PEOPLE Skills Index 2008

On some of the questions, you may agree with more than one choice, but try to select the answer you agree with most and circle. Your total score is based on the number of questions you answer correctly.

1. Your colleagues are passed over for a promotion that you get, but your supervisor delays the announcement. There’s growing speculation, and a co-worker asks if you’ve heard anything. Which do you do?
   1. Tell the coworker you got it but ask that he or she be discreet.
   2. Tell the coworker you got it but ask that he or she be discreet.
   3. Wait until your supervisor is ready.
   4. Tell a few, select co-workers but ask that they be discreet.
   5. Tell all coworkers involved.
   6. Tell your supervisor that people are talking and you’ve been asked about it.

2. Your primary method of organizing work is to:
   1. Continually reestablish priorities as needed based on the day’s requirements
   2. Complete yesterday’s priority list before reviewing new assignments
   3. Try to complete one project before accepting another
   4. Prioritize each day’s work and stick to it regardless of additional projects.

3. Which of the following statements best describes your beliefs or approach?
   1. "I generally like to avoid conflict whenever possible."
   2. "Allowing emotions to enter business decisions is unavoidable."
   3. "I’m good at thinking through a problem logically."
   4. "Making a relatively quick decision is always better than waiting."

4. Your supervisor has given you an assignment, but you’re unfamiliar with certain aspects of the project in which others in the department have more experience. You:
   1. Spend whatever time necessary on your own getting at least a cursory knowledge of the unknown areas
   2. Seek help from the experts and, in turn, offer your expertise
   3. Tell your supervisor up front that you aren’t familiar with certain aspects
   4. Suggest to your supervisor that you handle only the familiar part

5. Which of these statements best reflects your beliefs or approach?
   1. "Success seems to come easier to some people than others."
   2. "If my closest friends and family agree on what’s best for my career, I usually rely on their advice."
   3. "My employer is in the best position to decide what career path is best for me."
   4. "Career success is a direct result of my own efforts, not those of others."

6. The best way to lead and manage people is to:
   1. Make it clear you’re in charge
   2. Solicit their input before making major decisions
   3. Share your expertise by offering your direct supervision to as many people as possible
   4. Set goals before you begin a project and communicate them loudly and clearly to the team before starting

7. Which of the following statements best reflects your beliefs or approach?
   1. "When managing a project, I like all team members to stay with the original plan."
   2. "People with greater seniority in a company are in the best position to generate useful ideas."
   3. "When managing a project, I encourage people to share differing opinions."
   4. "If most of the people believe in a certain approach, it’s probably the best."

8. Which of the following best describes effective persuasion?
   1. Remaining steadfast in your beliefs and not wavering
   2. Being forceful and vocal in your opinions
   3. Being pleasant as much as possible
   4. Having strong listening skills

9. A close friend works at one of several vendors you rely on. When your supervisor asks you to start a bidding process, you inadvertently give a little more information to your friend, giving her an unfair advantage. You:
   1. Explain to your friend that you shouldn’t have released the information and ask her not to make it a factor in her bid
   2. Take into consideration the fact that your friend had more information when you evaluate the bids
   3. Give the other vendors the same information and run the risk of appearing disorganized
   4. Give information you didn’t give to your friend to the other vendors so they also benefit

10. Your supervisor praises you publicly on the results of a successful project, on which you received valuable help from a coworker who wasn’t named. You:
    1. Approach the coworker later and apologize
    2. Tell your boss that credit should also go to the coworker
    3. Weigh how important it is to bring up the coworker’s involvement
    4. Write your coworker a thank-you note

11. Which statement most accurately reflects your beliefs?
    1. Writing will become less important due to technological advancements
    2. Writing is a skill that is innate rather than learned
    3. An experienced writer uses large words and long sentences
    4. An experienced writer tries to use few words

12. Describe your verbal communication abilities:
    1. "I’d rather walk on hot coals than speak to a large group but do fine one on one."
    2. "I’m a much better verbal communicator than a writer."
    3. When I speak to a group people seem to grasp my point quickly.’
    4. "I’m relatively talkative, not shy"

13. Which of the following best describes your approach to brainstorming?
    1. "I’m a risk taker and generally don’t like to follow the pack in my thinking."
    2. "I’m good at building on the ideas of others."
    3. "I’ve always implemented ideas well and had good follow-up."
    4. "I’d rather offer a feasible, well-thought-out idea than just any suggestion."

14. Which of the following statements best reflects your beliefs or approach?
    1. "I believe that my employer should provide me with the training I need."
    2. "I often use the Internet during non-business hours to research information."
    3. "I believe that a person’s college education provides a comprehensive source of knowledge
    4. for the balance of his or her career."
    5. "If I rely heavily on my supervisor’s expertise, I’ll get the best training."

15. Which of the following best describes you or your beliefs?
    1. "When the going gets tough, I often try to lessen tension through laughter."
    2. "Good-natured teasing of others creates a less-tense environment and encourages camaraderie."
    3. "People who succeed in most companies tend to take their work very seriously."
    4. "I’ve always been a good joke teller."

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