Reference

Successful self-guidance thanks to self-awareness

An experienced management consultant provides her clients with outstanding service. She has a knack for large projects, and is often called in for delicate missions. She is financially secure, and can pick and choose her contracts.

Sybille Liken, management consultant
I’m now an expert in the subject of myself. Thanks to my ID37 personality assessment, I can immediately recognize why something isn’t working for me. I used to have sparring partners. Now I can help myself.
Sybille Liken, management consultant

challenge

How can the dilemma be resolved? 

The self-employed management consultant is approached with a job by one of her most important clients. It involves supporting the company’s executives as they lay off 10,000 employees. After receiving this project request, the consultant feels internally conflicted. She feels the offer to be immoral, and cannot decide whether she should accept it or not. 

solution

Personality assessment as a basis for self-awareness 

The consultant turns to ID37 Master and ID37 company founder Thomas Staller for aid. In the first session, they agree to carry out the ID37 personality assessment. The consultant’s dilemma starts to become clear during the personal assessment session. On the one hand, she is attracted by the challenge associated with the project. In addition, the fact that the client trusts her with a contract of this magnitude makes her feel appreciated. On the other hand, the client's pursuit of profit at the expense of numerous workers does not fit with her strong sense of morality.

Clarifying motivations, enabling self-guidance

However, simply clarifying the root causes of the consultant’s internal conflict doesn’t resolve it altogether. Over the course of discussions with the ID37 Master, they develop various scenarios and thought experiments that help her to become aware of her most strongly expressed motives and what they mean for her. Together they develop a solution tailored precisely to her personality: In the negotiations with her client, she secures an exit clause. If, after a short introductory period, she finds herself unable to take on responsibility for the project, she will hand it off to a highly skilled colleague. The first week goes well. The consultant successfully carries out the project in accordance with her vision. Thus, she is able to stay true to herself, keep her own morale up and satisfy her most important client. 

results

Achieving business success through self-awareness 

  • For the consultant, gaining clarity about herself and the motives behind a possible solution proved valuable as she made her decision, and additionally gave her psychological support during the project’s initial days. In the future, the consultant will be able to make her own autonomous decisions and act in a self-determined manner. When forced to make important decisions, she is now able to examine her personality profile and reflect on what is important to her and what is not. 
  • The management consultant also invited her consultant colleague to undergo an ID37 personality assessment. The ID37 profile comparison showed the two experts that their personalities were highly complementary. This inspired them to consider doing a joint project sometime in the future. With their profile comparison, they have an ideal tool allowing them to deal openly with one other and to see the other’s perspective – a critical factor in their future success as a team.

FAQs

Questions and Answers

What is the ID37 personality assessment?

The ID37 personality assessment is a scientifically validated test that measures 16 life motives. These motives drive our behavior – unconsciously and throughout our lives. The assessment generates an individual personality profile that reveals what truly motivates you. Unlike typology tests, ID37 does not categorize people into boxes but instead maps each person's unique motive structure. The result: deep self-understanding and targeted personal development. The ID37 personality assessment is successfully used in coaching, leadership development, HR diagnostics and personal orientation.

Take the ID37 personality test
Watch the 4-minute explainer video (English subtitles)

What are life motives and how do they influence personality?

Life motives are fundamental inner drivers that determine why people act, feel, and think the way they do. Psychology distinguishes 16 universal life motives – including curiosity, autonomy, social acceptance, and influence. Every person possesses all 16 motives, but in varying degrees. This individual combination shapes personality like a unique fingerprint. Unlike personality types (such as MBTI), life motives reveal the deeper needs that govern behavior over the long term. They are scientifically measurable and help in understanding one's own motivation. A detailed explanation of common psychological terms related to personality and motivation can be found in the ID37 Glossary.

Discover the Psychology Glossary

Which 16 life motives does ID37 measure?

ID37 analyzes 16 fundamental life motives. Each motive describes a basic need that drives behavior.

The 16 life motives at a glance:

  • Curiosity: Desire for knowledge, insight and intellectual challenges
  • Social Acceptance: Desire for affirmation and acceptance from others
  • Influence: Desire for control and influence over people and processes
  • Status: Desire for prestige and a prominent position in society
  • Retention: Efforts to acquire and preserve possessions and other resources
  • Autonomy: Desire for independence from the expectations and influence of others
  • Social Participation: Desire for social interaction and contact with other people
  • Principles: Desire for conformity with the social norms of a particular social group or society as a whole
  • Social Engagement: Commitment to those who are suffering or disadvantaged, as well as to a more just society
  • Structure: Desire to structure one's surroundings in simple and consistent terms
  • Safety: Desire for a quiet and secure life
  • Revenge: Desire for retribution for any injustice experienced
  • Physical Exercise: Desire for movement and physical activity
  • Food Enjoyment: Desire for enjoyable experiences in association with food intake
  • Family: Desire to cultivate a caring and tight-knit familial network
  • Eros: Desire for sensual, erotic experiences and an active, fulfilled sex life

The individual expression – high, average or low – explains why people act and react differently.

