How to use Psychometric tools to improve performance
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How to use Psychometric tools to improve performance

Why do we need to become more self-aware?

In my last blog, I talked about using the Johari window to help us to become more self aware. So to recap, to be an effective leader and manager we need to be aware of ourselves and the impact we have on others around us. When we develop our self-awareness we are able to understand the emotions and behaviours of ourselves and those of our teams – this helps us to deal with the challenges of other people’s reactions, especially in the workplace.
Choosing the right tools for self awareness for the organisation, the context of the work and the needs of the individual are important considerations, though below are a number of different methods we can use to increase self awareness.

How can we become more self-aware?

Feedback from others – such as appraisals or more informally a simple “how am I doing?”
  • Coaching tools – such as a using a SWOT analysis, or Johari’s window
  • Psychometric tools – such as Myers Brigs Type Indicator Test, or Mental Toughness Questionnaire
  • Management tools – such as engagement surveys or 360 degree appraisals
  • Self-reflection tools – such as keeping a journal or practising mindfulness
  • Using Psychometric tools to become more self-aware

    There are a number of different psychometric tools that can be used in the organisation to increase self awareness in their teams. These may include the OPQ32, Belbin’s Team roles and MBTI – personality indicator, though for the purpose of this blog I will focus on ILM72 and MTQ48.

    ILM72 – This tool develops the awareness of our leadership styles which can improve our ability to motivate people, create collaborative work environments and increase a team’s ability to solve its problems. This is done through an increased awareness of the leadership styles we use and understanding whether they are appropriate to the situations faced or not. This assessment indicates an individual’s adopted leadership styles in six specific scales of leadership as well as three global factors. The specific scales include the following:

    1. Task vs People
    2. Flexible vs Dogmatic
    3. Decentralised vs Centralised
    4. Reward vs Punishment
    5. The Means vs The End
    6. Structured vs Organic

    These scores contribute to the 3 global factors:
    Global Factor 1 – Determination to deliver
    Global Factor 2 – Focus on the individual
    Global Factor 3 – Focus on team working

    All three Global Factors combined represent ‘best’ leadership which increase the leader’s self-awareness through highlighting the effectiveness of their leadership abilities.

    MTQ48 – This tool assesses our levels of mental toughness as understanding an individual’s level of mental toughness raises self-awareness as to why they succeed in some situations and struggle in others.
    There are 48 questions that cover the following areas:
    Control – the extent to which the individual believes they have control over their own destiny, work and environment and their ability to manage or control emotions.
    Confidence – the extent that an individual has confidence in their own ability over and above others with the same skills facing the same challenge.

    Commitment – the extent that an individual will overcome challenges in order to meet their commitment
    Challenge – the extent that an individual may problem solve and seek out challenge and change

    How can using Psychometric tools help to improve performance?

    ILM72/OPQ32 – use diagnostics to raise awareness and support someone who has just taken on their first role leading and managing a team.

    MBTI/Belbin – when there are personality clashes within a team, personality tests could help the team understand why they are having challenges
    MTQ48 – when a manager has concerns about an individual’s ability to cope with the challenges of the job and so tests to raise awareness of this and help develop them in areas of concern.

    By using any of the above psychometric tools we are helping to ensure our teams and ourselves have more information with a view that if we raise a person’s awareness of themselves and the impact they have on those around them, they can take responsibility for whatever they discover.

    If you are interested in the MTQ48 assessment for yourself or your team do get in touch as we are approved practitioners for the MTQ48.

    For further information, email us on info@professional-futures.com
    Let us know your thoughts on the blog comments box, we’d love to hear from you!