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November Topic: Assessments Unmasked: What They Reveal, What They Miss, and How to Use Them Well
Location: Zoom Online Virtual Platform (link provided after registration)
Cost: Free for ATD Detroit and other local Chapter Members &
$10.00 for Guest
Description:
Join us for Assessments Unmasked: What They Reveal, What They Miss, and How to Use Them Well. Assessments are everywhere in talent development: personality profiles, behavioral tools, strengths inventories, leadership assessments, emotional intelligence measures, team diagnostics, 360s, and more. But the real value of an assessment is not in the report. It is in how people interpret the insight, apply it to behavior, and use it to create better conversations.
In this Behavioral Science SIG session, we will explore the promise, power, and pitfalls of assessments in learning, coaching, leadership, and team development. We will examine what assessments can reveal about behavior, motivation, communication, decision-making, strengths, and team dynamics, while also looking honestly at what they can miss, oversimplify, or distort when used poorly.
Participants will learn how to use assessments as developmental lenses rather than fixed labels, how to avoid common interpretation traps, and how to connect assessment insights to real behavior change. Whether you use DISC, CliftonStrengths, MBTI, EQ tools, 360s, behavioral assessments, or internal diagnostics, this session will help you move beyond “interesting results” and toward meaningful application.
Come ready to rethink assessments not as boxes to put people in, but as mirrors, maps, and conversation starters for deeper awareness and intentional growth.
Participant Outcomes
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
- Identify different types of assessments and where they fit in talent development.
- Explain the difference between using assessments as labels and using them as developmental lenses.
- Recognize common pitfalls in assessment use, including overgeneralization, confirmation bias, and misuse of results.
- Apply assessment insights to coaching, communication, leadership development, and team effectiveness.
- Select assessment approaches based on purpose, context, and desired behavior change.
Jay's Bio
Jay Johnson works with people and organizations to empower teams, grow profits, and elevate leadership. He is a Co-Founder of Behavioral Elements®, a two-time TEDx speaker, and a designated Master Trainer by the Association for Talent Development. With a focus on behavioral intelligence, Jay has delivered transformational workshops to accelerate high-performance teams and cultures in more than 30 countries across four continents.
For more information about the ID SIG or the upcoming Meet-up, contact SIG Organizer Jay Johnson at jay@behavioralelements.com
Note: SIGs are an exclusive member benefit for ATD Detroit and other local ATD chapter members.
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What's a SIG?
Special Interest Groups (SIGs) are small groups of members who share an affinity for a particular aspect of Talent Development. Whether it's a specific approach, a certain skill, or a common role in the industry, a SIG helps bring chapter members together to share in an interest.
Anyone can start a SIG - all it takes is a shared interest and a meeting place! To learn more, contact the Chapter President, president@detroitatd.org.
