I had my professional personality analysed recently, and learned I have highly developed avoidance skills. That wasn’t in the report – it was just me avoiding the debrief, which I felt certain would not be complimentary.

Thankfully my analyst was tactful, telling me there are no ‘wrong types’ and, after using the Golden Personality Type Profiler (GPTP) where you answer 200 simple online questions, I did an hour of psychoanalytical interpretation in person. Of the 16 possible personality types, I am INFZ foreseeing: Introverting, iNtuiting, Feeling, organiZing.

The Introverting bit bothered me until I learned it means I divide my focus almost equally between external people/things and inward reflection. iNtuiting means I am concerned with the big picture, the future, and wider global issues. Feeling says I am concerned with how my decisions will impact on others, making them from a personal perspective, and organiZing tells me that my approach to life is systematic and ordered (as I had suspected, and a bar chart proved it).

HOW WILL THIS HELP MY CAREER?

In many ways. Now I’ve been profiled, I feel more ready to work how I need to, instead of always fitting in with others. Being given certainty about your preferred way of acting and thinking brings a more confident, decisive approach. For example, it gives me confidence to know I’m officially iNtuiting – and that a big-picture approach is compatible with strategic thinking that’s detail and order-focused. As for the organiZing bit – or rather the extremity of it – maybe I should work on that. As well as the personal insight it gives, there are wider benefits to profiling, especially in working with others. Said Ruth, my profiler: “Even dealing with irritations at others’ work behaviour becomes clearer. It’s also a powerful benchmark in deciding how colleagues will get on together, and on which kinds of projects.” Next step – get the rest of the team signed up!

HOW TO GET PROFILED

It’s worth having a one-to-one session; don’t rely on an automated report. Expect to pay £200-£400 and consider it a relatively small investment in your future salary, or suggest your employer fund it in return for a more effective employee. There’s a range of systems including GPTP (talentlens. co.uk) and MBTI (Myers Briggs Type Indicator; myersbriggs.org). To be qualified to administer testing, your practitioner should be registered at the British Psychological Society (bps.org.uk). You can also take the Myers Briggs test online at mbticomplete.com.

Main picture credit: Rex Features

Sophie is MD & co-founder of notonthehighstreet.com. Email sophiecornish@stylist.co.uk or tweet @SophieVCornish.

What's your work personality?