Well, this is my senior year in college and I am in the third and final tier of the Elon LEAD program. As a part of the third tier, participants are required to take a TAIS inventory assessment, which is similar to Myers-Briggs but much better may I say! The TAIS includes about 144 items that you have to answer and at the end, a 20 page document is printed that let's you know about your leadership style preferences in a few categories which include your 1) Attentional styles, 2) Self-confidence, 3) Competitiveness, 4) Social styles, and your 5) Communications styles. This report lets you know how you scored on a scale in comparison to a large pool of successful business professionals and how they scored. I feel that this assessment read me quite accurately. I would just like to share some of my findings with you!
For my attentional styles, the TAIS revealed that I am "above average" in my ability to switch from one style of attention to another and also in my ability to stay focused without letting outside sights and sounds distract me. It further pointed out that I am not satisfied with a job until it is done well and done right!!! It read that "I am probably renowned for my organized and sometimes meticulous ways for completing tasks on time." I know this to be true because in my leadership roles, I am always reminding those I am working with of things that need to be done and they always say to me "Thanks Yasmine for keeping the fire under my butt," or "You keep me on my toes, Yas." Somehow the TAIS was also able to gather that I do not do well under intense supervision or frequent monitoring. Yes, this is true because if someone is watching over me with such close surveillance, it makes me feel like they do not think I am capable of doing what I was asked to do.
In my orientation break-down, TAIS indicated that because I am so organized and disciplined in my behavior and ability to pay attention, I often do not understand people who are unorganized and do not follow through on their promises/deadlines-and this is so true!!!
In my Drive and Confidence evaluation, I scored in the 95 percentile-well above the population average yet, I have a low need to control people or situations. This is true. I am highly confident (though not cocky) in my abilities and I know I can do a great job, however, no I do not feel a need to be in control of everything all the time because I realize that no one person can do it all. If you try to take on everything you will either become forgetful, get sloppy in your work performance or just burn yourself out and I'm not one for any of those! TAIS identified that I am a master at delegation, which I am. There are not too many projects I will take on, in which I will not delegate tasks to others. Also, I will not argue with you to get my way. If you have a strong opinion, I believe you are entitled to that opinion, but I will still hold true to mine also-but I will not argue! Arguing is childish to me. TAIS says that people like me often seek approval so much, that even if something irritates us we won't say it and will only focus on the positive. I have noticed I can be quite passive, but I am learning to speak up for myself because otherwise people will smell your weakness and walk all over you for as long as you let them.
MY favorite of all of this was the evaluation on extroversion and introversion and check this-I am at extremely high levels of both! Oh, you didn't know someone could be both did you?! TAIS was able to identify that I love to socialize with people and I love the spotlight, but I also love and highly value my privacy. So because of this, some people think they know me, but they really don't. And sometimes when I do not want to hang out-people will be confused because they think I'm an extrovert all the time, when I honestly want to just chill out by myself in my room in the evenings and even on weekends. TAIS says, my biggest need is to be honest with myself first about my dual need for the spotlight and for privacy! I'm not even going to deny-this is all true.
In terms of my Communications style I am one who almost never expresses my anger aloud or in public. TAIS says, "Your main approach to getting your way is to try to charm others." Hhhmmm, how did they know?! Aaaww, I'm busted! lol TAIS points out to me that I can still voice my opinion and be liked and respected. (This is something I learned this summer). TAIS says that not expressing anger at all is not good-because it can lead to hurtful outbursts that will startle people. Little does TAIS know that I do have outlets for my anger. I express it to my two best friends and also take it out in the gym.
Whhheeww that was a lot, but all and all it REALLY did help me to get to know myself better and help me understand how I act and react to people. I suggest if you can, that you take it yourself also. It cost like $40, but if you would like to learn more about yourself and your leadership styles and habits-I think it will make you a better leader and help you understand why you do the things that you do! This is important because when you lead others, you need to know yourself better than anyone!!!
For my attentional styles, the TAIS revealed that I am "above average" in my ability to switch from one style of attention to another and also in my ability to stay focused without letting outside sights and sounds distract me. It further pointed out that I am not satisfied with a job until it is done well and done right!!! It read that "I am probably renowned for my organized and sometimes meticulous ways for completing tasks on time." I know this to be true because in my leadership roles, I am always reminding those I am working with of things that need to be done and they always say to me "Thanks Yasmine for keeping the fire under my butt," or "You keep me on my toes, Yas." Somehow the TAIS was also able to gather that I do not do well under intense supervision or frequent monitoring. Yes, this is true because if someone is watching over me with such close surveillance, it makes me feel like they do not think I am capable of doing what I was asked to do.
In my orientation break-down, TAIS indicated that because I am so organized and disciplined in my behavior and ability to pay attention, I often do not understand people who are unorganized and do not follow through on their promises/deadlines-and this is so true!!!
In my Drive and Confidence evaluation, I scored in the 95 percentile-well above the population average yet, I have a low need to control people or situations. This is true. I am highly confident (though not cocky) in my abilities and I know I can do a great job, however, no I do not feel a need to be in control of everything all the time because I realize that no one person can do it all. If you try to take on everything you will either become forgetful, get sloppy in your work performance or just burn yourself out and I'm not one for any of those! TAIS identified that I am a master at delegation, which I am. There are not too many projects I will take on, in which I will not delegate tasks to others. Also, I will not argue with you to get my way. If you have a strong opinion, I believe you are entitled to that opinion, but I will still hold true to mine also-but I will not argue! Arguing is childish to me. TAIS says that people like me often seek approval so much, that even if something irritates us we won't say it and will only focus on the positive. I have noticed I can be quite passive, but I am learning to speak up for myself because otherwise people will smell your weakness and walk all over you for as long as you let them.
MY favorite of all of this was the evaluation on extroversion and introversion and check this-I am at extremely high levels of both! Oh, you didn't know someone could be both did you?! TAIS was able to identify that I love to socialize with people and I love the spotlight, but I also love and highly value my privacy. So because of this, some people think they know me, but they really don't. And sometimes when I do not want to hang out-people will be confused because they think I'm an extrovert all the time, when I honestly want to just chill out by myself in my room in the evenings and even on weekends. TAIS says, my biggest need is to be honest with myself first about my dual need for the spotlight and for privacy! I'm not even going to deny-this is all true.
In terms of my Communications style I am one who almost never expresses my anger aloud or in public. TAIS says, "Your main approach to getting your way is to try to charm others." Hhhmmm, how did they know?! Aaaww, I'm busted! lol TAIS points out to me that I can still voice my opinion and be liked and respected. (This is something I learned this summer). TAIS says that not expressing anger at all is not good-because it can lead to hurtful outbursts that will startle people. Little does TAIS know that I do have outlets for my anger. I express it to my two best friends and also take it out in the gym.
Whhheeww that was a lot, but all and all it REALLY did help me to get to know myself better and help me understand how I act and react to people. I suggest if you can, that you take it yourself also. It cost like $40, but if you would like to learn more about yourself and your leadership styles and habits-I think it will make you a better leader and help you understand why you do the things that you do! This is important because when you lead others, you need to know yourself better than anyone!!!