I recently took a personality test for one of my classes, as part of a modified course that is offered to MIT engineering faculty. The Hermann Brain Dominance Instrument (HDBI) profile "illustrates and explains the way you prefer to think, learn, communicate, and make decisions". Preferences are on a 1 to 3 scale (1 being the most preferred) in four categories:
- the rational "nerd" who likes to analyze
- the controlled and conservative "bean counter" who likes to organize and plan
- the emotional, interpersonal, and spiritual "touchy feely"
- the creative and holistic "space cadet" who likes to integrate and conceptualize the big picture
I have a triple dominance profile of 1112, which means that I am integrated, flexible, yet occasionally unfocused. The profile totally explains why my utter indecision in some cases (I take forever shopping unless I know exactly what to buy before going in the store): I feel I have to cover all the angles. Occupations that are typical of people with my profile include professionals and managers of a technical nature (e.g., engineering or manufacturing managers) and managers with a high administrative content to their work (e.g., hospital administrators or human resource executives). Work that is considered a "turn-on" would include the following qualities: accomplishing, analyzing data, making things work, building things, establishing order, attending to details, working with people, being part of a team, and solving customer issues.
So, that explains why I love my current job? Well, perhaps my profile and the fact that I can do my work in a coffeehouse.
