Understanding human nature is a timeless pursuit – from Greek philosophers speculating about the four humors to the modern-day urge to download a Zodiac app, we all want to make sense of why we think, feel, and behave the way we do. This natural desire explains the popularity of personality assessment.
Maybe you’ve taken an online quiz, completed a strengths assessment at work, or been asked to identify your “type” during a team retreat. The goal is usually to gain awareness of your current patterns so you can identify the kinds of careers and lifestyles that fit you best.
But many people take the results of these tests as destiny instead of a description of how they typically respond to situations in their lives.
For example, one of my clients recently told me that she couldn’t possibly set an assertive boundary with her friends because she’s an INFJ. Here, personality test results feel like guardrails, or even a ceiling.
This type of thinking about personality is incredibly common. You get your test results and think:
- I’m an introvert, so leadership probably isn’t for me.
- I’m high in anxiety, so I’ll never be good under pressure.
- I’m not naturally assertive, so I avoid conflict.
What starts as insight about your current patterns can shift into self-exclusion. You start to count yourself out for opportunities because you believe your personality disqualifies you.
Personality Tests Describe Patterns, Not Potential
From a psychological science perspective, personality traits are not causes. They’re descriptive summaries of how you generally approach the world right now.
When we label someone as “reliable,” “agreeable,” or “emotionally sensitive,” we’re describing patterns that show up repeatedly, not explaining why they exist. You’re considered reliable because you tend to think, feel, and act in reliable ways most of the time.
The important thing to remember is that people adjust how they think and behave all the time. This can happen when we’re thrown into a new role or environment that pulls for you to show up differently. For example, maybe you have to start running meetings while you’re filling in for a coworker who is on leave; as you share your ideas more, you might start to think about yourself as someone with leadership potential.
When those changes to your thinking and behavior stick, you’re going to fill out the questions on the personality test differently and likely get a different result. The personality label follows the pattern, not the other way around.
Unfortunately, most personality tests often frame their results as types you have rather than tendencies you practice.
When Personality Labels Hold You Back
When you take a personality test, it can be easy to conclude this is just who I am because the results feel validating. Given that the test is simply putting a label on the information you fed it, the results feel accurate.
Personality tests results can also relieve the pressure to stretch outside of your comfort zone. If something feels hard or uncomfortable, the test offers a ready-made explanation: It’s just not a fit for my personality.
Remember my client who felt she couldn’t be assertive because of her personality type. What she was really saying was that setting boundaries was difficult, even scary, for her.
But what feels comfortable now and what you’re capable of aren’t the same thing. The traits that feel most natural are often the ones you’ve practiced the longest. But that doesn’t mean you can’t train up new behaviors and patterns of thinking that can, over time, become the new normal.
The cost of the personality test trap isn’t theoretical. It shows up in real decisions.
People pass on promotions because they’re “not confident enough.” They stay guarded in relationships because they’re “too independent.” They avoid speaking up because they’re “not that kind of person.” In each case, a personality label becomes a reason not to try.
Ironically, the tests meant to promote self-understanding end up reinforcing the very patterns people want to outgrow.
Personality as a Starting Point, Not a Verdict
Personality can provide powerful awareness to patterns that may or may not be serving you. At the same time, the information we get from them is often incomplete.
They tell you about your starting point – your current way of showing up. But they often fail to communicate where you’re capable of going.
So, when you next take a personality test, I encourage you to think of the results as a snapshot depicting the current version of you. Then ask yourself, what does the life I want require from me next? The answer may involve developing qualities that don’t yet feel natural. That doesn’t mean they’re inauthentic. It means they’re unpracticed.
When insight becomes a starting point rather than a ceiling, personality stops being an excuse and turns into an opportunity.
If you’re interested in learning more about intentional personality evolution, I offer a free Masterclass – Be Who You Want – that covers my science-backed framework to align your personality for success in your next step. Learn more here.
