Aibu to say I don’t want to take a personality test at work

[PenelopeWhipStop]

My manager has told me he intends to have us all take a personality test as part of our 1-2-1 meetings. I queried whether this was an organisational thing or his own personal decision (it’s his idea). It’s to help determine if we’re introverts or extroverts, how we learn, possible career paths.

I already know I’m an introvert! Was I being unreasonable to tell him I’m not keen for n his idea?

No. What a dreadful idea. Is there any rigorous evidence that these are actually useful in any way?

What a bunch of bollocks. I'd decline.

Nope, not unreasonable- these personality tests are as scientifically accurate as the ‘which Disney Princess are you?’ quizzes that you get in kid’s comics.

Is the boss going to do it too ?

I'm guessing this is the Myers-Briggs test? It's all absolute bollocks but managers seem to love them for some reason. Just ignore the results you get, it'll be a load of obvious statements that can apply to literally anyone like "you like having friends, but sometimes you're lonely". Exactly like 99.9% of the world.

I would find this really intrusive. Plus, does he have any particular expertise in this kind of testing? If not, that's another reason to object.

He’s already done it at university. Not sure if he’ll be doing another one?

Apparently I’ll be missing out as everyone on the team will be doing it everyone on the team doesn’t know about it yet.

Assure him that you're perfectly comfortable with "missing out." Somehow you'll manage to carry on.

Refreshingly honest. Thank you 😊

Tell him he'll have to make some actual effort to work out the most appropriate development / training package for you rather than outsourcing it to a bot.

Missing out 😂 tell him you have your big girl pants on, that you’re being very brave, and that you’ll be just fine.

Maybe be a bit more diplomatic though…

They have absolutely no rigour. They are business tools, invented to make money.

Tell him no. Go to HR and ask them for some guidance because if he bases his management of you on the results and makes even the smallest misstep he could be wrecking the company reputation, and emptying their pockets.

These things have long had their day. Only absolute charlatans still push them as being meaningful. He'll, I last taught 9 years ago and I taught about the lack of rigour in them back then.

that was meant for Aquamarine’s first answer. Yeah, a load of bollocks!

It doesn’t matter if he has done them in university, as personality changes as you move in with your life.

Having said that, these tests are a waste of time, who is going to remember what type everyone is and even if they do, the level of personalisation needed to make those tests worthy requires a lot of time, effort and variety of opportunities that do not abound in most job settings. For example, my type is described as “born leader” and my boss likes the money but is scared of making decisions, do we swap??? I bloody wish we could but nope, it is not possible 🤣

I'd consider why you want this to be a hill to die on.

Many organisations use these types of testing to help managers with training and coaching opportunities.

It's also not usually just an extravert or introvert thing either, many people are surprised by their results, some tests even show subconscious and conscious behaviour patterns, for me for example I over index in more 'friendly' work behaviours in work than I naturally would based on personality which I didn't really think about until we had our reports through. Some people the opposite and have a 'harder' work personality than their natural state.

These are all things that can help a manager work with a team. It's also helpful for co-workers to understand this too.

YABU

See, I’ve probably done “which Disney villain are you?” rather than Disney Princess, which says more about my personality than anything else. (Ursula)

My work made us do this, and then we had a presentation about, look! Here are all the senior leaders’ results. They’re all extroverts!

It was pretty demotivating tbh. Even if you know it’s a load of pseudoscientific crap you could just see the idea crystallising in team leader’s mind as they looked at the team results: these will be groomed as future leaders, these are production line spods.

YABU. This type of test can help understand yourself and, if you don't need that, it can help how you relate to your team once you compare results.

Far more fun being a villain - but Princess is the equivalent of these nonsense personality tests

I don't mind them,

No they don’t!

Not these days, surely?

And the results are hocus pocus. Look up the Draw a Pig Personality Test. It has equal strength!

It has to be one method or another or a combination of various , to determine potential for management and front line staff.

YABU. Seems like an over reaction to refuse to do it. If it's in work time and you're not expected to put in any of your own time and resource into it not sure what the issue is. You can feel free to ignore the results!

Yes, we did one as a team and while it’s definitely not something I’d use to describe my personality in detail and make huge career decisions with, it was really useful to see where we all sat as a team. It has honestly allowed us to work better - I know understand that while I’m happy to come up with ideas off the hoof and just start chatting them through, other colleagues need time to think first, as an example. So that means I know it’s more effective for me to hash out a few ideas on email or before a meeting and give them time to think and give their opinions. All incredibly helpful.