Big Five personality test

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Big Five Personality test - one of the best-known models in research. But what exactly does the OCEAN model say about us? And how reliable are the free personality tests? For many people, such a test is an exciting insight into their own life.

You can reflect on behavior patterns and recognize characteristics.

This makes it clearer to us what we can and like to do. It gives us the words to describe who we really are. Find out how you can use this knowledge for yourself. So that you understand yourself and the world better.

Whether your goals are personal development, professional collaboration or of a private nature. You will make progress with our coaching. Together we will arrive at insights that emerge from deep within you.

Big Five personality test: What do the five factors of the free personality test say?

• Openness to experience (Openness): 
  You could describe it as a tendency towards creativity. How strongly do you tend to search for new things and integrate them into your life? Such people often have a wide range of interests. They are keen to experiment and like to try things out. On the other hand, they also find it difficult to commit to one thing when there seem to be so many other options. If you have less openness, you prefer familiar things and routines.
  
• Conscientiousness (Conscientiousness): 
  This is about reliability. Self-discipline with regard to agreements is evident here. A high degree of this can be seen if you always meet your deadlines and work systematically. At the same time, it is often more difficult for these people to work spontaneously and without structure. This means that people with lower values are often more flexible when it comes to change. If you are aware of this, you can adapt your life accordingly. 
  
• Extraversion (extraversion): 
  Anyone can name an extrovert in their environment. Outgoing, full of energy and up for any interaction. They often find it easy to make new contacts and lead meetings. Introverts, on the other hand, tend to be more reserved. They recharge their batteries in peace. Despite fewer contacts, they have the potential to cultivate deep connections. So be aware of your strengths and weaknesses. 
  
• Agreeableness: 
  The factor stands for the need for cooperation and harmony. A high value shows that someone avoids conflict and tends to be supportive. This is the friend who always has a sympathetic ear. On the other hand, they often find it more difficult to assert themselves in conflictual issues. On the other side, a person with a low value is often more direct and fact-oriented. This can lead to arguments, but often helps this person get ahead in life. 
  
• Neuroticism (Neuroticism):
  Neuroticism shows emotional stability. Those with high values here are more prone to stress and worry. This may sound negative at first, but it also has its advantages. These people are always prepared for the worst and can act accordingly. However, this also becomes difficult in excess. Lower values usually mean a more relaxed attitude, even in stressful situations. These people remain calm even in stressful and unexpected situations. With the right techniques, however, anyone can learn to do this. 

There are always two sides to the coin. If you have low values in extraversion, for example, it means that you have higher values in introversion.

It is up to you to get to know yourself. Nothing about it is good or bad. How you use this information for yourself will ultimately determine whether you live a happy and successful life.

In principle, you mainly want to use your qualities and strengths. However, you should also be able to accept the other side in order to be able to use this for yourself. A person who finds flexibility difficult can fill their life with structure. Nevertheless, they should be able to act flexibly at times. Then they can become particularly successful.

Big Five personality test: reading personality from the scale

Let's assume a test result shows high conscientiousness and low openness. This person would probably be good at tackling projects in a reliable and structured way. However, experimental approaches would not capture the interest.

This tells us something about you. Such a person works well and enjoys working in predictable and stable roles. They can develop there and use these qualities to their advantage.

Such an insight often helps you to become aware of your own strengths. This allows you to use them consciously and align your life in a way that suits you. Because your potential already lies within you. You just need to create a situation in which you can use it. 

We will then work with you on areas that are not yet very well developed. Nothing about your characteristics will change. But you will learn in coaching how to deal with situations that you would characterize as weaknesses.

We provide you with methods and techniques for this. 

All in all, the scale doesn't say that much at first. It is important that you don't get stuck on it. The values can still change over your lifetime. At the same time, you won't suddenly change your job just because it superficially looks like another one would suit you better. What you want to do is in your own hands.

When it comes to how you do this, we can help you. 

If an extroverted person finds themselves networking when starting a company, an introverted person may focus on indirect marketing strategies. However, you should be aware of what is really important. Just because something doesn't suit you doesn't mean it won't get you anywhere. So the metrics don't tell us much. What we can conclude from them for your life is the real added value. That's where we can help you in coaching!

Big Five Test: how the Ocean Model reveals personality traits

The Bg-Five model helps to identify a person's tendencies. We can then develop these in a targeted manner. It also allows us to identify where there is still great potential.

This is also a great advantage in a professional environment. And nowadays it is almost essential for professional success. Because it helps teams to work better together.

Everyone takes on the role that provides the greatest added value. The tasks are divided up according to strengths and weaknesses. A person with emotional intelligence works in customer service and deals with complaints. This prevents a hot-tempered and charged person from getting off on the wrong foot with a customer. 

