The 5 Minute Personality Test

AN INDUSTRIAL ORGANIZATIONAL
PSYCHOLOGY PERSONALITY PROFILE
 History/Background

This test was designed by industrial/organizational

(I/O) psychologists to help determine how different
personality types and groups would be most efficient
in the workplace
They designated that there are four “styles” (Based
on animals) that encompass a person’s natural
inclinations, strengths and weaknesses. It also helps
indicate which types or styles work best together and
how to best motivate different types of people in a
task-oriented environment
 Directions

On the paper there are 10 horizontal lines with four

words on each line (one in each of 4 columns)
In each line put the number “4” next to the word that
best describes you in that line; a “3” next to the word
that the describe the next best’ a “2” to the next best
word and a “1” by the word that least describes you.
When you have finished you need to total up the
words by COLUMN
 How to Read Your Results

Each Letter (L, O, G, B) stands for a particular

personality types. The column with the highest score
is you dominant personality type, while the column
with the 2nd highest score is you sub-dominant type

L=Lions/Leaders
O=Otters/Influence
G=Golden Retrievers=Loyalty
B=Beavers=Industrious
The Animal Spectrum
Understanding and Valuing a Lion

Lions are Leaders. They are usually

the bosses at work (Or at least think
they are!) They are decisive,
bottom-line folks who are
observers, not watchers or listeners .
They love to solve problems They are
usually individualists who love to
seek new adventures and opportunities
Lions are confident and self-
reliant. They take charge in group
settings. Their aggressive
tone/behavior can sometimes cause
problems with others
 Strengths and Weaknesses of a Lion

Natural Strengths Natural Weaknesses

Decisive Impatient
Goal Oriented Blunt
Achievement Driven  Demanding
Gets Results Poor Listener
Risk Taker Impulsive
Takes Initiative Demanding
Self-Starter Projects > People
Persistent Insensitive
Efficient “Runs Over” others who try to speak
Competitive Fears inactivity or relaxation
Driven to complete tasks efficiently Quickly bored by routines or
and effectively mechanics
What Lion’s Need:

Basic Disposition: Fast-paced, task oriented

Motivated By: Results, challenge, action, power,
credit for achievement
Time Management: Focus on NOW instead of
distant future, Get a lot done in less time than peers,
Hate wasting time. Get straight to the point
Communication Style: Great at initiating, not good
at listening
Decision Making: Impulsive, Results-focused, needs
few facts to make a decision
When Under Pressure: Takes command, becomes
autocratic
Greatest Needs: Results, Variety, New Challenges,
Solve problems, Direct answers
Greatest Desires: Freedom, Authority, Variety,
Difficult Assignments, Opportunity for advancement
 Understanding an Otter

Otters are excitable, fun-seeking,

cheerleader types who love to talk! They’re
great at motivating others and need to be in
an environment where they can talk and have
a vote on major decisions. They have an
outgoing nature and make great
“networkers”
Otters can be very loving and encouraging
UNLESS they are under pressure-they tend to
use their verbal skills to attack. They have a
strong desire to be liked and enjoy being the
center of attention.
Otters are often attentive to style, clothes and
“flash”. They are the life of any party and most
people enjoy being around them
Strengths and Weaknesses of an Otter

Natural Strengths Natural Weaknesses

Enthusiastic Unrealistic
Optimistic Not detail-oriented
Good Communicator Disorganized
Emotional/Passionate Impulsive
Motivational/Inspirational Listens to “feelings” above
Outgoing “logic”
Personable Reactive
Dramatic Can be too Talkative
Fun-Loving Easily excitable
 What Otters Need

 Basic Disposition: Fast-paced, people-oriented

 Motivated By: Recognition, Approval from others
 Time Management: Focus on the future and have
a tendency to rush to the next exciting thing
 Communication Style: Enthusiastic and
stimulating, often one-way; but can inspire and
motivate others
 Decision Making: Intuitive and fast. Makes a lot of
“right calls’ and a lot of wrong ones
 When Under Pressure: ATTACKS. Often more
concerned with popularity than achieving tangible
results
 Greatest Needs: Social activities and recognition.
Activities that are fun, and freedom from details
 Greatest Desires: Prestige, friendly relationships,
opportunity to help and motivate others,
opportunities to share ideas verbally
Understanding a Beaver

Beavers have a strong need to do things

right and “by the book”. They are great at
providing quality control in an office or
any field that require accuracy
(accounting, engineering etc…)
Because rules, consistency and high
standards are so important to Beavers,
they are often frustrated with others who
do not share these same characteristics.
Beavers have a strong need to maintaining
high (and sometimes unrealistic) standards
that can short-circuit their ability to
express warmth in a relationship
Strengths and Weaknesses of a Beaver

Natural Strengths Natural Weaknesses

Accurate Too hard on self

Analytical
Too critical on others
Detail-oriented
Thorough Perfectionist
Industrious Overly Cautious
Orderly
Won’t make decisions
Methodical
High Standards
without all the facts
Intuitive
Too Picky
Controlled Overly sensitive
 What Beavers Need

 Basic Disposition: Slow paced, task oriented

 Motivated By: The desire to be right and
maintain quality
 Time Management: Beavers tend to work slowly
to make sure they are accurate
 Communication Style: Beavers are good
listeners, communicate details and are usually
diplomatic
 Decision Making: Avoids making decisions;
needs lots of information before they will make a
decision
 When Under Pressure: Tries to avoid
pressure/tense situations. They can ignore
deadlines
 Greatest Needs: Security, gradual change and
time to adjust to it
 Greatest Desires: Clearly defined tasks,
stability, security, low risk, tasks that require
precision and planning
Understanding a Golden Retriever

Golden Retrievers are LOYAL above

all else. They’re so loyal that they
can absorb the most emotional
pain and punishment in a
relationship and still stay committed.
They are great listeners,
incredibly empathetic, and
warm encouragers.
However, they tend to be such
“pleasers” that they can have great
difficulty being assertive in a
situation or relationship when it is
needed
 Strengths and Weaknesses of a Golden Retriever

Natural Strengths Natural Weaknesses

Patient Indecisive
Easy-Going
Over accommodating
Team Player
Stable May sacrifice results for the
Empathetic sake of harmony
Compassionate
Slow to initiate
Sensitive to others
Loyal Avoids confrontation
People> Projects Tends to hold grudges and
Dependable
Reliable
remember hurts inflicted by
Supportive others
Agreeable Fears change/instability
What Golden Retrievers Need

 Basic Disposition: Slow paced, people oriented

 Motivated By: Desire for good relationships and
appreciation of others
 Time Management: Focus on the present and devote
lots of time to helping others and building relationships
 Communication Style: Two-way communicator,
great listener and provides empathetic response
 Decision Making: Makes decisions slowly, wants
input from others and often yields to the input
 When Under Pressure: Gives in to the opinions,
wishes and ideas of others. Often too tolerant
 Greatest Needs: Security, gradual change and time to
adjust to it. A conflict-free environment
 Greatest Desires: Quality friendships security,
consistent environment, a relaxed, friendly
environment, freedom to work at own pace