Personality and Professionalism

This is a slight turn in the direction of my usual blogs but I thought it was an interesting topic to discuss. I’m hoping for my first comments, so speak up!

Have you ever taken a personality test like Myers-Briggs? If you haven’t, I highly suggest finding an on-line version. Try this site http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/JTypes2.asp. While these tests are not a firm definition of who you are, they can be interesting especially when thinking about it in terms of your professional life.

So, is your curiosity building? Would you like to know my own Myers-Briggs results? Well, here you go. ISFJ: Introversion, Sensing, Feeling, Judging. Basically this means, I’m a fairly quiet person, who likes having a small group of friends. I am responsible, conscientious, painstaking, loyal, and work very hard to have an orderly and harmonious environment at home and work.

I have often thought about these traits and how they impact my professional career. My transition to consultancy has shown me just how well-acquainted my personality is for this profession. Because I thrive in an organized environment, what better place to work than my own home? My attention to detail and conscientiousness works well with keeping track of my own projects and basically working on my own most days.

On the flip-side, there are aspects of my personality that challenge me (sometimes on a daily basis) in my professional life. Being an introvert requires me to push myself in large groups and networking situations. Additionally, grant writing is often like putting a puzzle together and my trait of “feeling” is more concerned with the person or circumstances than uncovering the logic. Now while this trait helps me with telling the story and appealing to emotions, there are times when I struggle with exerting analytical and logic skills. So, I have to push myself in this area, reminding myself to act and think more like my husband!

My encouragement for the day is to take the test or dig up your results if it has been a while. Then think about how these personality traits impact your professional life and how you may be challenged in some areas or motivated by others. Work with confidence in who you are!

Independence

I have realized that being a consultant (particularly the kind that works from their home) requires a strong sense of individuality and the ability to function independently. My personality has always been conducive to working or spending time on my own, but this new profession has required me to stretch those boundaries. Sure, I have accountability and human interaction, but my days are basically my own to form. For a writer, this is a dream world.

Reflecting on this new-found independence, I am also recognizing the importance for consultants to capitalize on their unique traits and especially, their independence. We function in a unique manner. We can accomplish a great deal in a coffee shop and are not bound by the constraints of the corporate world. If a deadline needs to be met, we meet it. We plug in the iPod, sit in our solitary world and get down to business. This freedom allows us to work in just about any location at any time of day (provided we have Internet access.) Our flexible nature is a true selling point. As I continue adjusting to this style of working, the more I will value it and thrive in it.

So, we are independent, flexible and willing to work strange hours at even stranger locations, if needed. But we are also a good team. Remember: no man is an island. While I have come to enjoy my new found freedom and independence, I rely on the support of my co-workers to remain sharp. Forming relationships with other consultants can also serve as a great support and networking tool.

I think my biggest piece of advice for the week is to make the most of the time you have to work independently but never under-estimate the importance of the people put in place to support you. And… go ahead and spy on your neighbors if you are working from home, I won’t judge you. We all need a little free entertainment, right?!