Clients often ask us how others use their aptitude testing results, and one of the aptitudes they’re most curious about is Ideaphoria. This aptitude measures the volume and speed of a person’s ideas—not their quality. A high Ideaphoria score signals a rapid flow of ideas, while a lower score reflects a slower, more steady stream.
Our research reveals that individuals with high Ideaphoria thrive in fields that emphasize communication and innovation, such as marketing, teaching, advertising, and writing. These professions often encourage brainstorming and ideating, making them a natural fit for this aptitude.
To explore this further, we surveyed former clients through our newsletter and social media channels, asking how they use their Ideaphoria in and outside of work. The responses highlighted both the joys and frustrations of having a quick idea flow.
What We Learned
Across professions, those with high Ideaphoria felt strongly connected to its definition and consistently reported using this aptitude in their work, though the extent varied. Respondents fell into two broad groups:
- Fields that align with high Ideaphoria: Careers like writing, marketing, and teaching were unsurprisingly common among respondents who felt they “definitely” use this aptitude. These professions often require activities like brainstorming, problem-solving, and presenting ideas—ideal outlets for rapid idea generation.
- Fields where Ideaphoria isn’t a natural fit: Interestingly, we also heard from individuals in technical fields like engineering and trades, where high Ideaphoria is less common. These respondents reported using their aptitude “sometimes” rather than “definitely.” For example, an environmental engineer noted that policy and permitting tasks engage their Ideaphoria, but their core engineering tasks do not. Similarly, a physician who teaches medical students and a realtor who does freelance writing found ways to incorporate this aptitude into their work.
One standout example was a security systems engineer who felt their role “definitely” engaged their Ideaphoria. People with high Ideaphoria often crave variety in their work, so the dynamic nature of cybersecurity—where learning and problem-solving are constant—could explain this particular engineer’s higher level of aptitude use.
Many of the other surveyed professionals with fewer direct ways to use Ideaphoria reported that they use it most in problem-solving, trouble-shooting, or researching in their fields.
Six Ways Clients Use Ideaphoria
From our survey, six key activities emerged as common outlets for Ideaphoria:
- Teaching or training
- Problem-solving
- Writing
- Verbal communication (interpersonal)
- Presenting information
- Brainstorming
These activities were reported across a range of professions, including human resources, nursing, financial advising, psychology, and nonprofit management—showing that Ideaphoria isn’t limited to traditionally “creative” roles.
You can see from the charts below that these six activities are likely to be part of the daily work of professions we’ve studied that tend to have high Ideaphoria scores.
Aptitudes and Career Satisfaction
Our findings confirmed what we’ve seen in past research: using your aptitudes leads to greater career satisfaction. Respondents who felt they “definitely” use their Ideaphoria in their careers reported higher levels of satisfaction than those who only use it “sometimes.” That said, even partial use can make work more enjoyable.
Here’s what some of our clients shared about discovering their Ideaphoria:
“This concept has been a thread that has strung its way through my entire life and career, but a light was shined on it thanks to the Johnson O’Connor Foundation.” ~ Senior AV/IT/ Security Systems Engineer
“This is probably my favorite aptitude. It feels like the engine to how I think and helps me explore new paths and endeavors.” ~ Clinical Psychologist
“I believe it has been my saving grace in education and business…I’m called on frequently to find a solution and then to implement my out of the box ideas.” ~ Education Professional
Challenges of High Ideaphoria
We often say that any aptitude can be an asset or a liability depending on the extent to which you’re able to use it. Ideaphoria is no exception. While most respondents embrace this aptitude and see it as central to how they navigate the world, some respondents shared frustrations about having their ideas ignored or misattributed in the workplace. Others mentioned difficulties in family dynamics, where differences in approach created conflict. Quieting a busy mind was another common struggle.
Still, many found fulfilling outlets outside of work, like crafting, writing, cooking, and volunteering. Stay-at-home parents and retirees were particularly enthusiastic about Ideaphoria, underscoring the importance of challenging this aptitude at all stages of one’s life.
Final Thoughts
A dramatic career change can sometimes feel out of reach for mid- or late-career professionals who learn about their aptitudes later in life. These clients are often searching for ways to tweak their current paths to make them align more closely with their aptitudes. An encouraging outcome from this survey was how often teaching and training, regardless of industry, were cited as satisfying ways to use Ideaphoria. This suggests that even in roles where Ideaphoria isn’t an obvious fit, there may be a relatively easy way to incorporate it.
No matter your field, embracing your aptitudes can lead to a more satisfying and dynamic life.
Want to know more about using high and low Ideaphoria? Download our Ideaphoria one sheet.