It’s almost impossible to avoid being labelled. Josh, Hanagarne, The World’s Strongest Librarian wrote a thought-provoking post on this very subject that reminded me of something that’s concerned me for some time.
Josh points out that if you asked his three best friends to describe him, they would probably use words and phrases that are different to the terms he would use for himself. As a general rule, we don’t get to find out how other people see us. We simply interact with them on a ‘what you see is what you get’ basis. But is it really? We’re not comfortable telling people how we see them, and most of the time, it would feel awkward to ask someone that question. (Of course, one way to find out how others see you is through 360-degree feedback.)
My concerns about labels are based around the fact that they are seldom complete. There is a tendency to focus on one dominant characteristic, which means that the breadth and depth of a person’s characteristics are lost behind the façade of the label.
In addition, we have tendency to unconsciously live up to the labels we’ve been given, effectively increasing their impact. When we use profiles with clients that put them in a box, although they do provide valuable insights, perhaps they also become somewhat self-fulfilling. So if your MBTI says you’re an ENTJ – do you feel that you need to live up to that label? Does it become an excuse for avoiding thoughtful consideration of behaviour? “Of course, I don’t do [fill in the blank]. I’m an INTP”
In my view, use care when using psychometrics that label people, or group them into a particular category. Understanding in detail how we’re performing and what we could do to improve is far more useful than just being labelled and boxed. One creates a static mind-set, while the other (e.g. 360-degree feedback) provides self-awareness which is specific to the person receiving the feedback, and with the right facilitation, opens the mind to the possibilities of change.
Which one will be a more powerful catalyst for improvement for your clients?
Article by Vandy Massey
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