![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
I don't think i'll be able to travel to NC for my father's retirement (aka "Freedom") party. I wish i could be there, but i have to weigh it against the potential cost of another depressed winter. The work travel coming up in the next six weeks exhausts me. I'm mad about it, but ... sustainability is important.
Meanwhile, its an over cast Saturday morning half way through this four day weekend and i am uncomfortable. Uncomfortable at the thought i will be travelling in a week. Uncomfortable in a number of dermal locations* (although the acute discomfort of my ring finger upon waking has waned). Uncomfortable in my mouth and gut (what happens if i shut down the acid creation in my stomach too much?). Uncomfortable at the thought of the team building exercise using the Birkman.
Let me just start poking at the damn thing. (I could explain why personality assessments are a trigger for me, but i'll just say it's very hard for me to take them with the lightness that i think most folks can.)
The "Summary One" on page 4 has this "component" section that shows your "usual" components and then your "needs" and "stress." I will need to read more jargon to begin to understand the graphic.
There is also an "interest" section that shows my top half scoring interests as "literary, mechanical, artistic, outdoor, scientific." I do wonder if these interests reflect a 1950's division of the work world. I'm not at all interested in "persuasive" things. The ranking of these things is plausible. I believe that the "social service" interest ranks weakly for a couple non-authentic reasons (ie: the repeated message from my mother growing up that i don't care about people). I had to work through this when i became a manager.
Finally, there is the "Life StyleGrid (R) with Descriptors." One axis is "direct vs indirect communication," the other is "task vs people oriented." There are three markers that correspond to the previous reports: interests, needs/stress, and usual. My "interests" is near center but "red" (direct communication & task oriented). Both my "usual" and "needs/stress" behaviors are at the extreme edge of the indirect communication spectrum. "Usual" is more people oriented (thus "blue") than need/stress which is near the middle but slightly more task oriented "green."
I already feel a little put out by the "indirect communication" label. Considering the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and my long exposure to its labeling, i'm going to think of "indirect" as introvert.
I have a lot of questions after this first page. The document seems focused on going to detail instead of defining "indirect communication." Oh, the blankety blank "encryption" means one can't search for the term, even by cutting and pasting the "encrypted" term. Instead, i am being guided to twelve pages of "personal strengths and needs." The first page is a useless bit of advertising matter that doesn't really explain the concepts of usual style, stress, and need. I am finding the omission of documentation for these key terms to trigger the pseudoscience flag. Myers-Briggs has a theory, behind it at least. (The Birkman people claim to be better than Myers-Briggs because they have nice statistical distributions.)
The first content page basically says the following with full sentences, bullet points, and silly graphics. The graphics are silly because they seem to show a linear scale, yet there is also a vertical bar thing going on with the extremes having high bars and the middle low bars. Is this just trying to emphasize "more" and "less"?
Social Relationships = "Acceptance" :
strength (extreme) work well alone -- NOT "friendly and easy to get to know"
need a balance of alone and group time
stressed:withdrawal, eager to please the group
Organizing = structure
strengths (strong): flexible, open, initiative, new things
need: a framework which is reasonably structured
causes stress -- when familiar framework goes away
stress reactions: procrastination (hahaha),neglect of detail, resistance to routine
Authority relationships = authority
strengths (balance) : authoritative yet pleasant, open to discussion, self-directive
need suggestions not orders
causes stress (despite the sentence, there's nothing here about the cause of stress, unless it's disagreement)
stress reaction: bossy, speaking w/o listening, becoming demanding
idealism and realism = advantage
strengths (strong) idealism
... i think this is mainly measuring that greater rewards are more important than personal rewards, compared to competitive folks who need to see how they personally are doing.
reflection and action = activity
Strengths (strong) reflection
need (extreme) control over schedule
cause of stress "the pressures of a heavy schedule ... especially if you feel that time has been insufficient for careful thought and planning" -- No, i don't care how much time you take just as long as you do give it some careful thought.
stress reaction (extreme) fatigue
your view of yourself=challenge
strengths (strong) high expectations of self & others
need (strong) challenge
avoid (strong) expecting too much
dealing with emotions = empathy
strengths (strong) sympethitic and warm
need an outlet
stress "feelings of hopelessness" << depression answer here.
dealing with change = change
strength (extreme) concentration
need (strong) notice of change
causing stress: lots of change without being consulted
reaction: resistence
independence = freedom
"The notion that most people share your independent attitudes indicates that you have a greater-than-average need to sense support and encouragement of your personal freedom." This seems like a weird framing. Remembering this test originated in sorting military folks for fighter pilot training helps make some sense of the frame. But still. Seems stuck in the 60's.
making decisions = thought
strengths (strong) handles ambiguous situations well
needs (strong) time for complex decisions
stress cause being rushed
possible stress reactions : indecision
-- i think this may be showing some skewed responses due to Quaker practice informed answers.
