If you spend much time on social networks, you’ve probably even seen personality quizzes that blend with pop culture. Which Lord of the Rings character are you? Or Disney character. Or past U.S. president. Personality assessments are definitely trending right now.

Now before you get the idea I’m about to start hating on personality assessments altogether, I should mention first off that I’ve taken several myself and helped administer them in professional settings as well. Some of the assessments I’ve worked with are Myers-Briggs (probably the most popular), DiSC (my favorite), and FIRO Business and I’m familiar with several others. I’ve also worked with strengths assessments and 360 degree assessments.

Clearly, there are many benefits to personality assessments, so let’s start there.

What I Like About Personality Assessments

John Maxwell famously stated in his book The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth that “you’ve got to know yourself to grow yourself.”

It’s surprising how deeply some people study other leaders while completely ignoring themselves. Then they get frustrated because they can’t attain the same results.

On the other hand, there are plenty of leaders who expect that the only way to be successful is for their followers to copy their methods. That usually frustrates everyone.

The truth is that we’re all different. Personality assessments benefit us by helping to show us how we’re unique. The implications for how extroverts interact and gain energy are a lot different from introverts. People with dominant personalities usually respond differently to challenges than conscientious personalities. And the list goes on and on. Add all the ratings together and you have a profile. Depending on the assessment, profiles may have additional descriptions based on common traits and themes.

No personality assessment is 100% accurate, but many can be extremely accurate. The next time you take one, make sure to review the information and validate the results. You may ask for the input of other people who know you closely or enlist a coach to help you interpret the results. Look for areas where you can further your development. Personality assessments should be useful as well as insightful – but it’s up to you to take the next steps.

If you’ve never taken a personality assessment before, I’d recommend you take the DiSC Classic Profile either online or in print.

The Thing I Hate About Personality Assessments

And now for the moment of truth. What is it I hate about personality assessments?

Personality assessments can make it easy to excuse bad behavior.

That’s it. Once the “scientific data” comes in, it’s easy to justify why would shouldn’t have to act a certain way or do certain jobs simply because it’s not “the way we are.” Here are some examples:

• I shouldn’t have to be friendly to every new person I meet all the time.
• I shouldn’t need to make a decision so quickly.
• I shouldn’t have to be so flexible. Or structured.
• I shouldn’t be expected to be so creative.
• I shouldn’t have to be the leader in this situation.

The reason I hate this is because I’ve caught myself thinking these kinds of thoughts at times – and other people too.

Imagine having your team take an assessment together and then everyone using the results to justify poor performance instead of high performance. When non-ideal jobs come up, it’s a chance to be flexible. When responsibilities come up that don’t come naturally, it’s a chance to build some compensatory skills.

At the end of the day, personality assessments should be developmental. It’s up to us to use the results constructively, instead of destructively.

How do you feel about personality assessments?

Nathan Magnuson is a leadership consultant, coach, trainer and thought leader.  Receive his new ebook Trusted Leadership Advisor by subscribing to his website  or follow him on Twitter.

Complexity is the enemy of clarity.

Andy Stanley opened by sharing that complexity is a natural part of growth, but it can also be the greatest barrier if we’re not prepared for it. To keep things simple, always revisit these three questions: What are we doing? Why are we doing it? and Where do I fit in? As leaders, simplicity in the midst of complexity is our responsibility, and it’s hard work!

People don’t need more time, they need room to think.

Getting Things Done author David Allen reminded us that we can only feel good about what we’re not doing if we know what it is. How much time does it take to have a good idea? Only moments, but we don’t have creative space when our minds are cluttered. We are most productive when we have room to make a mess, but if we start with a mess, we’ll always feel out of control and lack focus.

We can’t have new beginnings without new endings.

Author Henry Cloud used ideas from his books Necessary Endings and Boundaries for Leaders to show the benefits of pruning. Organizations, just like plants, have only so many available resources. Make sure the best opportunities have enough resources by putting an end to the merely “good” opportunities.

Leaders should be good at math.

Leadership guru John Maxwell says that leadership is simply influence. His four math tips for leadership are: 1) Add value every day, 2) Subtract leadership landmines, 3) Multiply your strengths by developing them, and 4) Divide your strengths by delegating them.

Trust is a team commitment.

Duke University and Team USA head basketball coach “Coach K” Mike Krzyzewski explained that trust is the essential element to any great team because “when you have trust, two is better than one because two does it as one.” When you have trust, you tell the truth and expect the truth in return. There is no need to look sideways, only forward.

Leaders simply must be optimists.

In an interview with John Maxwell, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice pointed out that no one wants to follow a pessimist!

The one who fields the best team wins.

Former CEO of GE, Jack Welch, pointed out that “widgets” only last a short time. Good teams know where they’re going (vision), why they’re going there (mission) and how they’re going to get there (behaviors).

