Birkman Method

Articulate … Negotiate … Take Responsibility for Getting your NEEDS Met

The Birkman Method® combines motivational, behavioral and interest evaluation into a single assessment that provides a multi-dimensional and comprehensive analysis, thus reducing the need for multiple assessments.

A key benefit of the Birkman Method® is delineating the gaps between what you do and what you need. It identifies your usual-adaptive behaviors (often a personal strength), your needs, and likely behaviors you exhibit when your needs are not met (stress).

The Birkman Method® is one of the best ways to gain insight into and provide non-judgmental language for articulating, negotiating and taking responsibility for getting your NEEDS met.

Many assessments describe socialized, visible behavior. The Birkman Method® reaches further to analyze and report what drives and motivates behavior. We call these “Needs” — the expectations one has about relationships and situations in a social context. These Needs motivate personal actions and behaviors. When Needs are met, they drive behavior in positive and productive directions. Unmet needs can create potentially negative and less than productive behavior (Stress).

This short video introduces you to The Birkman Method.

Birkman Reports are particularly valuable for actual and aspiring managers in business environments because they are used most often with that population. After taking ONE Birkman online assessment, Birkman can provide over 40 different reports that can be tailored to the needs of the individuals, teams, and organization using the Birkman Method.

Most of Dr. Robin’s clients start with a Signature report that includes a summary Birkman Map of their motivating interests, personality, needs and stress behaviors. Each individual’s report will go into detail about the degree to which a range of interests (Musical, Artistic, Literary, Administrative, Numerical, Scientific, Outdoor, Technical, Persuasive, and Social Service) motivate them. This information, along with the other information in the Birkman assessment, contributes to their Career Exploration Report. Even if you are not trying to choose a career at this phase in your life, the Career Exploration Report can help you manage the projects and activities you do in your work-life to increase your career satisfaction.

Nine Personality / Relational Components are Core to Birkman:

• Social Energy | Sociability, approachability
• Physical Energy | Preferred pace for action
• Emotional Energy | Openness and comfort with expressing emotion
• Self-Consciousness | Sensitivity / diplomacy in one-on-one communications
• Assertiveness | Exercise of authority, verbal dominance
• Insistence | Approach to details, structure, follow-through, routine
• Incentives | Drive for personal rewards or preference to share in group rewards
• Restlessness | Preference to focus attention vs. seek varied activities
• Thought | Decision-making process, time to decide, concern for consequences of your decisions

For each of these components, your Birkman report will describe your usual behavior, your internal need in regard to that component, and possible causes of stress for you as well as likely stress reactions if your needs are not met in that area.

Dr. Robin’s reports also usually contain several Birkman Insights pages in everyday language addressing topics that are helpful in establishing mentor-mentee relationships, team-building sessions, peer-to-peer conversations, manager-direct report expectations / performance management / feedback conversations, etc.

Favorite Insights Topics Include:

• Accountability
• Biggest Mistakes Others Can Make with You
• Handling Commitment
• Handling Conflict
• How You Prefer Others Work with You
• Motivating You for Best Performance
• Relational Disruptors
• Trust
• Your Leadership Style
• Your Possible Ineffective Tactics in Meetings

Combined with the Birkman Map — a summary of each person’s motivating interests, strengths, needs and stress behaviors — these Birkman Insights topics provide actionable data for professional development.

Watch this short introduction to the Birkman Map video.

The Birkman Method | Participant Comments:

Dr. Robin’s clear and thorough understanding of the Birkman assessment was both evident and thought-provoking.

Loved her examples of application of the component scores to real life.

Liked the opportunity to see the difference in dynamics of usual vs. needs.

Assessment Process

Dr. Robin works with Birkman International to authorize you to take the Birkman Method Assessment. The questionnaire contains approximately 170 items. It has strong psychometric properties, has been used globally, and is validated by the U.S. National Science Foundation.

• The questionnaire is delivered online and should take about 30 minutes to complete.
• In order to take it, Dr. Robin will need your email address and payment.
• When you have completed the assessment, Birkman will notify Dr. Robin, and she will have your report prepared and emailed to the address you provided when you took the assessment.
• Dr. Robin will also provide you with some guidelines on where to focus your attention while reading the report, some prep work, and ask you to contact her to schedule a debriefing conversation.

While it is possible to take the assessment in 24 languages (you choose when you start taking it), all reports at this time will be delivered in U.S.-based English.

Please contact Dr. Robin HERE if you would like to take the Birkman Method Assessment.

If you are working with Dr. Robin in a coaching capacity, most likely she will ask you to use her Working the Birkman Method workbook to explore how to use the Birkman information effectively. Coming soon!