How can self-assessment tools help you feel more confident?

When we are open to learning more about ourselves we can empower personal growth through learning and personal development. Assessments can give valuable feedback that can be used to help in this development. While personality tests can provide insight, it is essential to remember that any assessment is capturing a snap-shot of where you are at that moment in time.

Self-esteem extends beyond our personal opinions about our value. Imposter syndrome often accompanies many high achieving individuals. There are also some people who hold themselves in high regard or are boastful in order to mask their failings. Self-esteem based in confidence and grounded in truth will enable an individual to maintain a level of self-esteem that avoids arrogance.

Three tips to building self-efficacy (self belief). 1. Reflect on your past successes. 2. Imagining (through visualisations) of ourselves or others behaving effectively in hypothetical situations. 3. Apply your personal strengths to the given situation. I invite you to try any of the above to help build that self-belief when faced with a performance or learning challenge. Here to support if wanted!

Personality tests can lead to us attaching labels to ourselves and others. Have you ever been asked if you are an introvert, extrovert, or perhaps ambivert? These labels can have long lasting and damaging effects on people. Part of this is due to the misconceptions about what these terms mean. (Grant, 2023) Introverts are often thought of as preferring to work alone, spending a lot of time by themselves, are reserved or quiet, and in some instances not thought of as leaders. Conversely, extroverts are generally perceived as being outgoing, loud, that they seek or enjoy attention, and are highly social. Labeling ourselves or others is problematic. These terms oversimplify personalities, attitudes, and interests in a broad way.

I think that after completing the assessment you may have limited motivation for change. A self assessment begins and ends with you, leaving the challenge in your hands to make corrective actions . If another person is included in the assessment process, accountability can be established that will help you change and stay committed to your word.

The more we can get away from attaching personality types or labels to ourselves and to others is a step in the direction of embracing diversity and inclusion. Labels divide people into categories and when this happens, these groups have less of a connection to each other. There are very real, systemic issues that are deserving of our attention: ending discrimination, racial justice, sexism, and gender equality are just a few things that create real barriers. When we can see ourselves and others as complex and complete individuals, we create space for people to show up authentically. When people can show up as their authentic self, we are well on our way to creating an inclusive and equitable place for us all.