ASSESS ONE’S PECs

Directions: Answer the questionnaire based on your personal and honest views as there are
no wrong answers. Remember that no one is good at everything. Put a checkmark (ü) on
every box that corresponds to your interpretation in every statement. Use a separate sheet in
answering the test.
5 – Always 4 – Usually 3 – Sometimes 2 – Rarely 1 – Never

Items 5 4 3 2 1
1. I am looking for things that need to be done.
2. When faced with a difficult problem, I spend a lot of time trying to find a
solution.
3. I complete my work on time.
4. It bothers me when things are not done very well.
5. I prefer situations in which I can control the outcomes as much as possible.
6. I like to think about the future.
7. When starting a new task or project, I gather a great deal of information
before going ahead.
8. I plan a large project by breaking it down into smaller tasks.
9. I get others to support my recommendations.
10. I feel confident that I will succeed at whatever I try to do.
11. No matter whom I'm talking to, I'm a good listener.
12. I do things that need to be done before being asked to do so by others.
13. I try several times to ask people to do what I like them to do.
14. I keep the promises I make.
15. My work is better than that of other people I work with.
16. I don't try something new without making sure I will succeed.
17. It's a waste of time to worry about what to do with your life.
18. I seek the advice of people who know a lot about the tasks I'm working on.
19. I think about the advantages and disadvantages of different ways
of accomplishing things.
20. I do not spend much time thinking about how to influence others.
21. I change my mind if others disagree strongly with me.
22. I feel resentful when I don't get my way.
23. I like challenges and new opportunities.
24. When something gets in the way of what I'm trying to do, I keep on trying
to accomplish what I want.
25. I am happy to do someone else's work if necessary to get the job done on
time.
26. It bothers me when my time is wasted.
27. I weigh my chances of succeeding or failing before I decide to do
something.
28. The more specific I can be about what I want out of life, the more chance I
must succeed.
29. I act without wasting time gathering information.
30. I try to think of all the problems I may encounter and plan what to do if
each problem occurs.
31. I get important people to help me accomplish my goals.
32. When trying something difficult or challenging, I feel confident that I will
succeed.
33. In the past, I have had failures.
34. I prefer activities that I know well and with which I am comfortable.
35. When faced with major difficulties, I quickly go on to other things.
36. When I'm doing a job for someone, I make a special effort to make sure
that the person is happy with my work.
37. I'm never entirely happy with how things are done; I always think there
must be a better way.
38. I do risky things.
39. I have a very clear plan for my life.
40. When working on a project for someone, I ask many questions to be sure I
understand what the person wants.
41. I deal with problems as they arise rather than spend time anticipating
them.
42. To reach my goals, I think of solutions that benefit everyone involved in the
problem.
43. I do very good work.
44. There have been occasions when I took advantage of someone.
45. I try things that are very new and different from what I have done before.
46. I try several ways to overcome things that get in the way of reaching my
goals.
47. My family and personal life are more important to me than work deadlines I
set for myself.
48. I do find ways to complete tasks faster at work and at home.
49. I do things that others consider risky.
50. I am as concerned about meeting my weekly goals as I am for my yearly
goals.
51.I go to several different sources to get information to help with tasks or
projects.
[Link] one approach to a problem does not work, I think of another approach.
53. I can get people who have strong opinions or ideas to change their minds.
54. I stick with my decisions even if others disagree strongly with me.
[Link] I don't know something, I don't mind admitting it.
Scoring Sheet: Enter the ratings from the completed questionnaire on the lines above the
item numbers in parentheses. Do the addition and subtraction in each row to compute each
PEC score. Watch carefully the plusses (+) and minuses (-) to come up with the correct
computation. Add all the PECs scores to compute the total score.
Rating of Statements Score PEC
+ + - + + 6 = Opportunity Seeking

(1) (12) (23) (34) (45)

+ + - + + 6 = Persistence

(2) (13) (24) (35) (46)

+ + + - + 6 = Commitment to work

(3) (14) (25) (36) (47)

+ + + - + 6 = Demand for quality
and efficiency
(4) (15) (26) (37) (48)
_ + + + + 6 = Risk-taking

(5) (16) (27) (38) (49)

_ + + + + 6 = Goal setting

(6) (17) (28) (39) (50)

+ + + + + 6 = Information seeking

(7) (18) (29) (40) (51)

+ - - + + 6 = Systematic planning
and monitoring
(8) (19) (30) (41) (52)
- + + + + 6 = Persuasion and
networking
(9) (20) (31) (42) (53)
- + + + + 6 = Self-confidence

(10) (21) (32) (43) (54)

Total PEC Score
Correction factor computation
- - - + + 18 = Correction factor

(11) (21) (33) (44) (55)

Interpreting Scores:
The highest corrected score is 25 per PECs item. The closer you are to 25 means you are
strong in that particular PECs item. The average and median score is 12.5. A score below 12.5
means a challenge or opportunity for improvement in that particular PECs item. A below the
average score calls for a change of behavioral pattern. Marking on the extreme left side
(below 12) requires self-reflection and figuring out changes needed to improve one’s
personality.

The correction factor (the total of items 11, 22, 33, 44, and 55) is computed to determine
whether or not a person tries to filter his image of himself. If the total score on this factor is 20
or greater, then the total score on the ten PECs must be corrected to provide a more accurate
assessment of the strengths of the PEC score for that individual.