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?

I liked doing the Myers Briggs as it allowed me to rethink my approach with others who were different. I am ENTJ and had a few colleagues who were introverts.
you would be surprised to learn that just because you think your an introvert you might surprise yourself with the results. I found it helps teams rethink their approach to each other

Are you unreasonable to write it off before you’ve looked into it? Well, perhaps not; but I found/find it quite helpful and sometimes recommend my team look at it too.

Has he just graduated after studying business management and got the job because his uncle is FD or similar, by any chance?

If forced to take, just answer the opposite of what you would actually do/say/select.

In my experience they do!

I wouldn’t say it was the hill I wanted to die on. I just don’t like the idea and queried why he was intending to do this and let him know I wasn’t keen. He said he wouldn’t make me.

I’d consider myself quite open and honest at work and have already had discussions about what my strengths and weaknesses are (perhaps a personality test would bring out strengths or weaknesses I don’t know?). My main worry is what if a test comes back to say I’m totally unsuitable for my role? How will that then influence my manager and how he acts towards me?

I think you refusing to do the personality test is a more informative test of your personality than the personality test would have been.

I am definitely an introvert, but in the workplace I operate in what most people would consider an extroverted manner. Plus I do a lot of public speaking in my job. I don't necessarily want people knowing that I'm really an introvert. So I'm not going to take any tests that might reveal that, especially ones that might be administered and analyzed by people who don't know what they're doing. And then have to explain to people over and over again that being introverted does not necessarily mean being shy.

I bet you think the same about horoscopes, don't you?

Has he uncovered a type of test that doesn't have an appallingly poor evidence base?

As pp have observed, they are no more scientific than a magazine quiz. They just make people feel special.

He would be better using 1to1 time to build relationships with you all.

@PenelopeWhipStop what makes you think a personality test would indicate you're not capable of your job?

I agree with another poster, you refusing to do this is a big indicator of personality either way. And not in a positive way

YANBU, hold your ground. Utter bollocks that the manager is either paying a small fortune for or got off the internet for free... either way it's based on nothing substantial. Maybe suggest a buzzfeed 'pick a Starbucks order and we'll tell you what colour your perfect shoes are' quiz instead?

An old workplace made us do these once and then the whole company had to go to a 'presentation' given by the quiz writer who spent 3 hours telling us that 98% of the company are 'mood hoovers' and bring everyone else down/are garbage. Not exactly motivational! My favourite part was when a very senior guy stood up and announced 'I haven't got time for this bullshit' and walked out. How I wish I'd followed him then and not snuck out at the coffee break.

If I remember rightly, one of the questions on it is 'have you told the truth on these answers'

I always tick no for that, to blow their minds a bit. They expect people to lie, and say they havent lied on the form

If you want to mess it all around, just answer really randomly and contradict every answer you give in the next one.

One could make the same observation about the incompetence of a manager who says he can't manage his team without a magazine quiz to give him instructions.

perhaps questioning, happy not to go along with the in crowd, will stand up to authority

perhaps stubborn, inflexible, PITA, insubordinate

I’m pretty sure there’s others on the team who won’t want to do this either.

I forgot to say, every time Ive done them im a different combination anyway.

It's not dying on a hill, it's saying no thanks to an unnecessary, intrusive, unscientific test, the results of which may have unpredictable effects on the workplace dynamic. And all that refusing says about the OP's personality is that she's not a gullible pushover.

@RagingWoke ‘mood hoovers’?! That’s hilarious!

@PenelopeWhipStop Some
of these tests you need to be trained/qualified to administer. Ask him about this aspect. Also, these tests are
genErally license so ask him if he’s paid for this. After all, you wouldn’t want him breaching copyright and getting in to trouble would you?

The British psychological society are very clear that you have to be qualified and on the list of registered test users to administer psychometrics at work. Has he got his bps qualifications? Is he on the register? If not then I would point this out the HR.

Just tell him your starsign and that's an end to it. If he wants to push it further, it won't end well for him.

Some of these tests you need to be trained/qualified to administer.

Not really, they're bollocks however you dress them up. Not entirely unuseful bollocks admittedly, but you really don't want to know how I use them ...

It's only as accurate as the answers you give...I'd make sure I (lied a tiny bit) came out of it as a complete and utter psychopath.

Exactly!! Could go either way, or a bit of both. Definitely won’t show that you’re “agreeable” which some of these things test for. Absolutely hate that term is it makes you sound a total bellend if you’re not “agreeable” and a pathetic pushover if you are.

But the subject's willing participation is needed or it becomes an unhelpful and intrusive exercise, with inaccurate results.

Any decent manager would get to know their staff, and manage accordingly.

OP, the test is not going to imply you are in the wrong job and make them get rid of you. Put that worry from your mind right now.
It might help him understand how to get the best from you and support you to do your job. Is that a bad thing?
What else is worrying you about doing this?

I think myers briggs has been discredited? I agree that they’re all rubbish. Just tell him to get on with his job.