Social and Professional Network
Personality Tests for EMS Employees and students?
Many of you have probably heard of the Myers-Briggs Personality Types and the corresponding test. I've taken it a couple times and recently took it again for a graduate class. As I was reading my results, and becoming a little unsettled as to how well it described me, I began to think about the different personality types and how they might, or might not, be helpful in determining who would make a successful EMT. I know some employers in certain industries actually encourage their employees to take the MBTI. What do you think? Could this be a useful tool for EMS agencies and employers to use in the application process? Could it possibly help a struggling student determine if this is the right career path for them? Is it even important to know your personality type? If yes, what personality type do you think might characterize a "successful" EMT?
For a list of the personality types you can visit the Myers Briggs site here:
http://www.myersbriggs.org/my-mbti-personality-type/mbti-basics/the...
Tags: EMS, Personality
Views: 789
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by mathew tatakis on -
Hi justin: I have mixed feelings about that what if your a fair emt but you stink at taking test. someone could get a off the wall personalite and not get the job. She or he is looking for.
-
Permalink Reply by Skip Kirkwood on -
MBTI is an interesting tool. If a supervisor knows his style and the styles of people who work for them, the theory is that the supervisor can tailor his approach to the personality type of the individual.
I don't think it's a selection tool. After working in several organizations (not EMS agencies, but parent agencies like hospitals and county governments) where MBTI was "big" I saw successful medics of all MBTI types (observation only, I admit). I once knew a CEO of a big organization who was a huge introvert. He was very successful for many years, until his number two, a huge E, moved on. So the "type" was just an indicator of type, not a predictor of performance.
What we need (and I know is being worked on) is an instrument that tests for specific traits that make good medics. I think about things like
- trustworthiness
- ability to work unsupervised
- responsibility
- compassion
- critical thinking
- teamwork
- customer service
- intrinsic positivity
- curiousity/inquisitivness
- loyalty
I'm sure there's more. But we need, I think, a different look than a "type" - we need something that looks for specific characteristics. Just my thoughts.
Skip (ENTJ)
-
Permalink Reply by Tom Bouthillet on -
In my opinion the MBTI should not be used as a selection tool.
With all the cheap talk about how the workplace is enriched by "diversity" it's difficult to imagine we'd want to exclude the perspective of any of the 16 types.
Why in the world would you want a bunch of clones? Groupthink and resistance to change isn't all it's cracked up to be.
Tom (ENTP)
-
Permalink Reply by Justin Tilghman on -
I agree and see your point that it shouldn't be a selection tool but do you think it still would be a useful tool to use in EMS? As a supervisor, do you think it matters to know your employees types?
Justin (ENFJ)
-
Permalink Reply by Stephen Stokes on -
I would argue that it is something worth looking at as a piece of the employment package. Police departments have been using "psych testing" for years. The most common is the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory or MMPI. There are a few versions of this test, a short one and a long detailed one. The biggest key here, when used in our type of environment, is to see the results of peers. Police, Fire and EMS need a distinctly different type of person then the average career. Personality traits that would throw red flags at the local department store are embraced by our profession. The down side of that is personalities that work well in the street sometimes can create conflict in the station. Overall, if I were to use a personality test as an employment tool here is what I would do;
- Use it as a means, not an end. Only allow it to be part of my decision making factor, not the requirement.
- Just as with police, I would not want just the results of the test. I would be looking for the test to be given to a group of successful paramedics with lots of experience and years on the job. Then I would take those results find the average and compare my potential employees. If they have personalities like the medics that have excelled in the field it would give me a good idea of how they are going to preform.
- Look at the results and attempt to tailor things to suit the individual. While the main job is the same, the test may indicate a certain person is more apt to teaching or training. A certain person may be a better lecture learner over a hands on approach.
The key here is to remember that tests like these are just another tool in the toolbox and not the complete garage. They have a place in the pre-employment setting, but should be used as a guide. Police use them to screen people who will carry a gun in public. I would argue that EMS should use them to screen people who have patients lives in their hands on every call (that would be all of us).
Just some food for thought.
-
Permalink Reply by dr-exmedic on -
I would argue that EMS should use them to screen people who have patients lives in their hands on every call (that would be all of us).