Watch the 4-minute explainer video (English subtitles)
Explore the Psychology Glossary
Learn more in the ID37 Book

What does my ID37 personality profile reveal about me?

The ID37 personality profile displays the expression of the 16 life motives – ranging from high to average to low. It explains what drives a person, what gives them energy and what they avoid. The profile makes visible why a person reacts the way they do in certain situations. It does not categorize but maps the unique motive structure, makes needs understandable and enables individuals to work on their development in a targeted manner.

Watch the 4-minute explainer video (English subtitles)

How can I apply my ID37 profile in everyday life?

The ID37 profile serves as an individual compass for decisions. It forms the foundation for effective self-direction, emotion regulation and personal development. The ID37 profile specifically supports:

1. Self-awareness and goal setting: Through knowledge of the 16 life motives and their individual expressions, each person recognizes what truly matters to them in life. It shows where a person is intrinsically motivated and can consistently perform at their best with ease.

2. Emotion and stress management: With their ID37 profile, individuals learn to recognize their emotional patterns and identify trigger points. This enables them to anticipate and regulate emotions, break out of stimulus-response patterns and create space for finding solutions.

3. Relationships and conflict resolution: Self-awareness based on motives helps understand why other people are different. This understanding helps avoid and resolve conflicts and shape relationships harmoniously. The success factor: accepting others as they are.

4. Managing perception: The ID37 profile makes "blind spots" visible – the characteristics a person does not perceive in themselves.

The AI coach supports profiled individuals in training their soft skills based on real psychometric data.

Watch the 4-minute explainer video (English subtitles)

Is ID37 scientifically validated?

Yes, ID37 is based on modern test development and meets high psychometric standards. The method was developed at the University of Luxembourg. It utilizes current findings from motivational psychology and personality research. Unlike outdated typologies such as MBTI or DISC, ID37 explains the causes of behavior – not just its surface. The quality criteria of objectivity, reliability and validity are scientifically documented.

Download the scientific manual (currently available in German; English translation forthcoming)

What are the benefits of the ID37 team analysis?

The ID37 team analysis makes the motive profiles of all team members visible and comparable. It shows where the team's potential lies and where tensions may arise. Teams recognize how certain team members tick – and how to leverage these differences rather than fight them. This fosters understanding, improves communication and boosts team performance. The ID37 team analysis is particularly valuable during conflicts, when teams are newly formed or new members are integrated. The ID37 AI coach supports teamwork, as it works on the basis of individual motive profiles and can recognize and predict team dynamics.

Learn more about ID37 team analysis
Watch the 2-minute "My Teams" explainer video (English subtitles)

How does ID37 support leaders?

Leaders learn with ID37 to better understand themselves and their team members. They learn to understand their own personality and impact, to direct themselves and deploy their potential optimally. And they recognize what drives individual team members – enabling differentiated leadership. Instead of one-size-fits-all solutions, they rely on individual approaches. This increases motivation and performance. Conflicts can also be better resolved with knowledge of different motives. ID37 turns good leaders into better ones because they truly understand people. The ID37 AI coach is valuable support for leaders when recognizing development potential, understanding conflict causes or properly interpreting their own motive profile.

Read the best practice case on leadership
Learn more about the AI coach

How do companies use ID37?

Companies use the ID37 personality assessment for HR development, team building and leadership development. The analysis identifies individual potential, supports creating effective development plans and improves collaboration. In recruiting, ID37 helps verify cultural fit. Employees understand themselves better and are more satisfied. This reduces turnover and increases productivity. ID37 offers customized programs and approaches for organizations of all sizes. The ID37 AI coach also offers diverse possibilities to scale coaching, HR development and individual soft skill training.

Contact for companies
Learn more about ID37 in the world of work
Learn more about the AI coach

What is AI Coach Jay?

Jay is an AI-powered coach that provides personalized recommendations based on the science-backed ID37 personality profile and encourages reflection. The chatbot analyzes the motive structure, shows individual paths for development, supports conflict resolution and assists with questions about career, relationships and self-direction. Jay is trained on the ID37 personality model and combines its specialized knowledge with the unlimited information pool of an underlying AI model. The AI coach is available around the clock and complements work with human coaches, particularly in personality and team development.

Learn more about the AI coach
Watch the "AI Coach Jay" explainer video (English subtitles)

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