Business 101: Personality testing can help match tasks to the employee
By ANDREW VAN HORN
Business Columnist
Editor’s Note: Willisburg-based business coach and consultant Andrew Van Horn will be writing columns for the Nelson County Gazette offering tips and strategies for business owners and entrepreneurs. Send your business questions to him by e-mail andrewvanhorn@actioncoach.com or call (859) 940-5517.
Monday, Oct. 17, 2011, 10 p.m. — Did you know that there are 5,294,970 businesses in the United States with less than 19 employees according to the US Census Bureau? This number is astounding when compared to the 655,587 businesses with more than 20.
As a small business owner it is imperative that we maximize the human resources in our company. We need to ensure we have the right people working in a position that utilizes their talents and abilities.
By aligning the workforce with their innate strengths and personality traits they are more satisfied, produce higher quality work, and do that little bit extra. I am not saying that we should only give our employees assignments that they love, there are aspects to every position that people are just not going to enjoy but have to get done. I am saying that by finding out the motivators and skill sets of our employees we can increase profit without increasing costs.
One of the most effective and least expensive ways to help determine those skills is through personality assessments.
There are three types of assessments I use: the DISC, the Meyers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) and True Colors. The DISC and MBTI have been used extensively since the 1950’s to accomplish these tasks. True Colors is an easier to understand assessment that was created in the 1970’s.
Regardless of which one you use, all of them are effective at aligning your workforce with their natural abilities and gifts. Additionally, your workforce becomes better at communication because each personality composite has natural tendencies on how to present data, find and fix problems, and accomplish their work.
If you would like additional information on how to get this assessment or more information please feel free to send me an email. When you align employees, the business, and yourself with its inherent tendencies and strengths you will see profits increase.
- Andrew Van Horn of Willisburg is an member of ActionCOACH, the World’s No. 1 Business Coaching Firm.
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