CORE QUALITIES

Method developed by Daniel Ofman

Time schedule

30 minutes Introduction Core Qualities

15 minutes Making your own core quadrant

15 minutes Work in pairs

20 minutes Present your CQ (Voluntary)and receive feedback

5 minutes Explanation Assignment

Why is it important to be aware
of your
(core) qualities?
Core quality

A specific strength, something you are really good at, or for which you are
often praised by others. It is regardless the circumstances.

For example: decisiveness, considerateness, carefulness, courage, orderliness

and flexibility
Every core quality has its Pitfall

A pitfall is ‘too much of a good thing’. The positive aspect of a core quality
goes over the top, turning your strength into a weakness.

For example: helpful becomes meddling; careful becomes fussy; flexible

becomes capricious.
Every quality has its pitfall: “No light without shadow”

Core quality Pitfall

too much of
a good thing
Modest Invisible

+ -
Examples Core qualities Examples Pitfalls

Perfectionist Faultfinder

Helper Meddler

Mediator Busybody

Romantic Hothead

Observer Know-all

Loyalist Slave

Bon vivant Party animal

Leader Dictator
The positive opposite of the pitfall: your challenge

Having identified the negative, deformed behavior (the pitfall),

you can start looking for the challenge.

For example: in a flexible person, the challenge is orderly behavior (the core
quality is flexibility and the pitfall e.g. volatility).
Allergy

People tend to be ‘allergic’ to too much of their own challenge in

other people. The allergy is ‘too much of a good thing’ of the
challenge, as well as the negative opposite of the core quality.
 Movie Time!

https://youtu.be/gFxr8GBiEoI

12
Learning about interactions with others, using the
core quadrant

Question 1
What happens when you meet someone who shares your core
quality?

Question 2
What happens when you meet your opposite?
Action: Make your own core quadrant

1. Pick from the list 5 qualities you recognise

2. Choose the one quality in which you recognise yourself most. Provide an
example
3. What is the pitfall of your quality: describe an example
4. What is your challenge: describe an example
5. What is your allergy: describe an example

6. Appr 15 minutes
Core Quadrant part 2 in pairs

1. Round 1
2. Find a buddy.
3. Find a Core Quality that fits your buddy
4. Ask if she/he recognizes it and complete the quadrant together (inclusing
examples)
5. Then see to the Core Quadrant your buddy made him/herself and discuss
it.

6. Round 2
7. Do it for the other person

8. Appr. 2 times 15 minutes

Core Quadrants continued

All students present their quadrant and ask the group for
feedback
Assignment

Take one of your core qualities that are related to your PM-study (in class,
project work, study etc.)

Upload your Core Quadrant to Brightspace and complete it as follows:

Describe how you utilize and build upon your core quality
How do you deal with the rest of the core quadrant (pitfall, challenges and
allergy)
How can you improve?
Core qualities and leadership