The test also helps you to understand conflicts in your private life. You can strengthen personal relationships in your own way by recognizing your own needs and those of others. Because we humans are who we are through our interaction with our environment.

The more you learn about yourself, the more you will understand other people. It's the same the other way around. 

We can also conclude characteristics by breaking down your general situation using the test. We look at situations in which your characteristics have helped or hindered you. This results in the next steps we can take to get a little closer to your goal. The 5 factors of the model can also be divided into many other sub-categories.

One conscientious person behaves differently from another. Because when this characteristic comes to light depends on other details. It is precisely these that we will look at. 

-So first we look at the results. Then we isolate individual points and reflect on them. We relate them to known and past situations. This will give you greater self-awareness and enable you to explain why you do what you do using examples.

Frequently asked: Validity, influence of genes, benefits in coaching with Big 5

The Big 5 personality test is well known in our industry. But there are several providers who offer it in a similar way. It must be valid in order to be able to work professionally on your goals.

Free tests can also provide some guidance. However, they are often less accurate. That's why we work with the Linc Personality Profiler in coaching.

Based on well-founded facts, it not only gives us a detailed picture of your Big Five characteristics.

The result provides a comparison with the general public. Cases are added to help you understand how the characteristics manifest themselves in everyday life. Principles are explained to help you recognize how you can act and reflect in order to set development in motion. We are at your side!

For some, genes are a one-way street. They define us and our

Future. We don't think like that. Genes are like unopened potential for us.

Once triggered, they can change our lives. But you don't have to trigger them. Just as not every apple seed will turn into a tree in the end.

In some cases, we have characteristics that come from our parents and have therefore already been „triggered“, so to speak.

However, if you question this, you can also turn it around. But first of all, you must always be aware of this. It is important to understand that if you are a dolphin, you might climb Mount Everest. But whether you live in the depths of the oceans or in colorful living reefs is still your decision.

You can achieve anything. But some things simply make sense for you because you already have the potential within you. We will never tell you what you should do. We will help you to recognize what you are good at and how you can use it to achieve your goals.

Studies show that around 40-60 % of our characteristics are hereditary. But the environment and your experiences are also decisive factors. We accept what has shown up in our lives and work with what can be changed.

Coaches benefit from the model as it creates a sound basis. It gives the client the opportunity to consider for themselves what the results mean. This usually only requires a small nudge. This often makes the process very effective. The insights gained can be used to create individual development plans. These are tailored to your personality and goals. You need to learn to accept what is given. From this point, you can then take the necessary steps to realize your dreams. 

At a glance

Here you can find more content on the Big 5 test by

These are motivators for your actions. It can be the achievement motive or the security motive. They tell you more about where your interests are strong.

So there are no personality types here, instead everyone is seen as an individual person.

The five basic factors serve as a kind of orientation guide. With us, you learn to classify new experiences into your personality dimensions. We take genetic factors as orientation and at the same time as changeable limits. Whether the values are high or low: the only important thing is what you make of them.

Of course, you must be honest when answering the questions in order to obtain an accurate result. The Big Five Personality Assessment assumes that your results are genuine. Here are a few general statements from the

Practice. But never take them for facts: 

Consideration is a central characteristic of people with high tolerance values.

People with low neuroticism scores tend to be more emotionally stable and calm and less susceptible to feelings such as stress, anxiety or insecurity. 

People with high conscientiousness values often have clear ethical and political values. 

People with high values for openness often behave unconventionally because they challenge norms. 

The items and scales of the test are scientifically based and confirmed by experience. The test covers the five basic personality dimensions. However, it will not tell you what you should do.

In contrast, the standard model in personality research is a means of getting to know yourself better and understanding human processes. Once you have understood yourself, you can use this knowledge to make a change. You can use it to develop a strategy.

There will never be a complete explanation of our personality. People are so complex and dynamic that even the five-factor model reaches its limits at some point. The test was developed to explore personality type and personality factors and to use this knowledge for our own benefit. With the knowledge of the personality traits, you can find your way through life better. We can assure you from experience that the five factors will help you. We can help you achieve your goals! Ask us for a consultation!

Further offers

• Personality test overview
• LINC Personality Profiler
• Coaching methods
• Executive Coaching Frankfurt
• 16 Personality factors test

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About the author

Tim S. Tabrizi is the founder and managing director of the Your Coaching Institute in Frankfurt am Main. As a certified executive coach (ICF, DBVC, DGSF) with over 15 years of experience, he manages a network of 35 coaches throughout Germany. LinkedIn profile | Your coaching institute on LinkedIn