What do I have in common with Tina Fey and Malcolm Gladwell? Turns out we have similar leadership styles! Who knew?
This week, I took The Fascination Advantage assessment to learn how others perceive me and how I can use this to my advantage, both personally and professionally. The assessment, created by Sally Hogshead, has given me a new perspective on how my peers view me and how I can become a better leader. Taking the assessment was actually a lot of fun, and even before I received the results, I found that I was learning more about myself just by thinking about the questions. I could see right away that I wasn't motivated by status, but felt more passionate by producing good work through creativity. So let's dive into the results...
At first I was surprised by my results. My primary advantage (my most effective method of communication) is described as "Mystique." The word mystique sounded a little too cool to describe me. But once I read more, I knew it described me perfectly. Leaders whose primary advantage is mystique are calm, independent, and think before they speak. I feel like this is accurate because I do think very carefully about the way I communicate with others. I have also been described as calm many times before. I think some people feel better by vocalizing their stress and anger in the moment, whereas I definitely prefer staying calm.
My secondary advantage is innovation. This means that I am a creative problem solver and that I like to work through problems using a range of different solutions. This has definitely been a goal of mine so I was really happy to see this in the results. As a marketer, I think it's really important to think outside of the box and challenge the obvious. The assessment also described me as a social chameleon. Growing up all over the world, I do feel as if I have the ability to relate to and form deep connections with many different types of people. I love meeting new people but at the same time I don't enjoy drawing attention to myself.
Together, these two advantages (mystique + innovation) form the archetype - The Secret Weapon. People of this archetype are usually quiet and unassuming but stand out through their ideas and creativity. I was shocked at how accurately this archetype described me. But what was more interesting to me was that I never thought that being calm, unassuming, and subtle were actually strengths. I definitely feel inauthentic when I try to be the loudest person in the room but sometimes I felt like that was the only way to be heard. Going forward, I will challenge myself to speak confidently about my ideas and solutions, and use my calm demeanor to build trust in teams.
Many people emphasize the hard skills required to be a successful marketer. These are definitely important, but I think soft skills are just as important and often times underrated. As a marketer you will always be communicating with internal teams, clients, and most importantly customers. Understanding how you communicate best and most authentically is critical. After all, the best marketing tells a story. And understanding the best way to tell that story is almost as important as the story itself.
This week, I took The Fascination Advantage assessment to learn how others perceive me and how I can use this to my advantage, both personally and professionally. The assessment, created by Sally Hogshead, has given me a new perspective on how my peers view me and how I can become a better leader. Taking the assessment was actually a lot of fun, and even before I received the results, I found that I was learning more about myself just by thinking about the questions. I could see right away that I wasn't motivated by status, but felt more passionate by producing good work through creativity. So let's dive into the results...
At first I was surprised by my results. My primary advantage (my most effective method of communication) is described as "Mystique." The word mystique sounded a little too cool to describe me. But once I read more, I knew it described me perfectly. Leaders whose primary advantage is mystique are calm, independent, and think before they speak. I feel like this is accurate because I do think very carefully about the way I communicate with others. I have also been described as calm many times before. I think some people feel better by vocalizing their stress and anger in the moment, whereas I definitely prefer staying calm.
My secondary advantage is innovation. This means that I am a creative problem solver and that I like to work through problems using a range of different solutions. This has definitely been a goal of mine so I was really happy to see this in the results. As a marketer, I think it's really important to think outside of the box and challenge the obvious. The assessment also described me as a social chameleon. Growing up all over the world, I do feel as if I have the ability to relate to and form deep connections with many different types of people. I love meeting new people but at the same time I don't enjoy drawing attention to myself.
Together, these two advantages (mystique + innovation) form the archetype - The Secret Weapon. People of this archetype are usually quiet and unassuming but stand out through their ideas and creativity. I was shocked at how accurately this archetype described me. But what was more interesting to me was that I never thought that being calm, unassuming, and subtle were actually strengths. I definitely feel inauthentic when I try to be the loudest person in the room but sometimes I felt like that was the only way to be heard. Going forward, I will challenge myself to speak confidently about my ideas and solutions, and use my calm demeanor to build trust in teams.
Many people emphasize the hard skills required to be a successful marketer. These are definitely important, but I think soft skills are just as important and often times underrated. As a marketer you will always be communicating with internal teams, clients, and most importantly customers. Understanding how you communicate best and most authentically is critical. After all, the best marketing tells a story. And understanding the best way to tell that story is almost as important as the story itself.
I am 'fascinated' by the notion of the 'Secret Weapon' built on two advantages.
ReplyDeleteA high degree of self-awareness, obtained any which way, is, by itself, a secret weapon . In a strange way, high self-awareness is always accompanied by a high awareness of others and the environment. A perfect combination for a successful marketing leader. Another secret weapon!
As for 'Mystique' - it can also be a range of candles for 'Diptique!'