Values are always more important than performance.

When it comes to personnel moves, employees with high performance and high values should be put on the leadership track and low performers with low values should be cut loose. This is pretty much a no-brainer for everyone. What you do with the other two groups of people is crucial. According to Jack Welch, under-performers who model the organization’s values should be given second and third chances to get it right while high performers without the values should also be cut loose. Otherwise, they’ll ruin your culture.

If you don’t like people, leadership stinks!

Jack Welch said 70% of his role at GE was people development. There are teaching moments each day both for the positive and the negative. You have to be interested enough in people to use them! In Welch’s words, “you have no right calling yourself a manager if people don’t know where they stand with you!”

Invite your employees to be prepared to leave.

Of the many thoughts Jack Welch shared, this one was perhaps the most radical. Don’t invite your employees to leave if they can’t hack it – invite them to leave if YOU can’t hack it. Up the ante on yourself. If you aren’t giving your people the environment they need to succeed, tell them they owe it to themselves to have the self-confidence to find a better organization. Then work to make the job so good the people won’t want to leave.

Leadership is contagious.

Navy SEAL LCDR Roark Denver encouraged the audience to fight for every inch of improvement in an elite environment. Calm is contagious. In fact, everything is contagious, whether it’s calm, patience, even stupidity. If you do something well, your followers will do it better. Unfortunately if you do something poorly, your followers will do it worse.

Our country is worth it.

LCDR Roark Denver closed the event explaining what he called the unique covenant between our nation’s warriors and civilians. Our nation’s civilians give the military something worth fighting for, he said. Because of that, there ought to be as much interaction as possible for us to collaborate and learn from each other.

Of course there were many more teachable moments, but these were the biggest ones for me. To catch up on the social conversation, view #CFALeadercast on Twitter. (It was trending all day!). Next year’s event will take place on May 9, 2014. For more information, visit www.chick-fil-aleadercast.com.

For those who attended Leadercast (past or present), what were your biggest takeaways?

Nathan Magnuson is a leadership consultant, coach, trainer and thought leader.  Receive his new ebook Trusted Leadership Advisor by subscribing to his website  or follow him on Twitter.

5 Reasons You Should Join Me at Chick-fil-A Leadercast

John Maxwell: A couple decades ago, John Maxwell had a vision for a different kind of leadership conference – one that the average person could afford and would attend. The first conference, then called Maximum Impact Simulcast, took place in 2000. Chick-fil-A has since become the main sponsor and John Maxwell continues to be the face of the conference. If you’ve gained anything at all from Maxwell’s leadership materials, you don’t want to miss this event.

World-Class Speaking Lineup: Not only is John Maxwell speaking, this year you’ll get to hear from a world-class lineup which includes Jack Welch, Henry Cloud, David Allen, Coach “K” Mike Krzyzewski, Condoleezza Rice and others.

Spark Leadership Momentum: Sometimes we all need to take time away from our leadership responsibilities to get a fresh perspective and new source of energy. Stephen Covey spoke to this in his 7th habit, “sharpen the saw.” My own perspective shifted in several key ways when I attended last year, which resulted in some major leadership decisions. If you bring your team, the sparks could really fly.

Expand Your Leadership Network: What happens when leaders and learners from many different walks come together in one place? You’ll never know unless you join them! Your next contact, sale, opportunity or friend may be waiting right around the corner for you at Chick-fil-A Leadercast. I know my network has been greatly enhanced by attending.

It’s Affordable: There are still tickets available to attend the live event in Atlanta. Tickets are $239 per person, with group discounts available. But you don’t have to go to Atlanta to attend the event. There are simulcast sites all over the country at simulcast rates, including here in Kansas City.

5 Reasons You Should Join Me at Chick-fil-A Leadercast – simulcast in Kansas City

Build Your Local Leadership Network: If you attend the simulcast event in Kansas City, you’ll have access to the network that attends with me. As long as you contact me, I’ll save you a seat and make sure everyone gets introduced. Not only will you meet some great people, you’ll have access to their own networks, their resources and their ideas.

Kansas City is a Great Place: If you live in the Kansas City area, then attending our lone simulcast site at Mid-America Nazarene University makes a lot of sense. But there are many great reasons to visit KC as well. Since the event takes place on a Friday, you can enjoy our city while you’re here. Kansas City BBQ is second to none. You can check out the plaza or the fountains. And the Royals are hosting the New York Yankees at Kauffman stadium all weekend as well.

Win a Free Prize: Each simulcast site features plenty of opportunities to win door prizes, such as the the iPad mini featured here in KC. For the folks who join me, I’ll be giving out a free copy of Ken Blanchard & Mark Miller’s recent book Great Leaders Grow to one lucky participant.

