Alternative to the Big Five Personality Test (OCEAN) — From Traits to Strategic Action
Looking for an Alternative to the Big Five (OCEAN) Personality Test?
The Big Five (or OCEAN) personality model is a widely used psychological framework that describes people along five core traits: Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism.
It’s often praised for its scientific rigor, but many professionals today are looking for something more actionable, work-relevant, and development-focused.
If you want to go beyond personality traits and understand your strategic strengths, the Big 5 of Strategy is a powerful alternative.
What is the Big Five Personality Test (OCEAN)?
The OCEAN model is based on decades of academic research and is often used in:
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Psychological studies
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Personality profiling
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Hiring and selection tools
It measures stable personality dimensions that describe how you tend to think and behave but it doesn’t focus on what you can do, or how to grow in complex, dynamic environments.
Why Look for an Alternative to OCEAN?
Despite its scientific foundation, the Big Five personality model has limits in applied, real-world settings:
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Descriptive, not developmental: it tells you who you are, not how to build new capabilities.
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No built-in application: it doesn’t help you improve or act strategically.
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Limited personal insight: people often struggle to connect abstract traits to everyday decisions and challenges.
Big 5 of Strategy vs. Big Five Personality (OCEAN)
Feature | Big Five (OCEAN) | Big 5 of Strategy |
|---|---|---|
Purpose | Description | Development and action |
Application | Research, psychometrics | Leadership, strategy, growth |
Flexibility | Static traits | Dynamic, situational competencies |
Scientific grounding | Academic psychology | Applied research (1,200-person study) |
Output | Trait scores
(O, C, E, A, N) | Personalized strengths profile |
Model type | Personality traits | Strategic competencies |
Who is the Big 5 of Strategy For?
If you’re working in a fast-changing, strategically demanding, or leadership-driven environment, a personality model often isn’t enough.
The Big 5 of Strategy is for:
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Professionals seeking growth-oriented feedback
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Leaders navigating complex decisions
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Teams building strategic capacity
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Coaches and HR leaders developing talent beyond traits
Why the Big 5 of Strategy Is More Than a Trait Model
The OCEAN model describes how you tend to operate, but it doesn’t show what you’re capable of or how to grow.
The Big 5 of Strategy gives you a clear picture of:
How you shape future directions
How you mobilize systems and people
How you deliver under pressure
How you adapt to change
It’s not about static traits, it’s about strategic capacity in action.
How you grasp complexity
