Advantages & disadvantages of self assessment

A self assessment aims to help a person identify his own areas of strengths and weakness to create an action plan for implementing change. It can address specific skills, such as communication, leadership, listening and social abilities, but can also focus on more tangible abilities, as in a professional or trade skills. A self assessment's subjective nature can call its accuracy into question. Use a self assessment as a starting point toward personal and professional growth.

Personal growth can arise from the introspection necessary to perform a self assessment. Reflecting on different areas of your life such as relationships, spirituality and communication skills identifies positive and negative qualities to encourage and abate. According to the University of Sydney, Australia's Self and Peer Assessment website, self assessment for personal growth is most effective when used under supervision from a life coach or teacher to help guide the process of implementing change.

Exposing areas of strengths and weaknesses is the first step in your development. Many people do not take time to identify areas of their life that need improvement. A self assessment will help you discover the different characteristics, patterns and reactions that affect your relationships, professional life and social experiences. The assessment exposes issues and strengths that aren't evident in daily consciousness. An effective self assessment enables you to explore specific areas of your life such as your needs, desires and expectations.

A self assessment helps you become more self aware, enabling you to take a more objective look at your behaviour, choices and actions to make them productive and beneficial. Self awareness also improves your personal interaction with other people because you take into consideration the way others perceive you and how you perceive yourself.

A self assessment is limited because it is by its very nature subjective. You are left with the responsibility to rate and assess different areas of your life. Your communication filters, life experiences and self-perception will all alter the accuracy of the assessment. A self assessment may be more useful as a revelation of your personal perceptions than an accurate look at your life.

After completing the assessment you may have limited motivation for change. A self assessment begins and ends with you, leaving the challenge in your hands to change areas of weakness. If another person is included in the assessment process, accountability can be created that will help you change and stay committed to your word.