By Eric Althoff and Krystina Sibley
For most of human history, finding a successful collaborator required meeting and working with another person to evaluate their compatibility on many levels. Before they could change history, science, arts, and culture, famous pairs such as Lewis and Clark, Watson and Crick, Gilbert and Sullivan, and even Lennon and McCartney had to first be lucky enough to find one another—before discovering and refining that unique alchemy that made “the magic” possible. But what if your perfect collaborator could be found using data alone? At Find A Rainmaker (FAR), we’re making that possible.
Despite some $4 billion spent on personality assessment tools according to the market research group Insight Elevate, most of that data is essentially put to precisely zero use once the initial “huh, interesting” phase has passed. This is a missed opportunity of tremendous proportions as research shows that nearly 3 in 5 people have considered leaving their jobs due to a workplace atmosphere where poor teamwork thrives. Having the foreknowledge, based on verified data, of whom to team up with not only crafts better collaborators but also leads to more tremendous economic success overall. This is where FAR’s “Collaboration Report” comes into play.
In addition to being a very user-friendly evaluation tool, the Collaboration Report analyzes the answers of two people on FAR’s various assessment traits. It compares them to determine how those two individuals would work together, and where conflicts may exist. Not only is this information intriguing, but it can also be profitable for your organization — companies spend up to $16,000 for a half-day of team building, yet at the end of those exercises, they may be no closer to putting the right people together to be successful and accomplish the company’s goals. By contrast, FAR’s Collaboration Report—generated in just minutes—is much more budget-friendly and faster than getting people to engage in awkward team-building exercises for hours on end.
The Collaboration Report compares two individuals, showing complementary traits and where there may be possible conflict. Knowing what an individual’s strengths are not only helps your organization ensure that person grows within the company, but it also leads to longer-term job performance and workplace satisfaction. In turn, having the data on two different employees’ strengths and weaknesses increases the chances of successful collaboration and seamless work as a team. Clients also find great value in using the assessment to hire or match mentors and mentees.
The answers to the behavioral assessment survey in the Collaboration Report are presented in terms of how the two people would theoretically work together. It is measured across several dimensions, including these categories.
- Proactivity (Pro): High scorers in Proactivity thrive on setting goals and working hard.
- Dominance (Dom): High scorers in Dominance are leaders who need to be in charge.
- Competition (Com): High scorers in Competition are courageous, forthright, powerful and tend to “want it now.”
- Change (Cha): High scorers in Change love variety, but when two people have contrasting Change scores, it may lead to conflict.
- Emotional Support (ES): High scorers in Emotional Support tend to be sensitive, peace-loving, and introspective, but a lower scorer may feel the other person is often needy and unable to deal with everyday pressure.
- Criticality (CY): When two people are high in Criticality, they may come across as judgmental and unaccepting of new ideas.
While all this information is important for potential team building, compatibility data certainly isn’t destiny (ask anyone who has ever tried online dating!). You can only know how you’ll work with someone once you’re in a room—real or virtual—working on a project together. However, having a firmer grasp on compatibility beforehand can save time when trying to “force” the wrong people into being the next best collaborators. Your people’s time is valuable, both internally and to your clients, so having that knowledge ahead of time is key. As the saying goes, forewarned is forearmed.
Get in touch for a demo of how FAR’s Collaboration Report can help improve your team and prime your organization for even greater success.
About Find A Rainmaker
Developed by behavioral PhDs, technologists, PR and BD professionals, Find A Rainmaker (FAR) is the premier cloud-based rapid behavioral assessment tool designed specifically to identify individuals suited to the roles of Amazing Analyst, Constant Closer, Creative Collaborator, Media Mogul, and Notable Networker. The FAR assessment, which takes 10 minutes or less, helps businesses quickly identify people well-suited to generate revenue, form teams, and provide training and coaching opportunities. Contact info@findarainmaker.com for a demo.