Overall results (score 84)

Based on Mary's scores, she seems like a person who would fit very comfortably into the role of a store manager. Ideally, store managers have good people skills, comport themselves in a confident manner, and possess excellent organizational, business, and leadership abilities. They also need to be self-disciplined and knowledgeable in staffing issues. Finally, they need to be able to think logically and push themselves to be as organized, conscientious, and driven as possible - both to set an example for employees and keep the business running smoothly. Mary meets all or most of these requirements and therefore, could likely perform very well in a store management position.

Adherence to Rules (score 95)

Mary's responses indicate that she is a rule-abiding individual. Perhaps breaking rules makes her uncomfortable, or she simply feels an obligation to be a good citizen and follow the established convention of her organization. This means that she will likely be comfortable adhering to the standards established by upper management. A person cannot expect to thrive as a store manager if he or she refuses to act in accordance with the rules and regulations established for doing business.

Approachability (score 98)

Mary is very approachable and pleasant to spend time with. She is affable and friendly and as a result, people feel comfortable asking her for advice, help, or support. Others likely enjoy her company because she is tactful and easy to get along with. She is probably liked and accepted by everyone around her. People who run a business need to be approachable in order to best serve clients and to establish positive relationships with employees.

Communication (score 82)

According to this test, Mary's communication skills are excellent. She is able to get her point across in a clear, concise way as well as listen to others and understand where they are coming from. She definitely has a solid grasp on the criteria for effective communication and, most importantly, puts that know-how into practice. A manager needs good communication skills in order to build a rapport with customers, to guide employees, and develop a good relationship with suppliers.

Conscientiousness (score 89)

Mary is a reliable, disciplined, and careful individual. People who score very high in conscientiousness are orderly, rational, and focused. They have high standards and rarely fail to meet them. High scorers in conscientiousness are hardworking, productive, and goal-oriented. They are generally rule abiding and cautious, and rarely careless. A natural tendency towards being responsible, organized, and rule abiding has been shown to be predictive of success in a variety of areas, particularly when it comes to running a business.

Cultural Sensitivity (score 84)

Mary appears to have a solid understanding of issues relating to cultural sensitivity, and is able to establish a respectful environment where all races and cultures can thrive. There are certain legal and ethical obligations that employers have to their employees. These include not discriminating in the hiring process, giving all employees an equal chance to advance in the company, and preventing harassment in the workplace, among others. Also, customers of all cultures should be treated with respect and catered to in order to serve them well. Store managers should be aware of the issues related to prejudice, discrimination, and cultural differences, and she very knowledgeable in this area.

Goal-orientation (score 99)

Mary tends to set many goals, both long and short term. As a result, she knows what she wants to accomplish and can set clear objectives to help her achieve the necessary steps along the way. Employees under her charge would likely be fully aware of what they should be striving for. This is good because people need both short-term and long-term goals in order to feel motivated to achieve. They also need to feel inspired enough to stick to a task and follow through to completion.

Go-Getting (score 91)

Mary is a go-getter who is able to stay motivated and focused. Managers must be able to keep their eyes firmly set on the finish line and refrain from getting distracted or sidetracked. Without this go-getting attitude, it can be difficult to keep employees on target in relation to both daily and long-term progress.

Innovation (score 88)

In the day-to-day life of running any business, one encounters problems and obstacles that need to be overcome in order to move forward. Trying to solve these problems with the same approach over and over just leads to frustration and stagnancy. Instead, one should attempt different approaches and try to think outside the box in order to come up with innovative solutions. Mary appears to be highly capable of coming up with imaginative ideas for dealing with issues that arise. She almost never uses existing techniques or methods, preferring to come up with something unique. No doubt, she will find that when she does come up with a new solution to a repetitive problem, she is ultimately more successful.

Leading (score 92)

Mary appears to possess most, if not all of the qualities needed to be a great leader. Whether she has worked hard to develop her leadership qualities or she simply has a natural knack, she is in a great position to lead a group towards success. Leadership comes with a wide range of responsibilities and pressures. When Mary is at the head of the pack, she is expected to provide an example for the individuals she leads and set the tone for the way entire short and long-term projects will be carried out.

Logical Thinking (score 50)

Mary achieved a medium score on the Logical Thinking section of the test. Analytical reasoning consists of taking all the details of a situation or problem into account, processing them, and then coming to a rational conclusion based on the evidence provided. This type of skill can certainly benefit a store manager, particularly in relation to making rational decisions and identifying possible causes of problems that occur on the job, among other things. It would be to Mary's advantage to further improve in this area.

Organizing (score 83)

It appears from Mary's responses that she is very well equipped to handle the organizational tasks related to management. Keeping track of details is one of the main tasks of administration. People in these positions must deal with scheduling issues, keep track of inventory, and pay employees, among other tasks. Individuals who lean towards disorganization are at a serious disadvantage in this area and therefore, should proceed with caution when accepting such a position. Fortunately, this is not a problem for Mary.

Salesmanship (score 84)

One of the most important skills for a successful store management career is an ability to interact in a knowledgeable and friendly manner with customers. People skills, effective communication, and having a solid grasp of the product(s) the store provides are essential to selling, and Mary seems to have what it takes to do very well in this field. In fact, she is able to convince others to see things from her point of view, which is one of salespeople's most useful "weapons". She possesses a lot of talent for networking, building a rapport with clients, and influencing others' decisions - enough to stand out among her peers.

Self-efficacy (score 60)

Mary has a fairly high level of self-confidence and self-efficacy. She is usually able to recognize her inner value, and it shows in her professional life. She exudes confidence and believes in herself enough to pursue her goals whole-heartedly. To be an effective business owner, she must trust herself and her abilities, and feel worthy of her position. She likely displays the outward confidence that inspires trust and respect from employees and customers alike.

Staffing (score 85)

It appears that Mary is very knowledgeable about the hiring and training process, although she may need to update her understanding in one or two areas. Store managers who are not well informed about staffing procedures could make costly and even illegal mistakes. If she feels it is necessary, she may want to seek out more information related to this issue in order to be better prepared to run a business.