Assessing Labels
Identity can be tricky.
As humans we are pattern thinkers so it’s natural to look for commonalities among people, give those patterns names, and assign some sense of understanding to those labels.
Some are basically neutral: left-handed, gardener, Anime fan…
Some are easily apparent: tall, redhead, bearded…
And some are too often political in our era: queer, Christian, Arabic…
It’s fascinating to see how public acceptance of many of these labels has shifted in recent decades. The rise of greater individualism is accompanied by more self expression and a broader common tolerance.
Many of the leaders and teams I work with are exploring other kids of labels. A number have discovered as adults that they have ADHD. Lots of us talk openly about our struggles with depression or anxiety. I see people uncovering important insights to themselves through personality profiles like DISC or The Enneagram. And the list of assessments available is endless and growing.
Recently I was working with someone who was wondering whether they might be on the autism spectrum. Getting a proper diagnosis is costly and time consuming so we talked about what would make it valuable for them and what the added understanding could make possible.
Ultimately, with all of these tools there are three criteria that make them useful:
If it will help you 1. Understand Yourself, 2. Understand Others, and 3. Function Well Together there’s a good case to be made for exploring further.
There is a risk in using any identity to put ourselves or others in a box (“an introvert could never be a great public speaker”) or to excuse inappropriate behaviour (“I’m not being a jerk I’m just high on the Dominance scale in DISC”).
It’s also advisable to hold any label gently. We are much more than any demographic, diagnosis, or profile. And we, and our surrounding cultures, always have potential to change.
So, if you’r intrigued about who you are and how you function this is a wonderful time to be alive. Whether it’s a detailed professional psychometric profile or a social media quiz about what your favourite Muppet says about your character, there’s lots to explore. Just keep it all in perspective and have some trusted friends or mentors ready to help you make sense of whatever you discover.