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Second Secret Personality Tests |
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The inspirational leader cannot afford either ignorance or
apathy. Recognizing that everyone wants
to feel valued, he must strive to create an environment where the people he
seeks to lead feel safe, valued, and purposeful. How does he do that, when there are so many
different people in the world, so many different personality types? In this case, as in so many others, knowledge
is power. Knowledge of human nature and
the ability to connect and empathize with others is now termed "emotional
intelligence". The inspirational leader
must learn to develop this emotional intelligence in himself.
In the past, before there were personality tests, studies,
and thoughtful analysis of human tendencies, there were philosophers who
attempted to divine our patterns and tendencies. Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, Machiavelli,
Hobbes and Rousseau all wrestled with the nature of man. Novelists, too, such as Dickens or Jane Eyre,
explored the "character" of their subjects, noting personality types who were
common. These personalities seemed to
follow patterns of behavior that could be predicted with a fair degree of
certainty. Police and detectives rely on
it to solve crimes. Some people, as
we've noticed, "just seem to have the knack" for it. Others have learned through hard
experience. Such knowledge could be used
to good or ill, to lead or to manipulate.
It is still the case today.
But for the leader who wants to maximize the potential of
the people in his charge, for the leader who wants to make a difference to
those he leads, there fortunately are many tools to help smooth the way. There are books and there are tests. Some of the most common personality
indicators include the "DISC" test, the Myers Briggs test, and the Enneagram
personality system.
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