To sum up what qualities define you when facing a challenge at work, would you say you are a “triangle” or an “ellipse”? When you have to lead a negotiation, do you behave like a “3”? You may find these questions a priori incomprehensible and almost comical, but there’s a reason for them. The enneagram enneatypes, the theory of genotypes and other interesting and curious tools of personal knowledge have the answer.

What will I read about in this article?

• The theory of genotypes
• What is self-knowledge?
• Self-awareness and professional development tools
• Other tools for self-knowledge

“Know thyself’ was the sentence that greeted visitors to the Temple of Apollo at Delphi. Socrates, Plato or the Stoics (to mention just a few of the philosophers who deliberated on it) valued the self-knowledge dictated by the oracle as an essential element to know one’s own limitations and one’s own position in the world. However, this is no easy task: according to these thinkers, knowing oneself is one of the most difficult tasks we can face.

To achieve self-knowledge and try to understand our own strengths, weaknesses, values and motivations we must take an honest look inside ourselves. Achieving that inner clarity can be an invaluable guide in times of challenge, helping us to make decisions that are consistent with who we are.

There are multiple ways to help us in this intimate investigation. In this article we discuss some of them. Self-knowledge tools, such as genotypes or the enneagram, offer us different classifications that try to pave the way to understand the complexity of the human personality.

The theory of genotypes

La Voz de Galicia reports in an interview with the expert, who is cooler, Einstein or Chiquito de la Calzada? “Both are great. Each one is great in his own way: both Chiquito and Einstein are great, they have been great all their lives, although Chiquito’s success came at the age of 60“.

What is self-knowledge?

As corporate psychologist Tasha Eurich explains in Havard Business Review, self-awareness is divided into two broad categories: internal and external self-awareness.

While internal self-awareness allows us to deepen our understanding of our values, aspirations and how we interact with our environment, external self-awareness helps us to understand how others perceive us, enhancing our empathy and ability to adopt other perspectives.

Integrating both forms of self-awareness not only enriches our personal and professional development, but also leads to a fuller understanding of ourselves and our relationships with others. According to Eurich, this balance is essential to achieving a more fulfilling life and more effective interpersonal relationships.

However, despite the fact that most people believe they know themselves, Eurich’s research estimates that only 10-15% of people actually meet the criteria for self-knowledge.

Why is self-knowledge important for professional development?

Understanding who we are, what our greatest strengths and areas for improvement are, and how we relate to others, helps us to make more informed decisions that are aligned with our values, both personally and professionally. Studies confirm that the more we know ourselves, the more confident we feel. Our self-esteem improves, we make better decisions and our relationships with others is strengthened. Self-knowledge also makes us better professionals. It’s been linked to increased performance and a more effective leadership style.

What other tools for self-knowledge are there?

There are other tools for self-knowledge that have been helping people in this conscious work of self-understanding for decades.

Myers-Briggs Type Indicator

The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is one of the most recognised tools in this field. Based on the theories of Carl Jung, the MBTI classifies people into sixteen personality types in order to promote a deeper understanding of individual preferences in work and life.

Jung was a psychiatrist and during his clinical practice he observed that people showed significant differences in the way they used their basic mental functions, that is, in the assimilation and evaluation of information. He saw that these differences in turn led to distinctions in personality qualities and characteristics between people. Jung’s theory of psychological types introduced the words extrovert and introvert into our collective vocabulary.

While some people find the MBTI useful for self-exploration or personal development, it is not widely accepted by the scientific community as a rigorous psychological assessment tool.

CliftonStrengths

Another tool for self-awareness is the CliftonStrengths test (formerly known as StrengthsFinder), developed by Gallup, which focuses on identifying and enhancing an individual’s innate strengths. This approach is aligned with Howard Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences, which proposes that intelligence is not a single construct, but an amalgam of different abilities.

Gallup has conducted studies to validate the use of the test to improve performance and job satisfaction. However, as with any assessment tool, it’s essential to consider that it’s not foolproof and should be used as part of a broader approach to personal and professional development.

Personal SWOT analysis

Traditionally used in business, SWOT analysis has also been adapted to personal development to encourage individuals to assess their strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats in the context of their career path.

This introspective exercise invites critical reflection, fostering a strategic vision on how to navigate challenges and capitalise on opportunities on the career path.

Tools for self-knowledge are one component of an ongoing process of personal and professional development. Ultimately, these theories serve as starting points for a deeper exploration of the self. They promote a culture of reflection and self-discovery that not only enriches the professional journey, but also instils a sense of purpose and direction.