Yet not use them to screen physicians? Hmmm.... Perhaps Skip (and any other former/current LEOs on the board) can speak to this better, but I don't imagine it's so much the carrying of the gun that they screen for, but the fact that we give cops a lot (and I mean a lot) of authority. A bad cop can really, truly ruin a lot of lives, more so than a bad medic.
Personally, I'm a bigger fan of psych testing for entertainment and research purposes than for anything else. Psych tests are far too easily gamed by an intelligent person.
what if your a fair emt but you stink at taking test. someone could get a off the wall personalite and not get the job
None of these personality tests are pass/fail things that are affected by test taking ability, only by your ability to answer them honestly.
Skip (ENTJ)
Tom (ENTP)
Justin (ENFJ)
Hmm, I seem to be bucking this trend.
--Jason (ISTP/Psycho Vigilante)
My Prayer: "God help me to consider people's feelings, even if most of them ARE hypersensitive."
-
Permalink Reply by Joe Paczkowski on -
I don't think psych tests are important nearly as much as having management and supervisors who are willing to go out and NOT treat everyone as lemmings. Management needs to be able to know which people they need to sit down in a room alone to figure out problems, which ones need to sit down in groups, and which ones not to sit down at all, and that goes by far past just a personality type. Does the person/people have both the experience and education that is needed to underpin their personality "type" to accomplish the goal?
Of course this comes down to getting to know your employees, not just making sure that you have the correct set of 4 letter personality types, especially since, as with every system of boxes, what happens to the people who fit more neatly between the boxes?
-Joe Paczkowski (INTJ)
PS: However, it is kinda of scary just how close the INTJ profile fits me.
-
Permalink Reply by Ben Waller on -
I've taken the MBTI several times. The results were quite different each time. I guess that's what happens when you answer "A" to every question the first time, "B" to every question the second time, "C" to every question the third time...
:-)
-
Permalink Reply by Skip Kirkwood on
-
I guess I'm not from the "anybody who wants to be a medic should have the chance" school of thought when it comes to hiring medics. The cost of recruiting, testing, selecting, orienting, doing field training, providing uniforms, etc., is great - I think one study put it at about $89,000 per slot.
As an executive, I need to minimize costs like these, and narrow the field as best I can to people who are likely to be successful on the street, and it doesn't matter what grades they got in medic school or on the National Registry exam. It's about what kind of a person they are.
The reason so many LE agencies use the MMPI is that, in the hands of a skilled interpreter, it is very accurate, and has been upheld by many courts for many years as a selection tool. If the MMPI report says "This person is likely to steal things" or "This person is likely to commit sexual misconduct" then, as a basic risk management strategy, I should not bring this person in to the organization. And (unlike the MBTI), the MMPI has a "BS detector" built in to it. If you can detect one thief, one likely sexual predator, or just someone who is narcissistic and has no compassion for others (all things that add up to failure in EMS), you will be saving yourself and your organization a lot of pain.
-
Permalink Reply by Justin Tilghman on
-
I don't know much about the MMPI but sounds like you do Skip, haha. Do you think EMS agencies would benefit from implementing the MMPI in our application processes? And, just curious, do you use the MMPI in Wake?
Skip Kirkwood said:I guess I'm not from the "anybody who wants to be a medic should have the chance" school of thought when it comes to hiring medics. The cost of recruiting, testing, selecting, orienting, doing field training, providing uniforms, etc., is great - I think one study put it at about $89,000 per slot.
As an executive, I need to minimize costs like these, and narrow the field as best I can to people who are likely to be successful on the street, and it doesn't matter what grades they got in medic school or on the National Registry exam. It's about what kind of a person they are.
The reason so many LE agencies use the MMPI is that, in the hands of a skilled interpreter, it is very accurate, and has been upheld by many courts for many years as a selection tool. If the MMPI report says "This person is likely to steal things" or "This person is likely to commit sexual misconduct" then, as a basic risk management strategy, I should not bring this person in to the organization. And (unlike the MBTI), the MMPI has a "BS detector" built in to it. If you can detect one thief, one likely sexual predator, or just someone who is narcissistic and has no compassion for others (all things that add up to failure in EMS), you will be saving yourself and your organization a lot of pain.
