Knowing Your Personality Type and How to Leverage On It

   

Every individual has his own characteristic way of behaving, responding to emotions, perceiving things and looking at the world. No two individuals are similar.

You might like going out for parties but your friend might prefer staying back at home reading his/her favourite book. It is really not necessary that if you like partying around, your friend will also like the same. Here comes the role of personality.

A Personality Coach Modupe Eka once said that, 'We spend years in school developing our intelligence to effectively use our minds. Developing our unique personality to effectively use our behaviour is just as vital to successful living.  The most important and highest paid form of intelligence is social intelligence, that is, your ability to get along well with other people. Our Personality is healthy to the degree to which we are able to get along well with many other people.

Studies have shown that technical skills, beginning with intelligence and developed through education and experience, account for only 15 per cent success. All of 85 per cent of your happiness in life comes from your relationships with other people. The doorway to this 85 per cent of our happiness is having a clear insight into our personality.

When you are able to understand yourself through your personality style, understand others through their personality style, adapt your personality style in dealing with others, then you will begin to experience better result and more success in what you do. You will enjoy more fun in life and better friendships with people, you will enjoy, more peace and harmony, better understanding with those you care about, above all you will experience less frustration when working with people. A lack of understanding of yourselves and others can lead to real problems such as tension, disappointment, hurt feelings, unmet expectations, and poor communication. The good news is that there is a simple key to understanding yourself and others – how people behave and how they are motivated.

We call the concept the DISC model of human behaviour. Follow me as I unveil this Model:

'D' personality type : is both outgoing and task oriented; they are drivers and doers. They can be described as dominant, direct, demanding, decisive, determined. They like to lead or be in charge; they overcome opposition and achieve their goals. Their philosophy is winners never quit. Their ideal environment is upbeat, fast and powerful. Do not look for too much sympathy from D’s because they do not express a lot of warmth or empathy, they are quick to tell you ‘quit sucking your thumb and get back to work’  their tendency is to be both determined and independent, they do not like anyone telling them what to do. They are optimistic and do not like to be around pessimistic people. In fact pessimistic people drive them crazy. Our own very dear OBJ is an excellent example. A good biblical example is Paul the Apostle before he became a Christian. He was dogmatic, domineering, decisive, doer. After he became a Christian his personality did not change. However, the one in control of his life did change. Under the control of the Spirit, he was able to help people and churches, he was willing to die for the same cause he once persecuted and he wrote most of the New Testament.

'I' personality type: is both outgoing and people oriented. They can be described as inspiring, influencing, impressionable, interactive, and involved. They are stimulators, as soon as they enter the room the entire atmosphere changes suddenly everything begins to lighten up and when they leave, you suddenly feel the temperature drop. They do not need to go to party they take their own party wherever they go. They love recognition approval and popularity. When you are with them you feel great., To them all of life is good time. They know how to persuade others to their way of thinking. They can sell snowballs to the snowmen; they make everything sound great; they thrive in fun friendly and exciting environment.

The late legend Fela Anikulapo-Kuti was a blend of I and D. The best Biblical example is Peter the Apostle., He was so impetuous, after the resurrection of Christ. God needed someone to stand and proclaim the good news. He did a great job; he was right at home speaking to the multitude by teaching and preaching he brought great good into the lives of many people. It is interesting to note that Peter only wrote two short New Testament books. High Is struggle with writing they have neither the patience nor the inclination to write, they dream about it; talk about it; but they just do not do it.

'S' personality type: is both reserved and people oriented can be described as supportive, stable, steady, and sweet, shy, and loves status quo. They provide necessary support to help complete the job. They like to do one thing at a time unlike the D. Routine may be boring to the D, but to the S, it gives a great deal of security knowing things are constant and in order. They are great helpers. The hardest word for  the S to say is the word ‘no’ they are people-pleaser, they look for ways to cooperate and help because they want you to feel loved and supported.

Their philosophy is all of us are better than one of us., if we all work together we make a great team. Their ideal environment is predictable, stable and harmonious. Late mother Theresa was a  S personality and a biblical example is Apostle John, he was quiet, unassuming loved,  In all his gospel, he did not even mention his own name because he wanted Jesus to receive all the glory, honor and praise. Always he took a humble back-seat role to Jesus and the other disciples.

'C' type of personality: can be described as cautious, calculating, competent, conscientious, contemplative and careful. They like consistent quality and excellence. Their philosophy: anything worth doing is worth doing correctly, they want to provide quality goods and service, through careful and conscientious work.

They skeptically evaluate all things when in contact with you for the first time they are thinking “Who is this guy?’ How do we know this isn’t bogus information? Where does he get his facts? Is he really correct? And so on and so on…  They have an endless stream of questions. They seek perfection and thrive in environment that is structured with procedures accuracy and quality.

A good Nigerian example is our own Madam due process Obiageli Ezekwesili, former Nigerian education minister and the current minister of Finance Ngozi Okonji-Iweala. A biblical example is Apostle Thomas remember when Jesus arose from the dead and the others told him that they have seen The Lord, Thomas replied that until he sees him, touch him and feel all the wounds he will not believe. As a C he needed proof.

In conclusion, it isn't sufficient to know your own personality type, rather to enjoy fantastic relationship with friends, spouse, siblings, co-workers, neighbor etc, it is expedient that you also understand their own specific personality type, this will help to mitigate inevitable personality clash that can arise between you and you will be better for it. See you at the Top!

-Yours Inspirationally,

Tundegold