What is the Hermann Brain Dominance Instrument?
Psychometric testing is a method of understanding candidates that you come across often in the recruitment industry. At RIVA Recruitment, we were given the opportunity to flip the switch and test ourselves with the Hermann Brain Dominance Instrument (HBDI), guided by the insightful Andrew George of Headstart Business Coaching.
The HBDI test asks you a range of questions regarding what you identify to be your strengths, weaknesses, hobbies, and character traits. It then collates this data to identify your thinking preferences – whether we are more analytical, experimental, relational, or practical thinkers. More often than not, people have a preference towards two quadrants. The Whole Brain Thinking database has identified some users to have a preference for three, or even prefer all equally. It also identifies how these thinking preferences may change whilst we are under pressure and how they may affect the way we communicate, solve problems, and make decisions.
As part of gaining a deeper understanding of our workplace dynamic, RIVA undertook the HBDI to see what our results indicate about our thinking preferences. Having an awareness of these thinking preferences in the context of our employment allows us to capitalise on our strengths, and delegate, or allow for more time to complete tasks, when it comes to our least preferred ways of thinking. Being new to the industry and working in a small company, I’ve been given the opportunity to expand my learning, and thus my thinking preferences, and adapt my way of thinking, communicating and problem solving in the workplace.
How does my profile reflect me?
I am a red quadrant dominant thinker. That means my thinking preference is interpersonal, feeling based, kinaesthetic and emotional. This came as no surprise to me as I am driven by personal connections and thrive when working with others, something I have had to grapple with whilst working from home.
How does understanding my profile enhance my ability at work?
Understanding where my strengths and weaknesses lie gives me the ability to capitalise on those strengths, and work on my weaknesses. It provided me with an insight into why I might prefer expressing ideas, networking, conversing with candidates and clients, and creative aspects of my job, and put off tasks that follow strict procedure or require more technical or evaluative thinking. Having a mentor that is an analytical dominant thinker, also gives me the opportunity to learn and become more comfortable with tasks associated to analytical thinking.
Would I recommend HBDI?
I highly recommend HBDI testing to any organisation, large or small, in any industry, to leverage ‘thinking strengths’, and stretch ‘thinking aversions’ within a team. This test will assist the organisation to identify which profile employees identify as to ensure they have a well-balanced team, and their work tasks are aligned to their strengths. Your profile, aptly named ‘Thinker Portal’ is easily accessible and extremely thorough, encouraging you to deeply understand your profile which will direct you to focus on work tasks which provide you with great satisfaction leading to increased productivity at work.
Contact us at RIVA Recruitment
RIVA Recruitment assists our clients with the HBDI Testing process through our external consultant, Andrew, at Headstart Business Coaching. The Hermann Brain Dominance Instrument helps our clients to ensure that they are recruiting the best fit for their organisation and can help facilitate greater team alignment and productivity.
RIVA Recruitment specialises in financial services recruitment across Australia. If you are seeking a new employee for your business or you are seeking an new employment opportunity, please feel free to contact us via LinkedIn, on 03 7003 7618, or email us at enquiries@rivarecruitment.com.au for further information.