158: The Incredible Birkman Method
A self-assessment tool that combines motivational, behavioral, and interests evaluation into one single self-assessment.
I have done this exercise. I mostly come out red and green. More red than green. Now I am making a conscious effort to add more green, some blue and a dash of yellow too to my personality!
The Birkman Method is a self-assessment tool that combines motivational, behavioral, and interests evaluation into one single self-assessment. It was developed by Dr. Birkman to measure human characteristics influencing behaviors, motivations, and perceptions.
The Birkman Map: The quadrants show if you’re more task- or people-oriented, and whether your communication style is direct or indirect.
It can also be broken down to show where your interests (star), needs (circle), usual behaviors (diamond), and stress behaviours (square) lie in the categorization.
Red: The Do-er
Reds are action-focused people who enjoy a more hands-on approach to tasks. Characteristics: decisive, good at managing crises, emphasis on speed, physical energy, prefers tangible tasks and results.
Stress behaviors: aggression, stubbornness, impatience.
Green: The Communicator
Greens are people-oriented and often enjoy roles in sales, teaching, and other professions that require a lot of social interaction.
Characteristics: communicative, flexible, focuses on others, friendly and approachable, enthusiastic about new things.
Stress behaviors: argumentative, unfocused, rebellious.
Yellow: The Analyser
Yellows tend to enjoy rules and processes, preferring jobs that require scheduling and handling details.
Characteristics: organized, loyal, consistent, maintain order and follow processes.
Stress Behaviors: rigidity, overly cautious, resistant to change if needs are not met.
Blue: The Thinker
Blues enjoy the more abstract and creative side of things, bringing innovation and intuition to their problem solving.
Characteristics: broad focus, creativity, sensitivity, planning, out-of-the-box thinking.
Stress Behaviours: indecision, procrastination, withdrawal when feeling discouraged.
A few uses of the Birkman Method:
Self-awareness: The Birkman Method helps individuals gain a deeper understanding of themselves, their strengths, and their potential areas for growth. This self-awareness can be valuable in personal and professional development.
Team Building: When used for team assessments, the Birkman Method can help teams understand each other's communication styles and preferences, which can improve collaboration and reduce conflicts.
Career Planning: It can assist individuals in making informed decisions about their career paths, helping them align their interests and personality with their chosen profession.
Conflict Resolution: By identifying potential sources of stress behavior in individuals, the Birkman Method can aid in conflict resolution and improve interpersonal relationships.
Potential Misuses:
Labeling: Misusing the Birkman Method can lead to the labeling of individuals, which can be counterproductive and foster bias or stereotypes.
Misinterpretation: Without proper training, the results of the Birkman Method can be misinterpreted, leading to incorrect conclusions about individuals or teams.
Sole Decision-Making: Relying solely on the Birkman Method for hiring, promotion, or team formation decisions may not account for other essential factors, such as skills and experience.
Invasion of Privacy: Using the Birkman Method without the informed consent of individuals may be seen as an invasion of privacy, as it delves into personal characteristics and behaviors.
To use the Birkman Method effectively and ethically, it's crucial to ensure that trained professionals administer the assessments, interpret the results accurately, and use the information as a tool for personal and professional development rather than as a definitive judgment of individuals or teams.