
Top 10 Entrepreneur Self-Assessment Tools Available In The Market
Before we launch into a list of Internet sites and companies who either have developed or derived various tests or tools for helping you to assess whether or not you are suitable as an entrepreneur, you should be aware of the fact that many of today’s most successful entrepreneurs would probably be told that they are totally unsuitable for the entrepreneurial business lifestyle.
Most of these tests are looking for certain personality types and the majority of the tests are based on psychometric data which in itself has more basis in statistical analysis than it does in scientific research.
The whole entrepreneurial ‘scene’ has changed a great deal, even in the last 10 years because the old make up of what used to be regarded as an entrepreneurial profile has been totally destroyed by the analyticals and the technical people who, for instance, design apps. Their average profile is the total inverse of the old-fashioned Driver-Expressive entrepreneurial profile which lent very heavily on an assertive personality. You will see that from some of the questions asked in many of the following tests.
Do not worry about the word ‘test’. These are not tests in the sense that you possibly understand but are more of an indicator or a guide. Needless to say there are no right or wrong answers. But whichever test you do take, please make sure that you do it as honestly as possible!
- BDC is Canada’s business development bank and is dedicated exclusively to bdc entrepreneurs. Their test for entrepreneurs is here: https://www.bdc.ca/.
- If you want to go for a straightforward psychometric test, then one of the best sites is psychometrictest.org. Their test is a 50 question online test and is located here: http://www.psychometrictest.org.uk/.
- The Wind River Development Fund is located in North America and theirs is a straightforward question, which appears to be based on no more than common sense, but you may find it useful: http://wrdf.org/.
- The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator is the daddy of all tests and is based on Jung’s theory of personality and is probably the most well-known of all tests administered to everyone from managers, directors to entrepreneurs. You will find more information here: http://www.myersbriggs.org/.
- The Entrepreneur Equation is a very useful bestselling book, which looks at character and personality with special reference to the entrepreneurial mindset. The book is a very good investment but there is more information and a quiz here: https://www.entrepreneur.com/.
- The StrengthsFinder Assessment is a modern assessment tool which will help you to identify your five best talents and shows you how to apply your strengths: http://strengths.gallup.com.
- PDP Global will help you to ascertain whether or not you have leadership qualities and will help you with your communication style: http://pdpglobal.com/.
- The FourSight Thinking Profile deals with your problem-solving and innovation style – something you will find very useful as an entrepreneur and you will find it well worth looking at this site: http://foursightonline.com/.
- If you want to know how much of a team player you are and how you will respond to working with people around you, then you should have a look at team ability which has been designed by the Gabriel Institute: https://www.thegabrielinstitute.com/.
- Finally, here is a survey from VIA. It is not specifically aimed at entrepreneurs. It is a personality test, with the great advantage of being available in most languages. It will tell you about your character and personality traits: http://staging.viacharacter.org/.
I’m sure that you’ll find one or two of the tests above very useful, but do not dwell too much on the results. As I said earlier, many of them are based on outdated assumptions, as the role of the entrepreneur has evolved. If you feel there are aspects of your personality which would help from a little ‘polish’, then you will find these tests invaluable.