OK for each eleven components, there are three separate dimensions. I think this works by simply asking you the questions about these thirty three dimensions and giving you back the answer. They might have three probes for each dimension: 100 questions seems about what i remember.
I suspect a design like this means that if you have a bias in your reporting, you will likely get your bias back. (Which matters for me when it comes to my triggers.) Also, i'd wager there is some correlation to current experience that shows up. I know the Myers-Briggs can drift a good deal: i suspect this can, too.
Having read through all this i am rather dismissive of the process and conclusions. There are "components" where i think the original bias of the test (Army pilot trainer noticing differences, developing a test of those difference (1950) , then going to grad school and getting a degree (1960)) shows up. I don't know that the length of the test can measure realistically the 33 dimensions reported so far. Now i can read the summary page which seems to produce a description of me that is somewhat familiar yet not quite right and frame the dissonance.
I do think i self report some dimensions forcefully, and that comes through this test as a stronger need or preference.
Ok, having studied the three measures for all eleven components, i can guess at some of the magic grid structure is derived. There were also a great deal of job preference questions that go into informing the grid, as well.
I've spent a great deal of time on understanding this test, but i now feel i "get" it and can play with it in the team building exercise. But, wow, i am impressed by some of the weird framings this system spits out. "Slavish processes," "unnecessary group events": who would find those good things?
* My scalp around my temples seems to be a new flare area; it's also possible issues are developing around the back lower scalp. Ring finger seemed to be heading for remission and just invisibly dry and scaly; woke to blisters and a "hot itch." Area A is at its larger extent, uncomfortable, but i think under control. Latest lotion may be not as helpful.
Meanwhile, its an over cast Saturday morning half way through this four day weekend and i am uncomfortable. Uncomfortable at the thought i will be travelling in a week. Uncomfortable in a number of dermal locations* (although the acute discomfort of my ring finger upon waking has waned). Uncomfortable in my mouth and gut (what happens if i shut down the acid creation in my stomach too much?). Uncomfortable at the thought of the team building exercise using the Birkman.
Let me just start poking at the damn thing. (I could explain why personality assessments are a trigger for me, but i'll just say it's very hard for me to take them with the lightness that i think most folks can.)
The "Summary One" on page 4 has this "component" section that shows your "usual" components and then your "needs" and "stress." I will need to read more jargon to begin to understand the graphic.
There is also an "interest" section that shows my top half scoring interests as "literary, mechanical, artistic, outdoor, scientific." I do wonder if these interests reflect a 1950's division of the work world. I'm not at all interested in "persuasive" things. The ranking of these things is plausible. I believe that the "social service" interest ranks weakly for a couple non-authentic reasons (ie: the repeated message from my mother growing up that i don't care about people). I had to work through this when i became a manager.
Finally, there is the "Life StyleGrid (R) with Descriptors." One axis is "direct vs indirect communication," the other is "task vs people oriented." There are three markers that correspond to the previous reports: interests, needs/stress, and usual. My "interests" is near center but "red" (direct communication & task oriented). Both my "usual" and "needs/stress" behaviors are at the extreme edge of the indirect communication spectrum. "Usual" is more people oriented (thus "blue") than need/stress which is near the middle but slightly more task oriented "green."
I already feel a little put out by the "indirect communication" label. Considering the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and my long exposure to its labeling, i'm going to think of "indirect" as introvert.
I have a lot of questions after this first page. The document seems focused on going to detail instead of defining "indirect communication." Oh, the blankety blank "encryption" means one can't search for the term, even by cutting and pasting the "encrypted" term. Instead, i am being guided to twelve pages of "personal strengths and needs." The first page is a useless bit of advertising matter that doesn't really explain the concepts of usual style, stress, and need. I am finding the omission of documentation for these key terms to trigger the pseudoscience flag. Myers-Briggs has a theory, behind it at least. (The Birkman people claim to be better than Myers-Briggs because they have nice statistical distributions.)
