuss customer development, with written out-come expectations, a clear time frame, and with quantitative measurements that are attainable.

Step 2. Conduct an external analysis, including reviewing the economy, demographics, what the competition is doing and also what the labor supply is.

Step 3. Next I would conduct an internal analysis. I would want to see what we have for resources; financial, physical, human, and intangible. What do we need to reach our goals. Do we need physicians, nurses, equipment, space, etc.? Do we need more creative writers or artists? After we have both the external and internal analysis, I would then conduct the SWOT analysis; to see what our strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats are.

Step 4. I would then formulate strategies to see where we really sit. Are the goals that we set in our mission statement and plan attainable? Do we have all of the resources that we need?

Step 5. Begin implementing the strategies. I would use the Differentiation Strategy, because in both cases the businesses deliver high quality service, execute the use of technology, and have a positive brand image.

Step 6. Evaluate on a yearly basis, or as economic and environmental climate evolve. Where are we with regard to our goals? What about our resources? Do we need to reevaluate our goals?

What would be my planning strategies? For either of the businesses, physician or advertising agency, I would use a Growth strategy along with a Competitive strategy. I would need to grow the business to produce more revenue, by increasing the number of patients seen, or customers served. Staying competitive would be essential in either of these businesses, if the company is to grow and meet their goals.

With a competitive edge, each business would need something that sets it apart in a unique way, from other physicians or ad agencies. It could be something as simple as extended hours, specialty physicians in the clinic and on call. For the ad agency, it could be doing 3-D pop-up ads, internet ads, radio commercials, or even billboards across America.

What would be my planning propensities?
I would like to set the bar high for employees. As the manager, I would set a good example of what my expectations would be. Behaviors are learned, so I set a good example, employees know what the expectations are. I would hire the best people I could for the positions I needed to fill. Each company would require a different personality type. During the interview process, I would carefully explain what the company’s expectations are. I would discuss with each candidate the type of work they would be doing, the vacation/sick leave available, including any benefits that might be available, I would explain to them the importance of good customer service, and base pay.

For the ad agency, I would want someone creative, imaginative, with a good sense of humor, and works well in a team setting. I think advertising works best with a collaborative group, because you get a lot of good ideas and points of view when you work in small groups.

In the physician’s office setting, I would look for people that are more studious, able to work either alone, or in a team, depending on the department. They need to be good with numbers, if working in billing, coding, or accounts receivable. All employees need to be kind and caring with working with patients.

Both the physician office and ad agency, are service oriented, and employees need to understand that. Good service and caring individuals go a long way in making a business profitable.

How might this information about others be helpful to me as a manager?
Understanding how people get along with others, work in groups, and what kind of personal goals they have, can allow me to “feed” their needs. This might be by giving them a word of encouragement, appreciation for a job well done, or in the form of a monetary increase in pay, or a position that has more responsibilities along with more pay. If you have good people, you want to keep good people in those positions.