Many people complete personality questionnaires to learn something new about themselves: their strengths, weaknesses, motivations or behaviours they may not be aware of; and how others may be similar to or different from them. But after reading the report explaining your personality type, what do you do with the information?

Here are some tips on how to maximise the usefulness of such findings for your personal development and growth.

Q: What if I don’t agree with the findings?

A: Personality tests can differ in their validity and reliability. A test may not always profile you correctly, or yield consistent results. Regardless, if your test result does not sound like who you are, does any of the other descriptions fit you better? Reading the descriptions of other “types” can help you find a type that fits you better, or confirm your type further.

Find the type that best resonates with you. Only you know yourself in all settings – with family, friends, at work and alone. No test, and no one else, can better determine who you are.

Q: Now that I know more, how does that help me better understand my interactions with others?

A: You perceive and interact with the world through your own lenses and biases, shaped by many factors that make up your personality: your background, experiences, values, etc. They allow you to provide unique perspectives and interactions with others, but can also be an obstacle if you expect others to view and respond to situations the same way you do.

For instance, an extrovert may opt for face-to-face meetings with his colleagues, without realising that his introverted colleagues may much prefer discussing over email to have more time and space to process their thoughts.

While personality tests are not definitive, nor should they be used for stereotyping, they provide insights into our working styles and preferences, and the impact we have on others – sometimes more than we are consciously aware of. As you read about your personality type, reflect on whether there are some traits indicated that you had not been aware of before. Consider how these traits have been adaptive or maladaptive for you and your counterparts.

Q: How do I act on my findings?

A: The next time you get frustrated with your colleagues for not thinking the same way as you, make an effort to check in with them and ask what they would prefer. You will likely learn different approaches of seeing the same issue, and possibly find a fresh solution for all parties.

For example, Colleague A is a great troubleshooter who can think of many back-up plans, while Colleague B is highly goal-oriented and gets tasks done efficiently. However, they may not appreciate the other’s working style: Colleague A may see Colleague B as not being meticulous enough to anticipate the ways things can go wrong; Colleague B may see the former as a worrier getting in the way of being successful.

All personality types bring their own unique strengths and weaknesses to complement others. Sharing about these differences can do wonders for team dynamics. You will also be able to better appreciate the gifts that each person brings, and the potential roles that they can occupy.

Social media stats

Challenge looks at how public agencies are using social media, and who’s coming up tops.

11 out of 16 ministries 
…have three or more social media channels (Facebook, Twitter and YouTube). Seven have an official presence on Instagram as well.

6 videos a day
The average number of videos posted to Sport Singapore’s YouTube channel for the year 2015, with close to 2,300 videos posted altogether. Most featured content about the 28th Southeast Asian Games or 8th ASEAN Para Games.

263,000 vs. 1,612,000 
The Ministry of Education has a combined total of over 263,000 likes/follows on Facebook and Twitter, making it by the most popular ministry on social media. But, wait: The Prime Minister’s Office website directs visitors to “stay connected” via PM Lee Hsien Loong’s public profiles on social media, including Facebook and Twitter. His combined likes/follows on Facebook and Twitter, at more than 1,612,000, far surpasses that of any ministry.

73.4%
The percentage of statutory boards (47 out of 64) that have a dedicated Facebook page. In this aspect, the Public Service is ahead of the national curve – the number of social media accounts registered in Singapore is at 64% of the Singapore population in 2016 (according to research by creative agency We Are Social). 

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