Personality tests. Some people roll their eyes, others can’t get enough of them. Me? I’ve taken more than I can count… work, church, leadership retreats, you name it. And while they’re not the be-all and end-all, I’ve found them to be powerful tools for understanding myself and, maybe more importantly, understanding others.

THE ENNEAGRAM: I’m rocking a 9 with a 6 wing, which, in layman’s terms, means I’m the human equivalent of a bean bag… comfy, adaptable, and impossible to ruffle. The 2-7-3 gang follows close behind because I’m also part empath, part energizer bunny, and part self-improvement junkie. In a nutshell: I’m a steady anchor with a surprising spark.

9: The Peacemaker. The Functions of Receptivity and Interpersonal Mediation (25 points)

• The Easygoing, Self-Effacing Type: Receptive, Reassuring, Agreeable, and Complacent

6: The Loyalist. The Functions of Trust and Perseverance (22 points)

2: The Helper. The Functions of Empathy and Altruism (19 points)

7: The Enthusiast. The Functions of Spontaneity and Diverse Activity (18 points)

3: The Achiever. The Functions of Self-Esteem and Self-Development (17 points)

Two books I’d recommend if you want to learn more about the Enneagram from a faith perspective:

• The Enneagram for Spiritual Formation by A.J. Sherrill (Sep 2020. Brazos Press)
• The Enneagram and Your Marriage by Jackie Brewster (Mar 2023. Baker Books)

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CliftonStrengths Finder: My top 5 are Connectedness, Communication, Developer, Belief, Positivity. Surprise! Surprise! These traits are all about making connections; for those who know me IRL, you’re not shocked. (Woo is #7) In a sentence: I’m a builder of people and a connector of stories, fuelled by faith and hope.

How has this helped me with my career?

After these assessments, my workplace quickly realized that digital advertising and SEO work weren’t my true calling despite my decade-long experience elsewhere. I understood and got the work done, but I wasn’t thriving.

It’s why my early career path always felt a bit flat, while PR, fundraising, and community building feel like home.

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I completed this next personality test for our church when hashtags were just a pound sign. All I remember from it is this… some people love to stack the chairs after church, and they do so because it needs to be done. Then there is me, who loves to stack the chairs because a group of people will be doing it together, and I’ll get to socialize with them while we do it. They have the same job and the same outcomes, but different drives.

DISC Assessment: I (influence) S (support)

I’m like a walking, talking support group with an infectious laugh. Or better put: a people-first leader who makes community feel like family.

I’ve found that all of these personality tests have helped me with self-awareness and self-improvement, and they have helped me understand those I work and volunteer with!

Understanding what motivates people, how they operate, and why they work together makes for a much more enjoyable and productive environment.

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I decided to complete “The 6 Types of Working Genius” assessment by Patrick Lencioni in April 2024.

What that means, in their words:
“𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗷𝗼𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄, 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺𝘀𝗲𝗹𝘃𝗲𝘀. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲, 𝗲𝘅𝘂𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰, 𝗴𝗹𝗮𝗱𝗹𝘆 𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗲𝗿𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱. 𝗜𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗯𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝗼 𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗺 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘂𝗻𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗲, 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗲𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝘀 𝗻𝗮ï𝘃𝗲 𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗲. 𝗪𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗻𝘁𝗵𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗘𝗻𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗿.”

In mine: I’m a catalyst for confidence, igniting hope and energy in those around me.

So, What Does All This Really Mean?

At the end of the day, these tests aren’t just labels or cute conversation starters. They’re mirrors. They’ve shown me what I already suspected… that I come alive when I’m building relationships, cheering people on, and weaving meaning into the everyday. They’ve also reminded me of something deeper: success isn’t about fitting into someone else’s mould; it’s about leaning fully into the way you were designed.

For me, that means being the steady anchor and the spark, the one who sees the big picture, tells the story, and makes sure no one feels alone in the process. For you, it might look completely different. And that’s the point. We’re not meant to be carbon copies of each other.

So go ahead, take the test, compare the notes, and have the “aha” moment. Then use what you learn to work better, live better, and love people better. Because when you know who you are and honour who others are, you build communities, families, and workplaces where everyone can thrive.

And honestly? That’s the kind of test result worth celebrating.