The Power of Understanding Yourself

Chapter 15 An Example of Punching Down Your Own Style

My favorite wine is whatever is open.

– That guy

The more meaningful reflection you can muster for the evaluation of your own style, the better. That’s why I think reading all the styles is a useful exercise. Your assessment is such a useful tool to guide your metacognition. Of particular importance is the order of your preference, but the type of pattern you display, the exact numbers, how close two numbers are to each other – all of these considerations can generate incredible insights.

Although skills, strengths, aspirations, and values are all important to who we are, none of those are as immediately noticeable to others as our style. Having a deep awareness and appreciation for our own style is critical to understanding ourselves and guiding our development. Later in this chaper, I will use my results to demonstrate what you can cull from the assessment. As I go over my scores, consider your own scores. This may be a good time to review Chapter 5, “What’s My Style?,” again – and to keep in mind that there are no good or bad results. This assessment provides a tool for self-examination, not self-criticism. Right now, your goal should not be to determine what makes you great and what you need to work on. It is merely to identify you.

Be honest with yourself. We are undertaking an exercise in metacognition, and that includes understanding your own preferences, perspectives, vulnerabilities. Embrace you. There will be ...