1996-1997 was my first year of teaching, and I found myself staring at a group of 25 5th graders in Waco, Texas. Although I graduated from Howard Payne University with a double major and a history minor, I was completely unprepared for that year. It is a blog post in and of itself; but I was introduced, for the first time, to personality types and inventories. They’ve certainly become popular in the last 20 years, but to that point I had not seen personality categories quite so simply summarized.
The guidance counselor did a great job summarizing 4 basic personality types using a model developed by Dr. Gary Smalley and Dr. John Trent. This kid friendly inventory was based on animal like behaviors.
Lion (Choleric/Dominance: Strengths– Visionary, practical, productive, strong-willed, independent, decisive, leader Weaknesses– Cold, domineering, unemotional self-sufficient, unforgiving, sarcastic, cruel
Beaver (Melancholy/Compliance): Strengths– Analytical, self-disciplined, industrious, organized, aesthetic, sacrificing Weaknesses– Moody, self-centered, touchy, negative, unsociable, critical, revengeful
Golden Retriever (Phlegmatic/Steadiness): Strengths– Calm, easy-going, dependable, quiet, objective, diplomatic, humorous Weaknesses– Selfish, stingy, procrastinator, unmotivated, indecisive, fearful, worrier
Otter (Sanguine/Influence): Strengths– Outgoing, responsive, warm, friendly, talkative, enthusiastic, compassionate Weaknesses– Undisciplined, unproductive, exaggerates, egocentric, unstable
I don’t remember how she presented the inventory, but I took the challenge along with my kids. I have chewed on the results and have very deliberately thought about my basic tendencies (and how bothersome they can be for others) ever since.
Unfortunately, I was a 50/50 combo lion and beaver. Those 2 general categories of personalities are the “hard” personalities. Lions and beavers, when left unchecked, can be abrasive and difficult to deal with. In contrast, the otter and golden retriever are the “soft” personalities. They tend to be more open and easy to get along with. In general, I had little to no natural proclivity toward otter or golden retriever. Hmm. No wonder I had very few friends growing up.
I desperately hope I would not “rate” exactly as I did when I was 21. God has dealt with me in many areas of my life, and although I do believe He gave me the personality I need to complete the “call” He has for me in my life, the gospels have so much to say about love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. I want those fruit to be a testimony to God’s grace and goodness in my life.
Not long ago I completed yet another inventory. Strengths Finder 2.0, by Tom Rath, is often used in organizations to strategically match people to project requirements. In capitalizing on talents and strengths, when using the Strengths Finder inventory, the right people will be positioned in the right place for maximum productivity.
While working for the public schools, teachers and staff are asked twice a year to complete a climate survey. While I don’t remember the wording exactly, one question in particular speaks to this idea, “Do you have the opportunity to do what you do best, every day?” According to Rath, if your Talents (your natural way of thinking, feeling, or behaving) are coupled with Investment (time spent practicing, developing your skills, and building your knowledge base), you will be a mighty asset in your workplace with Strength (the ability to consistently provide near perfect performance).
My results were not surprising, they gave depth and clarity to the child-geared inventory I took 18 years ago, and Strengths Finder 2.0 gives strategies for building on each of your top “themes” in a section called Ideas for Action.
Below you’ll find my top five themes and the first paragraph from Strength Finder 2.0’s summary of each of my themes. Drum Roll, please.
Achiever – Your Achiever theme helps explain your drive. Achiever describes a constant need for achievement. You feel as if every day starts at zero. By the end of the day you must achieve something tangible in order to feel good about yourself. And by “every day” you mean every single day – workdays, weekends, and vacations.
Focus – “Where am I headed?” you ask yourself. You ask this question every day. Guided by this theme of focus, you need a clear destination. Lacking one, your life and your work can quickly become frustrating. And so each year, each month, and even each week you set goals.
Learner – You love to learn. The subject matter that interests you most will be determined by your other themes and experiences, but whatever the subject, you will always be drawn to the process of learning.
Relator – In simple terms, the Relator theme pulls you toward people you already know. You do not necessarily shy away from meeting new people, but you do derive a great deal of pleasure and strength from being around your close friends. For you a relationship only has value if it is genuine.
Deliberative – You are careful. You are vigilant. You know that the world is an unpredictable place. Everything may seem in order, but beneath the surface you sense the many risks. Rather than denying these risks, you draw each one out into the open. Then each risk can be identified, assessed, and ultimately reduced. Others can run through life recklessly if they so choose, but you take a different approach. You identify the dangers, weigh their relative impact, and then place your feet deliberately.
As important when one contemplates one’s top “themes” is acknowledging what is not on the list. Again, no wonder I’m not often invited to join in when one hopes to “paint the town red”. I certainly think the following are important, but I have to intentionally function in these areas as they are not my inclination: Adaptability, Connectedness, Empathy, Harmony, Includer, Positivity, Restorative, and Woo.
The “Woo” category makes me laugh. My mother is a “Woo”. I am the opposite of a “Woo”. From the summary of a “Woo”; Woo stands for winning others over. Strangers are rarely intimidating to you. On the contrary, strangers can be energizing. You are drawn to them. You want to learn their names, ask them questions, and find some area of common interest so that you can strike up a conversation and build a rapport. There are always new people to meet, new rooms to work, new crowds to mingle in. In your world there are no strangers, only friends you haven’t met yet – lots of them.
Food for thought, maybe, or maybe you now know more about me than you cared to! Either way, I’ve included a link to the official Strength Finder through Gallup. I did find several “free” options but they do not look to be the same (caveat emptor). https://www.gallupstrengthscenter.com/Purchase/