Personal Development Profiles

Personal development profiles, also known as personality profiles, are a tool I frequently use before starting a course of coaching with a client. The client answers a series of questions about preferred behaviour styles and their responses generate a report which outlines their strengths, areas for improvement, blind spots, their contribution to the team, ways they could improve their communication and how to deal with challenging people.

I find personal development profiles are a great start to the coaching process as the profile helps the client to begin looking at their own behaviour in ways they have probably never done before. It helps to develop rapport as the coach is not providing the feedback at this stage ? it has been generated by their own responses. The coach provides assistance in understanding the report and I find that many clients experience an 'aha!' moment when they suddenly realise why they find certain kinds of people or situation difficult. Occasionally I have been asked if I have been talking to their mother!

As mentioned, the report will identify 'blind spots'. For obvious reasons these are not evident to us, and often friends and colleagues are hesitant about giving feedback. If they try, we may reject it as the mind does not like the idea we may have a failing. For an executive or leader in business, the situation can be even more difficult, as none of their colleagues may be brave enough to point out the reality of the situation until a crisis has arisen.

Looking at the profile is a taste of what is to come during coaching when the coach's job is to provide feedback and ask challenging and provocative questions designed to get below the surface behaviour to understand what's driving it.

I know that some people are cynical about personal development profiles ? the most common criticism I have heard is that they 'put people in a box'. To that I would reply that they are merely a good starting point for a process of understanding self and others. They do not provide the whole picture of an individual, but they are a useful guide to how they might behave in certain situations.

Andy Britnell is an executive coach who works with businesspeople in both the private and public sectors who wish to achieve better results. More information can be seen at http://executive-coaching-for-business-gro wth.com/ and http://e xecutive-coaching-for-business-growth.com
/personal-development-profiles.html

Sign up for my FREE monthly newsletter Grow and Learn at http://andybritnell.co.uk/

---

Drop and Gimme Ten!

Every one of us have dreams, desires and goals that... Read More

Is Time Really Easier to Sell than Products? Generate Extra Revenue by Packaging Up What You Know

Over the years I've worked with very many coaches and... Read More

How To Deal With People Who Dislike You

When you read books on personal development and articles about... Read More

7 Effective Ways To Boost Your Self Esteem

1. Get a life purpose statement.A well thought out life... Read More

Going On a Mental Diet

Diets are always in style. Every time you turn around,... Read More

Are You Controlling or Loving Yourself?

How often do you hear a parental voice in your... Read More

What Is Executive Presence?

Often our clients refer someone to us for Executive Coaching... Read More

The Tolerance Effect

While working with a client several months ago, we went... Read More

Keeping Your Anger Under Control

In my work with individuals and couples, I see many... Read More

Ten Ways to Make New Years Resolutions That You Can Actually Keep!

Are you one of the millions of people who make... Read More

Success Secrets - The #1 Money Secret I Learned from Interviewing Over 23 Millionaires

All over the Net, people are asking you to pay... Read More

Your Responsibility

The other day I decided to skip cooking dinner and... Read More

Courage and the Agony of Coaching Employees

Coaching employees on sensitive and personal topics like performance or... Read More

Being an Emotional Victim

None of us like to think of ourselves as victims.... Read More

An Easy Way to End The Year

As a healthy business owner or independent professional, how do... Read More

Two Leadership Strategies: Don?t Lose Your Mind & Be a Coach

Are you feeling overwhelmed, a lack of confidence or under... Read More

Life - Is It Just An Illusion?

It's a well-known fact that electrons and atoms move at... Read More

Executive Coaching

The higher you climb the ladder in this organization, the... Read More

Nourishing Your Network

It takes less effort to keep an existing customer than... Read More

Say Adios to the Fear of Rejection!

Do you ever get an uncomfortable feeling in your stomach... Read More

Ten Benefits of Having a Relationship Coach

As a Master Certified Relationship Coach, I work with singles... Read More

Parts that Make the Whole? or Not

There are many parts that make up you.There's the Musical... Read More

Managing Your Perfectionism

What Is Perfectionism?This is the first of two newsletters that... Read More

Why Don?t You Just Stuff It ALL?

You got busy at work, got busy in your marriage,... Read More

Mentors and Coaches: How to Find a Great Mentor

A career coach or mentor is a person who can... Read More