Page 18 - NBIZ Magazine 2022 February

position and perform to their full po- BEHAVIORAL DATA use that information to avoid creat-
tential. To select the right person for ing a team with too many assertive
a specific role and nurture them for CAN HELP PREDICT or forceful personalities. This way,
continued success one needs to cast HOW SOMEONE organizations can utilize behavior-
even more light on the most relevant al information to resolve possible
information-information that might WILL BEHAVE in a challenges before problems occur. It’s
otherwise been hidden in the shadows specific situation or a proactive approach towards creating
if one's organization relied solely on successful teams.
resumes and recommendations. work under a certain
manager or team. Motivational Interests
That’s where talent assessments Assessments
shine. Using this data can Having the right behavioral traits
also help organizations or cognitive abilities to do a job
What Does the Right Information discern how to coach, can lead to success. But having the
Look Like? The torch of the talent right motivational interests for doing
management assessment shines a manage, and develop a job allows an individual to excel
light on three key areas of an individ- individual EMPLOYEES and engage even further. The more
ual. Assessments measure how people interested an employee is in the work
think, work, and are motivated. They TO ACHIEVE THEIR they do, the more likely they are to
illuminate the information that allows OPTIMAL LEVEL OF engage with their work and persist
organizations to make smart talent when challenges arise.
decisions by considering these aspects PERFORMANCE. A motivational interests assessment
of the individual. might help a publishing firm; for
Of course, some assessments mea- instance, learn that an individual
sure each of these aspects individually. applying for a writer position named
Other assessments, like PXT Select™, setting the individual up with assign- Therese enjoys imaginative and
measure all three. Each assessment ments that challenge and engage them. artistic activities and the opportunity
differs in its application, and an orga- Everyone’s needs differ. Knowing how to collaborate with others. Having
nization may choose to test different those needs vary can make all the established their image of the ideal
aspects of an individual depending on difference in keeping a diverse group of writer already, the publishing firm
its business needs and objectives. employees satisfied in their roles. can offer Therese the job knowing
that she has the right interests and
Here’s what each type of Behavioral Assessments motivation to engage fully with her
assessment measures: As you might have guessed, these work as a writer.
assessments provide an accurate
Cognitive Assessments insight into people’s behaviors. They Lighting the Way Toward
These assessments measure an also assess the needs and core drivers Future Success
individual’s ability for memory, con- of an individual. Behavioral data can Our innate need to illuminate the
centration, problem-solving, and other help predict how someone will behave darkness—that same need that drove
mental capabilities required to excel in a specific situation or work under humans to light fires and torches
in specific jobs. When paired with data a certain manager or team. Using so long ago—still serves us in the
from behavioral assessments, results this data can also help organizations modern world. By using data-driven
from cognitive assessments signifi- discern how to coach, manage, and de- talent assessments like PXT Select to
cantly increase an organization’s velop individual employees to achieve gather and evaluate information about
ability to predict an individual’s ability their optimal level of performance. candidates and employees that would
to perform their job successfully. A behavioral assessment, for example, otherwise remain hidden, organiza-
A cognitive assessment could tell might detect an individual’s tendency tions can discover what they need
an organization, for example, that an to act assertively. An assertive individ- to know to engage individuals, set
individual engages more with their ual like this might feel more need for employees up for success, and enter
work when allowed to perform intricate control, be more competitive, and be into a brighter future. N
calculations and communicate complex more achievement-oriented compared
data to others. With this in mind, an to their coworkers. With this insight For more information on how you
organization can maximize the individ- in mind, an organization can put that can illuminate the ambiguity in the
ual’s talents by having them analyze individual on a team that desperately talent selection process and provide
numerical data at a more advanced needs someone with the willingness direction in your organization, visit
level than their position requires. The to move and shake things up a bit. At www.AssessmentSpecialists.com
organization can also make sure it’s the same time, the organization could MCaspole@AssessmentSpecialists.com.

18 NBIZ ■ February 2022