Consulting Group, Inc.
Joel M. Rothaizer, Ph.D., CEO

Sandra L. Hill, M.A., President
 

The following is a self-study guide for the Managing For Success (MFS) Behavioral Assessment. You focused on a particular context in taking this instrument. For most of you, this context was your behavior at work. Before reading your report we suggest that you think of at least one current issue within that context. This could be a new opportunity, a situation that isn't going as well as you'd like, tension between you and someone else, etc.

MFS Behavioral Assessment 
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1. "GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS" 
        For each of the three paragraphs:
A. Read one statement at a time.
B. Put a small "T" at the end of each statement that is true.
C. Mark an "F" for any that is not true or a "?" mark if you are not sure.
D. Then reread the paragraph and highlight or underline the ONE statement in each of the paragraphs that is most true.
E. Take a few moments and ask yourself how the information on this page might relate to your current situation. What insights does it give you? What actions might you want to take based on those insights? Is there anyone you'd like to communicate something to? Write down your responses.

2. "VALUE TO THE ORGANIZATION" 
A. Read the introduction at top of page.
B. Select the one you see as most valuable.
C. To what extent are these qualities showing up in your work? To what extent are they showing up as assets? To what extent are they showing up as challenges? Write down your answers.
D. How does this relate to your current situation? What insights does it give you? What actions might you want to take based on those insights? Is there anyone you'd like to communicate something to? Write down your responses.

E. Is there anything missing in the list?

3. "CHECKLIST FOR COMMUNICATING" and "DON'TS ON COMMUNICATING" 
A. Put a “T” next to the items that seem true, an “F” next to those that seem false, and a “?” next to those that you are not sure of. 
B. Select four on each page that are most true and/or significant. Highlight and rank order them 1-4.
C. Thinking of you and others with whom you inteact, to what extent would it be useful for you to have this information about each other?
D. How does this relate to your current situation? What insights does it give you? What actions might you want to take based on those insights? Is there anyone you'd like to communicate something to? Write down your responses.

4. “IDEAL ENVIRONMENT” (Not all reports have this section)
A. Mark each item with a “T,” “F” or “?”
B. How is the "fit" between your ideal environment and your current environment? What insights does it give you? What actions might you want to take based on those insights? Is there anyone you'd like to communicate something to? Write down your responses.

5. "PERCEPTIONS'" 
A. Read Introduction
B. In each of the three sections, highlight the two most true
C. How does this relate to your current situation? What insights does it give you? What actions might you want to take based on those insights? Is there anyone you'd like to communicate something to? Write down your responses.

6. “NATURAL AND ADAPTED STYLES” 
A. Mark each item with a “T,” “F” or “?”
B. How does this relate to your current situation? What insights does it give you? What actions might you want to take based on those insights? Is there anyone you'd like to communicate something to? Write down your responses.

7. "ADAPTED STYLE" 
A. Read each point.
B. Are there any behaviors listed that do not seem appropriate for your job?
C. Does this listing adequately describe how you adapt your working behaviors? 
D. How does this relate to your current situation? What insights does it give you? What actions might you want to take based on those insights? Is there anyone you'd like to communicate something to? Write down your responses.

8. "KEYS TO MOTIVATING" (not all reports have this section)
A. Highlight the four which motivate you and rank order them 1-4.
B. How does this relate to your current situation? What insights does it give you? What actions might you want to take based on those insights? Is there anyone you'd like to communicate something to? Write down your responses.

9. "KEYS TO MANAGING" (not all reports have this section)
A. Highlight the four most effective statements and rank order them 1-4.
B. How does this relate to your current situation? What insights does it give you? What actions might you want to take based on those insights? Is there anyone you'd like to communicate something to? Write down your responses.

10. "AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT"
A. Read Introduction--Highlight "possible limitations"
B. Cross out tendencies that do not apply
C. Highlight the three areas you feel need improvement and rank order them 1-3. 
D. How does this relate to your current situation? What insights does it give you? What actions might you want to take based on those insights? Is there anyone you'd like to communicate something to? Write down your responses.

11. Is there anything else in the report that seems particularly relevant to your current situation?

12. Write down your overall conclusions based on this behavioral assessment.
 
 

Personal Interest, Attitudes and Values Assessment
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There are six attitudes. For each attitude (one page each):
A. Read one statement at a time.
B. Put a small "T" at the end of each statement that is true.
C. Underline any statement that is not true or of which you are not sure.

Important note about the PIA&V Assessment: While we find a high degree of sophistication in the MFS (Managing for Success) software, we find much less sophistication in the PIA&V report. For example, the six attitudes are almost always grouped into three categories (those that drive our behavior, those that are conditional, and those to which we are indifferent), with two attitudes in each category, even if the scores of some were very close to each other. In addition, some of the attitudes seem more internally consistent (measuring the same thing), while others seems more heterogeneous (tending to lump together different qualities), particularly Traditional and Aesthetic. Nevertheless, there is often very usual information in this report.

In looking at the PIA&V, we pay particular attention to:

• Page 9, showing how our attitudes compare to others. When our scores are to the right of the gray area, we may find that others often don't understand our passion for that area. When our scores are to the left of the gray area, we may find that this is a "blind spot" for us, or that we judge others who have more interest in that area.

• Page 11, with a visual representation of the relative importance of each of those areas to us.

So, to continue to self-assessment:

D. Look at pages 9 and 10, Norms and Comparisons. To what extent to you agree with the statements on page 10? To the extent that you agree, how has that played out in your life?

E. Look at page 11. Looking at this visual representation of your attitudes, interests, and values, what conclusions do you draw?