What happens when we realise that we have changed completely?

Recently I repeated a Natural Proclivity test to check reconfirm my proclivities and check my level of energy. The first time I took the test was 3 years ago when together with my business partner we became accredited in that tool.

My natural proclivity was Game Changer – Polisher and I was surprised when I found out because I couldn’t connect it to my work. When I received my feedback I understood what that combination meant and then I knew that it was me. I am always full of new ideas and combine concepts and knowledge from different fields; I can design a new programme in a few minutes and create a story in seconds. Ideas flood into my mind all the time and I always think of new and better ways of doing things.

In the meantime my professional reality changed. The environment changed and required a different attitude and activity. New ideas are great but as a Consultant & Coach I also needed clients and work. I needed to connect to people, to create a network and expand it in order to increase my opportunities for projects and new work.

I got more involved in the Coaching Association of my country and became Member of the Board, I also got involved with a global research programme (my Game Changer is always there) and published a survey study which gave me the opportunity to connect to more people and give presentations in various countries.

At the same time I kept on investing time in meeting new people in the business environement; although work wouldn’t come easily more people knew me and some new projects started coming.

When I took the test a month ago my profile was Playmaker – Polisher. This time I was shocked! How can my natural proclivity change so dramatically? I asked to discuss it with the Clinical Psychologist, who had designed the tool and could explain to me what has happened. We had a very interesting discussion in which he mentioned that this is not “Adaptation” because I was playing out the new profile with pleasure! My energy is higher than in the previous profile and I enjoy what I do. I am a Playmaker and feel myself.

What has really changed? all the environment. There was no stability or security anymore and I had to do what was needed in order to get work. If I wanted to Survive I would have to get more work; and the only way to get more work was by connecting to more people. And because it was My decision and My responsibility and My choice it became my new natural proclivity.

I made a plan as I would do with a coaching client and followed it through; most of the time it wasn’t easy nor comfortable. The Need for Survival was always there. And coached me to gradually transform and become a different person with much higher flexibility and joy in Playmaking. Still with a lot of new ideas!

So, I would extract two lessons from my personal story:

• a)    a real need may lead to transformation or smooth and natural adaptation to a new behaviour

• b)   Diagnostic tools, tests or assessments are useful tools in measuring behavioural change in coaching 

From my experience the use of tests and assessments in coaching is a reliable way of measuring results and tracking progress with a client.

Starting a process of changing behaviour with them may lead to various kinds of results like development of their thinking, change of mindset and also change in their everyday behaviour which is usually the first result we look for.

If an executive needs to improve their performance in their current role and have identified specific behaviours to work on, we could add value by making their objective more specific and visible in the results of a test. Although self-assessments might be deceptive in case the client has very low self-awareness, they still have value as indicative.

I usually use a combination of a 360 with a natural proclivity test and get an indication of their energy level, their type of energy, mindset etc as assessed by others and by themselves. In this way I save time and target specific areas to ask questions to formulate goals and define expected results.

In my story, my Coach was my reality – the Need of Survival - which made me change my behaviour and mindset. The natural proclivity test made me realise it and understand my new abilities. Now I know I have them and I can consciously use them to my interest; if I hadn’t I would deprive myself of the deliberate use of them and of the opportunity to invest in them!

Read other blog-articles by Maria Biquet here, and connect with her via Linkedin

Maria Biquet is an experienced multilingual Business Consultant and Executive Coach with vast experience from diverse business fields, such as Banking & Financing, Automotive, Telecommunications and Education.

Maria has long experience in Strategic Marketing and in establishing companies in new markets. For more than 20 years she has studied and practiced various methodologies for People Development and Organisational Change including Neuroscience in Coaching, Systemic approach, Appreciative Inquiry Approach.

She holds a Bachelors in Language & Linguistics, an MBA-International Marketing from Sunderland University UK and is a Neurocoach certified by the NBG – Harvard School and a Master Coach certified by the CAC.

President of HCA (Hellenic Coaching Association) EMCC Greece, Senior Researcher on Ethics at EMCC (European Mentoring & Coaching Council) - “the actual Ethical Dilemmas in Coaching today”.

EMCC Accredited Senior Practitioner Coach

Works in Greek, English and French.