Lisa Collins

I don’t like personality test.  I took a personality test as a finalist for the Ronald Reagan Scholarship to attend Eureka College in Eureka, Illinois.  The scholarship was a full ride with business internships included.   I met with a representative for an interview and a personality test. The  test proctor directed not to lie.  What does that mean?  Well, I lied on the test.  It asked questions like:  have you ever stolen anything?  What kind of question is that?  I couldn’t be labeled as a thief so I lied. I did not get the scholarship and have always thought I was noted as a sociopath.  Fast forward to today, when my Instructional Leadership teacher asks me to take a personality test.  I took the personality test and was not interested in analyzing the result.

I scored highest in The Otter category on the Smalley Center Personality Interpretation.  The Otter Personality is an optimistic, energetic motivator that is focused on the future.   This positive description rings true to me. Who would not want to be known as optimistic? The personality description continued to list the shortcomings of Otter people:  unrealistic, impatient, pushy and avoids details.  These out of balance descriptions seem a bit harsh and over simplified.  I would not describe myself as unrealistic and I know a fraction of the out of balance descriptions is true. The personality document went on to describe Otter weaknesses as: undisciplined, unproductive, exaggerating, egotentric and unstable.  I do not agree.  When I doubt myself I bring other people into my self-assessments.

 In the Fall, I was talking to a school provider in what was projected as a harsh tone.  I asked my coworker about my tone.  She said she did not find it harsh but she could tell the other person in the meeting was reacting to my tone.  This is an example of  a personality blind spot.   I am willing to look at self-assessments because I do not want to not collide with the world and I want to work well with people.  This personality test provided me another lens for self-reflection.