How WorkDNA measures people
The belief behind every feature — why we stopped grading people and what we measure instead. Two versions: plain and rigorous.
A 24-minute deep dive into why we stopped grading people and started measuring fit — the theory behind WorkDNA, in plain talk.
A 4-minute walkthrough of how fit, strengths, energy and growth combine into Deployment Fit — the matrix behind WorkDNA's new measurement.
Version A — plain reading
You are not bad — you may just not be in the right place yetIf you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will spend its whole life believing it is stupid. Today's workplace does exactly that — everyone measured by one yardstick, then graded A, B, C, D: good, not good.
What does a grade really tell us?
The grade you receive tells you more about the person who scored you than about you — research shows that performance ratings reflect the rater's own habits and biases ~62% of the time, while reflecting the actual work you did only ~21% of the time.
Ever felt it was unfair? You are not imagining it.
WorkDNA believes something different
Nobody is not good — they just may not be in the right place yet.
So we stopped asking what grade did you get and started asking: how well does your work match what you are great at and care about?
Because when people do the right work, happiness comes first — and results follow, with no one needing to push.
5 lenses — Deployment Fit
We look at you through 5 lenses and combine them into one number called Deployment Fit (are you placed well?):
- 🎯Fit — Does this work match your identity and role?
- 💪Strengths — Are you using what you are truly good at?
- 🔥Energy — Does this work energize you, or drain you to burnout?
- 🤝Engagement — Do you feel involved, autonomous, and supported?
- 🌱Growth — Are you growing toward where you want to go?
Stuck somewhere? The system helps — it does not blame
And if you are stuck somewhere — the system does not blame you. It recommends a path forward: courses, skills, concrete next steps. Our job is to help you move, not to point at your failures.
Two kinds of dedication
We watch carefully for one thing: dedication comes in two forms.
Healthy (harmonious) — loving the work while still having a life.
Consuming (obsessive) — unable to stop, mood tied entirely to work outcomes.
We never reward burning out. A talented person who burns out is a loss for everyone.
Our promiseAn organization that truly understands you and places you in the right role means you will want to stay and be the best version of yourself. That is Put the right person in the right job — and we want it to become the new global standard.
Want the whole thing? Take the full academic version with you — every research citation and the honest caveats included.