11/09/2024
Over the last decade, I've lost count of how many certifications I've led, yet they remain some of my favorite training experiences. In most of my certifications, I share stories about my first certification and my initial experience with a validated psychometric tool called the Strong Interest Inventory, which provides insights into oneโs vocational interests. When I first get to read my report 15 years ago, I realized I had chosen the wrong degree, applied for the wrong job (my first job was as an IT Analyst), and understood why I struggled during the first 5 years of my careerโjob hopping, soul searching, and performing badly, leading to being fired from my third job. If I had known more about labor law then, I could have survived 9 months of unemployment and confusion without falling into five-figure debt. Perhaps I could have achieved my career progression much earlier.
The Strong Interest Inventory report revealed that my strongest career motivators are โHelping Othersโ (Social Theme) and โPersuading and Influencingโ (Enterprising Theme). Combining these, the report suggests what drives me are in โHelping others through influence and persuasion, or helping others in a business environment,โ or โPersuading others of the value of something personally meaningful, or managing or supervising in a helping environment.โ
Consequently, itโs hard to envision myself as an engineer (my undergraduate degree) or an IT professional (my master's degree). While Iโm not saying that engineers and IT professionals donโt help others, these professions donโt resonate with my values and passion.
Over nearly the last 15 years, I have become increasingly convinced that if everyone truly knew themselves and had good self-awareness, and were able to lead and manage themselves more effectively, homes and workplaces would be much happier and thriving places.
In my certification trainings, I often use this analogy: we cannot expect or force a duck to fly like an eagle, nor can we train or coach an eagle to swim like a duck. They are born with unique strengths as well as limitations.
The future of talent management isnโt just about learning agility or reskilling and upskilling; itโs about identifying the Dragon Warrior in each of us, much like in Kung Fu Panda, and being both Master Oogway and Shifu in identifying and developing the Dragon Warrior within ourselves and others.
I realized that I had conducted three different certification programs within just one month: Certified EQ-i & EQ-i 360 Practitioner (Multi-Health Systems, Canada), Certified Behavioral (DISC) Consultant (Institute of Motivational Living, USA), and Certified Workplace Big Five Profile Practitioner (Paradigm Personality Labs, USA).
