Watch the following video to find out how to use the "Who are you?" template optimally. It contains helpful information that can help you fill it out.
What you can do with the tool:
The additional information and examples will give you a deeper understanding of the "Who are you?" tool.
1. Create a T-profile and Understand (Your) Skills
The T-profile helps you to visualise your specialist knowledge (vertical bar) and your overarching skills (horizontal bar). It is important to know which specific skills you can bring to the foundation of a company and which overarching skills will help you to work in different areas.
How?
Vertical line: Think about the area in which you have particularly in-depth knowledge and experience. Write this expertise along the vertical line. Examples could be programming, marketing or finance.
Horizontal line: Now think about your broad, overarching skills. These skills help you to work and communicate in different contexts. For example, they can arise from family, hobbies, work, education, etc. Examples are teamwork, creativity or problem solving. Note these along the horizontal line.
Tips:
- Reflect on your previous experiences and achievements to identify your expertise and cross-cutting skills.
- Discuss your T-profile with colleagues or mentors to get feedback and discover any blind spots.
2. HBDI®-Modell
The HBDI® model (Herrmann Brain Dominance Instrument) helps you to recognise your preferred thinking styles. This is useful for understanding how you process information and make decisions. It also helps you to understand the thinking styles of your team members and to communicate effectively/better.
How?
Complete the HBDI® model by answering questions about your thinking preferences. The thinking styles model is divided into four quadrants: analytical, organisational, interpersonal and creative. Ask yourself honestly how highly you prioritise the individual quadrants. Outside means that this thinking style strongly represents your way of thinking and inside means it is weak.
If you need help completing the HBDI® model, find an HBDI® self-assessment form or similar resource online and answer the questions honestly. The questions relate to your thinking preferences and how you approach different types of tasks.
One possible website is: https://hbdi.de/hbdi-einzelprofil/
Tips:
- Take your time and be honest when filling in the quadrants to get an accurate picture of your thinking styles.
- Ask the people around you how they experience and assess you in order to find out whether your opinion about your thinking preferences matches their assessment.
3. Self-Reflection
Self-reflection is crucial to get a clear picture of your personal strengths, weaknesses, interests and missing skills. This will help you to set realistic goals and identify areas where you need to develop further.
How?
Answer the following questions:
What are your strengths? Think about which areas you are particularly good at and which skills you can contribute to the team.
What are your weaknesses? Recognise the areas in which you have potential for improvement or need support.
What are your interests? Make a note of what motivates and inspires you. This will help you to develop a business idea that matches your passions.
What skills do you lack? Identify the skills and knowledge you still need to develop in order to be successful.
Tips:
- Be honest and objective in your self-reflection.
- Ask for feedback from friends, family and colleagues to get a more comprehensive picture of your strengths and weaknesses.