After attending the Core24 Executive Breakfast on Monday, April 13 and listening to Connie Podesta speak about her Personality Shapes test, I decided to go back to the office and try it out on our team. The Event Lounge is a “Smart Sized” company of six full-time employees. Or to put it bluntly, we office in an intimate environment. Our employee relationships are more of brothers and sisters, than office pals. We all have great days, bad days, and crazy days, and everyone in the office knows who is having what, and when.
I absolutely love it.
The Shapes test is a personality assessment, which can be completed in approximately 5-7 seconds.To take the test, draw four shapes: a square, triangle, circle and squiggle line. Then choose the shape which best represents you.
That’s it.
Podesta states on her website, “It never ceases to amaze me, for the past 25 years I have shared the “shapes” with thousands of people, just how dead-on target this entertaining, yet powerful assessment usually is.” Podesta defines each shape in detail during her presentations. Thankfully, for the sake of this article, she shortened those definitions on her website.The Shapes definitions are listed below.
The Squares:
- Loyal
- Hardworking
- Very organized
- Not fond of change
- Not the best team player/prefer to work alone
- Prone to view “fun” as unnecessary or as a luxury.
The Triangles:
- Take charge and move fast
- Bottom line/efficient
- Confident
- Very competitive
- Love to debate and argue
- Impatient/Outspoken
The Circles:
- Caregivers/Helpers
- Fun-loving
- Enjoy being with people
- Over-committ (hate to say no)
- Worry too much
- Try too hard to please
The Squiggles:
- Creative
- High energy
- Flexible/spontaneous will
- Easily distracted
- Often act or speak without thinking
Before presenting the test to my colleagues, I decided to assess each of them based on what I know.
Unfortunately, I had a 60% fail rate, but oh well! What can I say, I’m a squiggle.
Here is how The Event Lounge panned out:
Alison Kieckhafer, CEO: Triangle
- Take Charge/Move Fast –CHECK
- Bottom Line –CHECK
- She actually uses the phrase “bottom line” on a daily basis.
- Very Competitive – DoubleCHECK
Adrienne Bommarito, National Account Manager: Squiggle
- Creative –CHECK
- Well, she thinks so, at least
- High energy –CHECK
- Spontaneous will –CHECK
- Anyone want to go to Vegas tomorrow?
Angie Turner, Operations Manager: Triangle
- Bottom line/Efficient –CHECK
- This is exactly WHY she does event operations…
- Very competitive –Hmm…
- Ok, maybe Angie is actually a square….
Christopher Aupperle, Warehouse Manager: Triangle
- Take charge and move fast –DOUBLE CHECK
- Impatient and Outspoken –CHECK
- Only in good taste!
- Confident –CHECK
Kristy Goode, Marketing Coordinator: Triangle
- Bottom line/Efficient –CHECK
- Love to debate and argue – Hmm…
- Ehhhh….not really…..
- Impatient/Outspoken –NO
- Maybe Kristy is really a circle….
Teresa McDonald, Warehouse Manager: Squiggle
- Creative –CHECK, CHECK
- Flexible/Spontaneous will –DefinitelyCHECK
- Just come take a look at our warehouse to see how flexible!
According to the Shapes Test, we have a staff of Triangles and Squiggles.
According toMYassessment, we have (1) Square, (2) Triangles, (1) Circle and (2) Squiggles. Oh well.
Now, how about Vegas.
Anyone?
Adrienne Bommarito is the National Account Manager for The Event Lounge, an event company specializing in corporate Meeting Management, Production and Decor/Design.Adrienne lives in Dallas with her dog, and her Joe.
