3 Behavioral Tools for Career Coaching

Today, career coaches hold a valuable place in society as they help people find roles that are fulfilling, challenging, and exciting. To achieve this, career and guidance counselors at high schools as well as independent coaches need as much information about their clients as possible to encourage them to make good decisions. As a first step in any consulting process, coaches need to develop a strong understanding of different personality types and the achievements their clients will find most fulfilling by undertaking a certification in behavioral analysis. The behavioral personality assessments by PeopleKeys provide ample opportunity to help students and coachees make life-changing decisions. Here are some of the key components to consider for career guidance:

1. Prevailing Personality Style

Career coaches first consider the prevailing personality style of their client, which they can determine with a DISC assessment. The personality style results will reveal their client’s strengths and limitations, including those which could influence career development.

“D” style personalities strive for positions that involve decision-making, managing, and coordinating. A career coach may push “Ds” toward positions as administrators, coaches, supervisors, teachers, police officers, and business managers. On the other hand, “I” personalities may be drawn toward roles that involve creativity, sales, marketing, and coaching and “S” styles perform best when able to work in roles with teams, while “C” styles do not gravitate toward roles that involve high rates of communication.

Career coaches also understand people rarely classify under just one personality style. Combinations of personality styles frequently occur. When this happens, a career coach will consider other factors, including the client’s passions and internal motivations. That’s where other assessments beyond DISC come in.

2. Behavioral Attitudes

As important as the DISC assessment may be in helping clients find fulfilling careers, career coaches also understand the role of nuance in helping people discover their passions. The Behavioral Attitude Index, or BAI, can provide high points of influence for an individual’s behavior.

For instance, an individual who receives BAI results high in Power/Political may have a desire to influence others. An individual who has a high crossover between Power and Arts may find fulfillment in a communication related career. Somebody with a high Economic/Tangible score is results-oriented, so this client wants to do something where they can see the fruits of their labor.

Behavioral attitude guides many of the decisions we make, and in understanding one’s attitudes we can better assess the motivations and passions that lie underneath - the ones that even we may not know we have. People are guided by their behavioral attitudes each day, and it is up to career coaches to help their clients harness this.

3. Natural Team Styles

Career coaches may also consider a client’s preferred thinking style. This behavioral tool reveals what one’s natural role in a team would be, and it is very helpful when considering careers involving additional training, education, or certification examinations. There are 5 core team roles: Theorist, Executor, Analyzer, Manager, and Strategist.

Like DISC personalities, team roles are also never black and white, and one can have at least two natural team roles depending on their environment. Theorists are visionary and creative, so a career where they can see the big picture and apply innovative approaches will align with their thinking style. The team role of Manager brings qualities of diplomacy and tact with skills of a natural facilitator, so these people may find their best career fulfillment in governmental positions if they also have high Power in their BAI, or they could be excellent school administrator if their behavioral attitude leans more to Social/Humanitarian.

As you can see, all of the little pieces of the personality puzzle need to be taken into consideration before you discuss possible choices with your client or coachee. Learn how to easily navigate the myriad of personality insights to support your clients in their careers by becoming a Certified Behavioral Consultant with PeopleKeys.