What To Do if Your Psychometric Assessment Reveals Surprising Results
Psychometric assessments have become increasingly popular for personal development, career planning, and enhancing self-awareness. These assessments are often used to reveal insights into our personality, values, strengths, and areas for improvement. However, it’s not uncommon to be surprised by the results, especially when there’s a significant difference between how we perceive ourselves and how the assessment portrays us. So, what should you do if your psychometric assessment reveals surprising or unexpected results? This article explores strategies for understanding, reflecting on, and making the most of unexpected psychometric outcomes.
1. Understand the Nature of Psychometric Assessments
First, it’s essential to remember that psychometric assessments measure a range of traits, including cognitive abilities, personality characteristics, and behavioral tendencies. Tools like Openmind, which utilize both explicit and implicit measures, aim to capture not only your conscious responses but also your unconscious biases and attitudes. This means that results can sometimes reveal traits or tendencies that you may not be fully aware of.
Personality assessments using frameworks like the Big Five (OCEAN) measure Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism. Each of these dimensions exists on a continuum and can vary based on context, mood, and recent experiences. So, if the assessment results seem to conflict with your self-image, it may be because they’re revealing patterns that are present subconsciously or that you haven’t yet noticed.
2. Reflect on the Discrepancies Between Implicit and Explicit Scores
Psychometric tools often provide both explicit and implicit scores. Explicit scores are based on your considered responses, whereas implicit scores capture your immediate, subconscious reactions. The difference between these scores can be illuminating, as it may indicate areas where your self-perception doesn’t align with your subconscious tendencies.
For example, if your explicit score suggests you are highly conscientious but your implicit score shows lower conscientiousness, this might indicate an internal struggle between your self-image and your natural tendencies. Reflecting on these discrepancies can help you understand if there are personal or societal expectations influencing how you consciously perceive yourself.
Ask yourself:
What life experiences might contribute to this gap?
Is there an expectation, internal or external, influencing my conscious responses?
How might this discrepancy affect my personal and professional life?
3. Embrace Self-Awareness as a Non-Judgmental Journey
It’s important to approach your psychometric results with an open mind. Avoid labeling traits as “good” or “bad” because personality is complex, and everyone has strengths and areas for improvement. Psychometric assessments like Openmind aim to enhance self-awareness, not to pass judgment.
If your assessment results seem disappointing, consider that all traits come with strengths and challenges. For instance, high openness can be associated with creativity but may also lead to overthinking. Conversely, low agreeableness might mean you’re direct and assertive, but it may also cause friction in certain social situations. A balanced view allows you to appreciate the nuances of your personality rather than reducing yourself to a score.
4. Dig Deeper Into Surprising Findings with Questions and Reflections
When faced with unexpected results, take time to ask reflective questions that can help you understand the underlying causes. This is particularly valuable when results reveal traits you weren’t aware of or suggest behaviors that don’t match your self-concept.
For each surprising result, consider the following:
When do I exhibit this trait, and under what circumstances?
Have others noticed this aspect of my personality before?
What experiences or influences might have shaped this behavior?
Openmind’s approach, which differentiates between implicit and explicit responses, provides an opportunity to examine if certain societal or personal expectations affect your explicit self-perception. For instance, someone might consciously view themselves as outgoing (high explicit extraversion) but score lower implicitly, indicating they might feel drained by too much social interaction even if they believe they enjoy it.
5. Consider the Context and Timing of Your Assessment
Personality and behavioral tendencies can be context-dependent and influenced by recent experiences or stressors. If you’ve recently gone through a significant life change, such as starting a new job, moving to a new city, or experiencing a loss, your psychometric results may reflect these circumstances. Keep in mind that personality assessments are snapshots in time and may not fully capture your usual state or personality.
Ask yourself if any recent events or stressors might have influenced your responses. Sometimes, unexpected results are temporary and reflective of your current emotional state rather than your baseline personality.
6. Use Surprising Results as a Growth Opportunity
Viewing unexpected psychometric results as an opportunity for growth can make the assessment process more meaningful. For example:
If your assessment reveals lower conscientiousness than you expected, consider if there are areas where you can improve your organization or time-management skills.
If your assessment suggests lower agreeableness, you might explore ways to enhance your empathy and communication skills with others.
Consider setting specific, achievable goals to develop the traits or behaviors that you’d like to strengthen. This doesn’t mean changing who you are but rather finding a balanced way to express your personality in different situations. Openmind’s results can guide you in developing a personalized growth plan by showing which traits have gaps between your implicit and explicit self-perceptions.
7. Seek Feedback from Trusted Individuals
Openmind works exclusively with trained coaches so that surprises are well-handled. This must be the starting point. Sometimes, close friends, family members, or colleagues can provide valuable insights into your personality that you may not have considered. They may see aspects of your behavior that align with or contradict the assessment results. Seeking feedback from others can help you gain a more objective perspective on traits that you may have difficulty recognizing in yourself.
Ask questions like:
Have you noticed any patterns in my behavior that match these results?
Do you think these results accurately represent my personality?
Are there specific areas where you see room for growth or improvement?
Feedback from trusted individuals can confirm certain results, challenge your assumptions, or help clarify the traits that felt surprising.
8. Reassess and Reevaluate Over Time
Personality and behavior aren’t static. As we grow, our traits and tendencies can shift based on new experiences, challenges, and personal growth efforts. Consider reassessing after a period to see if the surprising results remain consistent or if they change as you develop a greater understanding of yourself.
It’s often helpful to review psychometric assessments every few years or after major life changes. Reassessment can provide a sense of progress and insight into how you’ve evolved over time.
9. Apply Insights for Personal and Professional Growth
Once you’ve had time to process and reflect on your results, think about how you can apply these insights to enhance your life. Openmind’s results, for example, can help you make adjustments to your work style, improve your interpersonal skills, or find ways to reduce stress by addressing gaps in neuro-balance.
Here are some ways you might apply surprising findings:
At work: If you learned you’re less extraverted than you thought, consider scheduling more solo work time or reducing your participation in large group meetings.
In relationships: If your assessment shows lower agreeableness, practice active listening and empathy to improve communication with loved ones.
In personal development: If your neuro-balance score is lower than expected, prioritize self-care routines and stress-management techniques to enhance emotional resilience.
10. Remember the Purpose of Psychometric Assessments
Lastly, remember that psychometric assessments are tools for insight, not absolutes. They’re designed to help you explore your personality and behaviors, promoting self-awareness and growth. Whether the results align with or surprise you, the goal is to use the findings as a stepping stone toward a better understanding of yourself and a guide for meaningful improvement.
No assessment can capture the entirety of who you are, and personality itself is a complex, evolving concept. Treat the results as one perspective on your personal blueprint rather than a definitive judgment.
Conclusion
If your psychometric assessment reveals surprising results, it’s an opportunity to gain a deeper, more nuanced understanding of yourself. By approaching the results with an open mind and a willingness to reflect, you can uncover valuable insights that support your personal and professional growth. Remember that self-awareness is an ongoing journey, and assessments like Openmind are tools that can guide you along the way.
Through reflection, feedback, and an openness to change, you can transform unexpected psychometric results into a roadmap for personal development. Surprising results aren’t setbacks; they’re signposts directing you toward a greater awareness of your inner workings. Embrace them, learn from them, and let them guide you as you continue to grow and evolve.