The first content page basically says the following with full sentences, bullet points, and silly graphics. The graphics are silly because they seem to show a linear scale, yet there is also a vertical bar thing going on with the extremes having high bars and the middle low bars. Is this just trying to emphasize "more" and "less"?
"One-on-One Relationships / The Birkman word for this is Esteem" (direct quote, which i find to be weird phrasing):
STRENGTHS: You are straightforward, unevasive, matter-of-fact
Need: a balance between frankness and respect
Stressed by an imbalance (too frank without respect, too much "respect" without frankness)
If you are stressed you need to avoid being too sensitive and too blunt.
Social Relationships = "Acceptance" :
strength (extreme) work well alone -- NOT "friendly and easy to get to know"
need a balance of alone and group time
stressed:withdrawal, eager to please the group
Organizing = structure
strengths (strong): flexible, open, initiative, new things
need: a framework which is reasonably structured
causes stress -- when familiar framework goes away
stress reactions: procrastination (hahaha),neglect of detail, resistance to routine
Authority relationships = authority
strengths (balance) : authoritative yet pleasant, open to discussion, self-directive
need suggestions not orders
causes stress (despite the sentence, there's nothing here about the cause of stress, unless it's disagreement)
stress reaction: bossy, speaking w/o listening, becoming demanding
idealism and realism = advantage
strengths (strong) idealism
... i think this is mainly measuring that greater rewards are more important than personal rewards, compared to competitive folks who need to see how they personally are doing.
reflection and action = activity
Strengths (strong) reflection
need (extreme) control over schedule
cause of stress "the pressures of a heavy schedule ... especially if you feel that time has been insufficient for careful thought and planning" -- No, i don't care how much time you take just as long as you do give it some careful thought.
stress reaction (extreme) fatigue
your view of yourself=challenge
strengths (strong) high expectations of self & others
need (strong) challenge
avoid (strong) expecting too much
dealing with emotions = empathy
strengths (strong) sympethitic and warm
need an outlet
stress "feelings of hopelessness" << depression answer here.
dealing with change = change
strength (extreme) concentration
need (strong) notice of change
causing stress: lots of change without being consulted
reaction: resistence
independence = freedom
"The notion that most people share your independent attitudes indicates that you have a greater-than-average need to sense support and encouragement of your personal freedom." This seems like a weird framing. Remembering this test originated in sorting military folks for fighter pilot training helps make some sense of the frame. But still. Seems stuck in the 60's.
making decisions = thought
strengths (strong) handles ambiguous situations well
needs (strong) time for complex decisions
stress cause being rushed
possible stress reactions : indecision
-- i think this may be showing some skewed responses due to Quaker practice informed answers.
OK for each eleven components, there are three separate dimensions. I think this works by simply asking you the questions about these thirty three dimensions and giving you back the answer. They might have three probes for each dimension: 100 questions seems about what i remember.
I suspect a design like this means that if you have a bias in your reporting, you will likely get your bias back. (Which matters for me when it comes to my triggers.) Also, i'd wager there is some correlation to current experience that shows up. I know the Myers-Briggs can drift a good deal: i suspect this can, too.
Having read through all this i am rather dismissive of the process and conclusions. There are "components" where i think the original bias of the test (Army pilot trainer noticing differences, developing a test of those difference (1950) , then going to grad school and getting a degree (1960)) shows up. I don't know that the length of the test can measure realistically the 33 dimensions reported so far. Now i can read the summary page which seems to produce a description of me that is somewhat familiar yet not quite right and frame the dissonance.
I do think i self report some dimensions forcefully, and that comes through this test as a stronger need or preference.
Ok, having studied the three measures for all eleven components, i can guess at some of the magic grid structure is derived. There were also a great deal of job preference questions that go into informing the grid, as well.
I've spent a great deal of time on understanding this test, but i now feel i "get" it and can play with it in the team building exercise. But, wow, i am impressed by some of the weird framings this system spits out. "Slavish processes," "unnecessary group events": who would find those good things?
* My scalp around my temples seems to be a new flare area; it's also possible issues are developing around the back lower scalp. Ring finger seemed to be heading for remission and just invisibly dry and scaly; woke to blisters and a "hot itch." Area A is at its larger extent, uncomfortable, but i think under control. Latest lotion may be not as helpful.
Tags: