Why personality tests fall short (and what to do instead)
If you’ve ever taken a personality test like Myers-Briggs, DiSC, or StrengthsFinder, you know the drill. You answer a bunch of questions, get a four-letter code, a color, or a list of traits, and walk away thinking, “Okay, that sounds like me.”
But then the insight fades. You may remember your label or color, but it doesn’t change how you approach conversations, decisions, or leadership.
That’s where Perceptual Style™ changes the game.
Beyond Traits and Labels
Most popular assessments describe traits or behaviors. Useful, yes—but they stop short of explaining why you see the world the way you do.
Perceptual Style goes deeper. It focuses on perception — how you naturally take in information, assign meaning, and decide what matters.
Think of it as the lens you use to make sense of life. Two people can look at the same situation and notice entirely different things. Not because one is right and the other wrong, but because each person’s perception filters reality in its own way.
Perceptual Style gives you a map of those lenses. Once you see it, you can’t unsee it.
Why This Matters in Real Life
Here’s a simple example:
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You and a colleague are planning a project.
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You’re focused on the people involved—how motivated they are, how the team will connect.
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Your colleague? They’re zeroed in on the process—the timeline, the step-by-step execution.
Without realizing it, you’re talking past each other. It feels like conflict, but it’s really just perception at play.
Traditional personality tests might label one of you as “outgoing” and the other as “organized.” But they won’t explain why you keep having the same misunderstandings—or how to bridge the gap. Perceptual Style does.
What Makes Perceptual Style Different
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It’s not about traits—it’s about your natural lens.
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It doesn’t change with moods or seasons of life. Your Perceptual Style is steady, even as your awareness and skills grow.
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It’s practical. The focus isn’t just “who you are,” but how you can use your natural strengths right away in leadership, communication, relationships, and personal growth.
This isn’t about fitting you into a box. It’s about opening the box and letting you see what’s inside.
Ready to See the Difference?
If you’ve ever felt frustrated that personality tests don’t give you real tools you can use, it’s time to explore Perceptual Style.
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Take the Perceptual Style Assessment and discover your natural lens.
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Pick up a copy of our new book, Be the Leader You Were Born to Be, Be the Leader You Were Born to Be and see how leadership looks through the power of perception.
Because once you understand your lens, everything changes.
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About Dr. Gary M. Jordan, Ph.D.
Gary Jordan, Ph.D., has over 35 years of experience in clinical psychology, behavioral assessment, individual development, and coaching. He earned his doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology – Berkeley. He is co-creator of Perceptual Style Theory, a revolutionary psychological assessment system that teaches people how to unleash their deepest potentials for success. He’s a partner at Vega Behavioral Consulting, Ltd., a consulting firm that specializes in helping people discover their true skills and talents.
Meet Dr. Gary Jordan — Explore his background and contributions to the Perceptual Style Theory
