One of the tools that has the potential to help individuals to understand the internal factors that drive their approach to decision making is the PDA (Personal Development Analysis) assessment. The PDA is a powerful instrument that, through a simple, precise and scientific methodology, allows us to describe and analyse an individual’s behavioural predispositions and identify their strengths and development areas.
PDA doesn’t classify profiles as good or bad – it simply describes the behavioural characteristics of the assessed individual, defining how individuals tend to respond to challenges and offering insights into their choices of behaviours. However, we may sometimes adapt or modify our behaviours by empowering or inhibiting our natural trend. So that such modifications can be understood, both our flexibility and the appropriateness with which we do so can also be evaluated through the report.
The PDA is designed to measure surface aspects of personality – behaviours that can be easily observed and described. Each of the five behavioural dimensions – named Risk, Extroversion, Patience, Norms and Self-Control – is reliably measured by virtue of the scientifically validated internal matrix and algorithms within the instrument.
The report also analyses strengths, indicates areas for development, and describes decision making and leadership style. It offers advice on how to coach the individual concerned, as well as looking at their energy level, ability to persuade, analytical capabilities, motivation level and several other factors that affect performance. All of these areas can add great value to anyone seeking to develop greater self-awareness.
In relation to where self-awareness directly impacts decision making, we can start by understanding our decision-making style. The PDA decision making indicator helps the individual do this by measuring whether they are bold or cautious when making decisions. This predicts whether they will tend to be willing to proceed with incomplete data, taking some risks, or to move ahead with caution, attempting to collect more comprehensive information to be sure they are making the correct decision.
The PDA self-control axis measures the strength of a person’s rational and careful reflection to consider possible consequences of their actions. It can be thought of in terms of maturity, critical thinking, the ability to be objective and level of self-discipline, as well as the capacity for self-determination as opposed to compliance with social norms. This capacity enables the individual to reflect on their behavioural tendencies and how they may act in different situations.
When combined with the PDA decision making indicator and information offered by the report about how the individual perceives the world (favourable or unfavourable), the self-control axis can offer incredibly valuable insights for anyone seeking to improve their professional judgment. In particular, it will highlight whether they will tend to be able to respond in a way that is open, receptive and creative, or more likely to react with a set of more habitual, automatic choices.
The ability to react or respond in an appropriate way, depending on the circumstances, is at the heart of great decision making, and will become increasingly essential as the Fourth Industrial Revolution gains traction. To prepare yourself, isn’t it time that you started your journey to greater self-awareness by attending a workshop and/or taking a PDA Assessment?
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