-
Permalink Reply by Skip Kirkwood on
-
We do not. It costs quite a bit, and not everyone agrees with my position. There also isn't a lot of research about the traits that make up a successful medic (although you can easily identify a few that would make a problem medic)!The National EMS Management Association (NEMSMA) is working with a major international testing firm, MHS, to develop a pre-hire screening instrument validated speciically for EMS. Stand by.
-
Permalink Reply by Tom Bouthillet on
-
The MMPI/MMPI2 is a good example of how psychologists, in their desperation to be on par with the hard sciences, have created something truly despicable.
Do you sometimes feel like swearing or smashing things? Do you get impatient with irresolution? Do you get annoyed when someone cuts in front of you in a line? Do you dislike being hurried? Can you be stubborn? Ever argued about something relatively minor? Have you ever punched someone in the face? Well, then obviously you're an angry person. Probably overbearing. Of course, perhaps you know that which is why you meditate and practice Zen Buddhism.
Have you ever had to take orders from someone who didn't know as much as you did? Do you think some people exaggerate their misfortunes? Do you think it takes a lot of argument to convince some people of the truth? Do you think a lot of people lie to get ahead? Is your way of doing things misunderstood by a lot of people? Do you think a lot of so-called "experts" turn out to be no better than you? Do you think a lot of people demand more respect than they're willing to give? You're a cynical person. Or maybe you're just a realist (because you've seen a lot) but you're also a generous person who loves your friends and family.
Do you think it's wise to keep your mouth shut when you're in trouble? Did you ever steal a pack of gum when you were a little kid? Do you think a lot of rules and laws are ridiculous? Ever get suspended from school? Ever sneak into the midnight movie when you were in high school? Do you think a lot of people obey the law because they're afraid of getting caught? Do you think people who allow themselves to be used by others are as much to blame as the people who use them? You're anti-social. Probably non-conforming and difficult to supervise. Never mind that you might be brilliant and the best leader EMS has ever seen.
Do you dislike being interrupted? Do you dislike being tricked or having to admit you were wrong? Have you ever stood in someone's way out of principle even though it didn't amount to much? Have people been jealous of your good ideas because they didn't think of them? Do you dislike having to wait? Have you ever had words with someone because they were rude? Are you direct with people you're trying to correct? Do you work best with a deadline? You're type A. Probably hard to get along with. Of course you might also be the most talented paramedic your EMS system has ever seen.
Do you prefer to be spoken to first rather than initiate conversations? Do you feel uncomfortable at parties? Do you wish you were a little less shy? Do you dislike giving a presentation in front of a class? Do you often prefer to be by yourself? To people have a hard time getting to know you? Do you find little to say to strangers? You're social awkward. Maybe you're not a team player. Or maybe you're just an introvert but you're highly functional in small working groups and you have a lot to offer. God forbid you don't watch football with the guys, fart, and tell dirty jokes.
Growing up did you often think about leaving home? Was there a lot of fighting in your house? Were you often punished without cause? Do your family members have habits that annoy you very much? Have anyone in your family ever frightened you? Do you have serious disagreements with people who are close to you? Do you feel like you can't count on your family for help or support? Have you dissociated yourself from your family? You have family problems. You're most likely troubled. Or perhaps you've transcended your family life, you've attended counseling, and you're a remarkably well adjusted person considering all of your disadvantages in life.
The idea that the MMPI/MMPI2 has a built in "BS detector" is nonsense. Maybe you really do love your mother and father. Maybe you really do think people are basically good. Maybe you really do hold yourself to very high moral and ethical standards. Or maybe you think a lot of the questions in the MMPI/MMPI2 are just none of the evaluator's business (truly many of the questions are profoundly intrusive and inappropriate).
It wouldn't bother me if tests like these limited themselves to identifying obvious psychopathology (delusional, paranoid, mentally disturbed, sexual deviant, etc.) but that's not what they do. They weed out exceptional people -- both the good kind and the bad kind. Employers would be better advised to spend more money on the background investigation.
JEMS Connect is the social and professional network for emergency medical services, EMS, paramedics, EMT, rescue squad, BLS, ALS and more.
© 2013 Created by JEMS Web Chief.
