There is really only one person’s opinion that matters….yours.
If you are taking on any challenge whatsoever, it is good to take a look around and see what you have that can help you be successful and what areas you have that might hold yourself back. Just because you have limitations in some area doesn’t mean you can’t be successful. It just means that you need to work on it and find ways that your weaknesses can be strengthened.
To find those out, though, one of the most common tools is self assessment tests. Now, you shouldn’t let them be the final decider about what you do because no test is perfect. Anytime you take one of those tests, if you are completely honest in doing it, will have different results each time you take it. They suggest that you make your decisions based on what you feel right at that moment and try not to think too much about it. Well, I feel differently about things all the time. On one day where I may have been particularly successful in one area I may have some confidence that I don’t usually have that may skew things. I could take the test again where I have failed at something and when I take the test the lack of confidence I have in myself may have waned a bit making the results of the test different. Whatever my mood is on any particualar day at any moment, based on what I have experienced around that point in time, will affect what answers I give. If people have ticked me off recently I may come across as more negative and unfriendly.
Even with their limitations you can find ways in which they can be useful.
Here are few assessments that I found. Some may be a bit more clumsy than others but still they offer some interesting insights.
- How is your attitude towards risk taking?
- How ready for change are you?
- How effective are you at using your time?
- Are you the type of person that would be successful starting a new business?
- What type of leader would you be or are you?
There are many more but these are a good starting point and will give you a good idea of where your strengths and weakenesses are. Don’t look at these tests being something to discourage you or give you false hope. These are only means of finding out where you are at this moment.
Take the time and going through each of these, answering them honestly. Write down what these things say about you. Make a list of all the strengths and weaknesses. Make note of all the areas that you see can be improved upon. Then walk away. Don’t think about them or stew over the results. Give yourself the rest of the day or evening to get away from it. Tomorrow will be the day that you think about it. Giving yourself a chance to step back away from it will enable you to look at this more objectively and make sense of it all.
