How to read behavioral assessments and become fluent in the Predictive index

I grew up with Mandarin Chinese and Taiwanese as spoken languages in our household. I went to Chinese school every Saturday from the age of 5 until I graduated high school. I memorized Chinese characters, wrote essays, and entered into poetry and tongue twister competitions. When I went to college, I started out premed, and then actually was more interested in taking courses like Latin America History and Spanish Literature from the 1900s and ended up majoring in Spanish. I even took a semester of Japanese because, for a brief moment, I wanted to go live in Japan and teach English for a year.

Learning a new language takes practice. In order to master oral comprehension alone, you need to hear the spoken language, process it, comprehend it, speak it, learn context and nuances, and do all of that over and over again in order to build up fluency.

As part of my new role here at Lever Talent, I’m learning the language of the Predictive Index. After taking the Drive Results with Talent workshop where I learned the science behind the Predictive Index, I’m constantly reviewing the primary factors and factor combinations, tracking the data points of each pattern, and learning to become well versed in the positive behaviors in every reference profile. A good way to build up PI fluency is to give readbacks on the behavioral assessment results to friends and family members.

My goal this month was to do 10 readbacks to my friends and family members in 30 days. I went through each of the primary factors with my “client” (friend/family member), and I shared with them how each factor influences needs, behaviors, and motivations. I asked them questions about how each factor shows up for them in the workplace or generally in their life and also asked them to share examples. We reviewed strengths and caution areas, and if the synthesis was an accurate reflection of how they usually behave in their work environment. It was really interesting to learn more about the daily work life of my friends and family members!

There are three levels to mastering the readback:

• Level 1: The Basics - the Four Factors, FECs, Communication, Risk, etc.
• Level 2: Advanced - Full Pattern complexity, Self-Concept, Synthesis
• Level 3: Mastery - “So what”, application, implications, insights, situational

I consider myself beginner / intermediate right now. I’m able to comprehend the basics of the behavioral assessments and recognize how the factors show up in behaviors and motivations in the overall synthesis. I’m still working on how to be able to apply a person’s assessment into different contexts and situations and quickly know what the implications or what their motivating needs would be.

Also, I've learned a few tips while doing readbacks:

1. This assessment isn’t “everything” about them - it’s a snapshot of how they think & work.
2. If you don’t know, be honest. Tell them you’ll find out and get back to them.
3. There are no “good” or “bad” patterns - “every pattern is beautiful”.

And most importantly, practice, practice, practice!