In short, heck yeah. Now more than ever.
Psychometric assessments have often been underrated, undervalued and quite underestimated. The sheer power of insight they provide can steer an individual to an enhanced state of consciousness, to be truly self-aware and hopefully to harness the insight towards personal and professional development. The insight for an employer is equally staggering. The ability to learn more about a potential future employee is critical. A bad decision can be painful and expensive. Sure, always assess skill and competencies for the job at hand, but it’s also about the fibre of the person. What do they stand for and represent? Are they aligned with the fibre of the business? Do they demonstrate suitability to the organisation as well as the potential for the ever-changing future?
The last two years have presented hardships and uncertainty to businesses and individuals. The ongoing pandemic, change in country leadership, floods, economic pressures, a slightly unhinged Russian… the list goes on. These have greatly impacted the world of work. The current market is fickle, buoyant and let’s face it – a little nuts. Some individuals may find themselves questioning their current professional standing – Am I happy? Should I find a new job? Does my employer really value me? For those leading businesses they may look around the office and wonder if they have made the best hiring choices &/or if they could be doing more to ensure the great staff they do have hang around.
Psychometric assessment offers limitless and powerful opportunities that can be tailored to every and any specific need. Employers may naturally wish to assess core competencies for a specific position; for example numerical testing for roles in finance, or perhaps review abstract thinking for a creative role. However, let’s ponder…. what else should they look for? Yes, assess for the current role, but also ensure you assess for the future.
Let’s review just three key attributes that all employers in the current market should absolutely seek when considering hiring, and perhaps for individuals who may wish to self-check if they embody below;
Resilience
This shouldn’t come as a big surprise, right? The last two years have been overwhelming, to say the least. Those who survive and thrive are resilient. They willingly pivot, they embrace impermanence and keep turning up with intestinal fortitude and a smile. They can weather any challenge or frustration, albeit at work or play. Billy Ocean coined it well “When the going gets tough, the tough get going”.
Emotional Intelligence
EQ remains terribly important and underrated. We all experience a myriad of emotions on any given day, but the true superpower is if a person can self-regulate. To manage one’s emotions effectively and further to that, to be able to perceive, understand and respect the emotions of those around you is an outrageously good skill. To have or maintain a good level of EQ is an ongoing training course of sorts, as our brain is one of the largest and most important muscles we have….we must train and exercise it well, and regularly.
Growth Mindset
The individual being considered will have (a relevant skillset of course), high EQ and be bursting with resilience. Another key trait is the capacity and desire for growth and development, not just in themselves but also towards the business. Can this person work ‘in’ the business but also ‘on’ the business? Can this person shape shift and evolve? Are they able to think commercially and creatively? Whether it is motivation to suggest new technology, a new product offering or new markets, having a mindset that thrives for growth and to challenge the status quo is extremely important.
At Optimum Consulting we are passionate advocates for the science, and we firmly believe tailored psychometric assessment administered well is one of the most incredible and versatile tools available today. The technology continues to improve and can add profound value on multiple levels. For individuals, and employers. For growth, for development, for retention and ultimately for SUCCESS. Curious? Please reach out to our HR Consulting team today to learn how we can bring that value to you.
Michelle Murphy
Executive Consultant, Group Solutions
Read our previous oblogs here: