A proper review of your Birkman Method scores and reports almost always begins with a fun and engaging look at your Areas of Interest scores. I like to refer to this section as a Google Earth image at 20,000 feet above the professional you. There are 10 broad career areas encompassing tons of different occupations and interests. The image here represents my interests and the associated strength of interest in that particular area. My 97 “Outdoor” score indicates a need to be in an occupation or role that involves hands on work in the outdoors. For 12 years I was an experiential educator and adventure guide with my own company. Now, I volunteer time to build and maintain hiking and biking trails. Secondly, my strong interest in “Literary” encompasses many aspects of my life including the enjoyment of writing but even more so, the love of presenting to individuals and groups.
While intended to be a celebratory introduction to all of the information yet to come in your Birkman reports, there are occasions where the scores don’t seem to fit, especially in higher scores. A client recently shook her head that she had almost no “Artistic” talent, even though it was her highest score at 94! She had never had artistic outlets, could not draw, throw pots, use Photoshop, nor decorate her home with any real pleasure. So what gives? Why is this score so strong - even to the point of representing a “need” to be involved in some form of artistic expression? First, the AOI’s are not intended to represent skill or talent, just interest in that very broad area. My clients are smart and they often times don’t let me off the hook that easily. The official answer, and one more intellectually astute to the one I offered on the fly is, “The scale values measure the intensity of desire to be involved with these activities; they do not measure the level of expected skill or proficiency with these responsibilities.” (The Birkman Method® Manual, 2008, Dr. Roger Birkman, et.al.)
The intensity of the desire to be involved! This client eventually made the discovery that cooking and presenting beautiful plates of colorful meals to family and friends was one area of expression. She had never considered her cooking as art and is now off to purchase her next cookbook, loaded with pictures, no doubt. Does this change her career ambition? Not at all. In this case the client’s career had taken a different course but this awareness opens the door for extracurricular exploration and an additional life outside of work. In other cases, it starts the discussion of where misguided careers can be righted through strong but unrecognized interests or passions.
RedPoint can help you make these discoveries.
While intended to be a celebratory introduction to all of the information yet to come in your Birkman reports, there are occasions where the scores don’t seem to fit, especially in higher scores. A client recently shook her head that she had almost no “Artistic” talent, even though it was her highest score at 94! She had never had artistic outlets, could not draw, throw pots, use Photoshop, nor decorate her home with any real pleasure. So what gives? Why is this score so strong - even to the point of representing a “need” to be involved in some form of artistic expression? First, the AOI’s are not intended to represent skill or talent, just interest in that very broad area. My clients are smart and they often times don’t let me off the hook that easily. The official answer, and one more intellectually astute to the one I offered on the fly is, “The scale values measure the intensity of desire to be involved with these activities; they do not measure the level of expected skill or proficiency with these responsibilities.” (The Birkman Method® Manual, 2008, Dr. Roger Birkman, et.al.)
The intensity of the desire to be involved! This client eventually made the discovery that cooking and presenting beautiful plates of colorful meals to family and friends was one area of expression. She had never considered her cooking as art and is now off to purchase her next cookbook, loaded with pictures, no doubt. Does this change her career ambition? Not at all. In this case the client’s career had taken a different course but this awareness opens the door for extracurricular exploration and an additional life outside of work. In other cases, it starts the discussion of where misguided careers can be righted through strong but unrecognized interests or passions.
RedPoint can help you make these discoveries.
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