30% Coaching Discount: Leadership coaching has become more and more popular in the organizational leadership space and one study even showed that it generates over 500% average return on investment when applied to learning activities. I have a special Leadercast promotion for up to three coaching sessions. (One before the event to set learning goals, one soon after to recap learning points, and the final one shortly down the road to support the implementation). Don’t let what happens at Leadercast stay at Leadercast (tweet). Get a coach! Visit my Coaching page or contact me for more information.

It’s Affordable: While the live event price is $239, the simulcast price in Kansas City is only $79! That’s a price just about anyone who values leadership can afford.

So what’s the standing between you and Chick-fil-A Leadercast 2013? Will you join me this year?

Nathan Magnuson is a leadership consultant, coach, trainer and thought leader.  Receive his ebook Trusted Leadership Advisor by subscribing to his website or   follow him on Twitter.

When I was 19 years old, I read my first book on leadership, Be a People Person by John Maxwell. I devoured that book. Today, 15 years later, I am convinced that leadership is crucial if we are going to reach our goals and live out our dreams.

Why? Because if you have big dreams, you will not be able to accomplish them by yourself. You will need other people.

How do you become a leader? I submit to you 5 thoughts.

1. Realize that you are a leader

Leadership, at its core, is about influencing others. It is not about titles. All of us, in one way or another, influence other people. Once you come to the realization that you are a leader, then you can take responsibility for your leadership.

2. Start with yourself

Once you realize that you are a leader, start leading. Begin with yourself. Great leaders lead by example.

3. Learn more about leadership

Learning about leadership will help you grow as a leader. Here is were I would start:

7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey

The 7 Habits will help you to lead yourself and begin to work with others.

The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John Maxwell

The 21 Laws will give you a great primer on leadership by a great teacher.

4. Seek out a mentor

Another way to learn about leadership is to ask someone to mentor you.

You can be mentored through books, audio & video programs, and other resources.

But having a leader who is further along on his or her leadership journey and is able to encourage you and speak specifically to you right where you are at will add another dimension to your development.

How do you get someone to mentor you? Ask. It’s that simple.

5. Pursue new opportunities

The best way to learn leadership is to lead. By pursuing new opportunities you can gain experience and become a better leader.

You can do this through volunteering outside of work, taking on new projects at work, or pursuing other opportunities to take on new responsibilities.

Whatever you do, if you want to be a better leader, do something. And start today!

What are some other ways people can grow as leaders?

Right then and there I promised myself I would become a better public speaker.

Several years and many speeches later, I’ve had a blast (nearly) every time I’ve been in front of a crowd with something to say.  In fact, I’d like to sell you on joining me as a fellow public speaker by sharing six benefits of public speaking here below.

Your cause will be represented

If you take the initiative to speak, it means your ideas are the ones that will get listened to as opposed to the ones that are not being represented.  This will also make you more influential as an advocate.

It will boost your confidence

Overcoming anxiety of speaking in front of others is a huge accomplishment.  The fear of public speaking is reportedly higher than death for many people.  It’s difficult to doubt yourself when you know you can deliver speeches in public.  And believe it or not, the confidence flows over into other areas of life as well.

It will cause your ideas to stick

Hopefully your ideas will stick with your audience, but more importantly, they will stick with you.  Once you speak about a new idea, it’s amazing how you own it in a way you never did before.

You’ll get to “feel the power”

Are you a control freak?  Drama queen?  In either case, it can be a huge rush to see an audience hanging on your every word until you deliver your killer lines!

It will help build your leadership platform

When you speak, others will start to see you as an expert.  This makes them more likely to seek you out for input, follow you on your social networks, and perhaps invite – and pay – you to speak again.

You’ll have fun

All in all, public speaking is hard work, but it’s also a blast!  It can be a little scary at times, but there’s nothing like playing off the energy of an audience, experimenting with new techniques, and sharing great ideas that help others win.

So what should you do if you’d like to give public speaking a shot, but don’t know where to start?  Here’s what I did, and I guarantee each resource will make a remarkable difference for you, starting immediately:

Join a local Toastmasters club

You can search for a club on the Toastmasters website.  Depending on where you live, there could be as many as 100 clubs in your vicinity.  This is a great place to get experience in an extremely low pressure environment giving speeches that last an average of 5-7 minutes on literally any topic of your choosing.  The cost of club dues are usually very minimal, maybe $50 per six months.

Take a Dale Carnegie course

I also recommend the hundred year-old Effective Communications & Human Relations course.  Not only will you get to practice giving many short 2-4 minute speeches, you’ll also learn all the principles from my all-time favorite leadership book: Dale Carnegie’s How to Win Friends & Influence People.  The cost of this course is usually in the $1,700 – 2,000 range, but well worth it, especially if you have access to company training funds.

Nathan Magnuson is a leadership consultant, coach, trainer and thought leader.  Receive his ebook Trusted Leadership Advisor by subscribing to his website or   follow him on Twitter.