Mastering Your Work Personality (Take the quiz now!)
What are your co-workers known for? Maybe Susan is the person you go to when you need a task done quickly, but Michael is the person you go to if the job is more detailed. Perhaps Terry is the friendly one who helps dissolve conflicts. And Sheri is more serious but knows all the company processes inside and out. Have you ever considered who you are at work? You may have never given it much thought, but understanding your work personality can help you better understand your strengths and weaknesses, and lead to greater self-awareness and productivity.
To make it simple, we’ve broken it down into three more general personality types: the Champion, the Expert, and the Innovator. Each one has its own unique characteristics, strengths, and areas for improvement.
Take the 2-minute quiz now to find out which category you fit into the best!
Now that you have your results, let’s take a deep dive into your work personality:
The Champion
You thrive in an environment where you work closely with your team and believe that collaboration is key to achieving success. As a Champion, you are friendly, compassionate, and always seeking ways to improve yourself and your team. You are known for being optimistic, enthusiastic, and great at motivating others to work towards a common goal.
One of the downsides of being a Champion is that you may struggle with work/life balance and stress. You typically have a hard time saying “no” because you often aim to please everyone. It’s important to set boundaries and make sure that you are taking care of yourself, as well as your team.
Best practices:
- Continue to seek out feedback from colleagues and find ways to improve.
- Set boundaries and prioritize self-care.
- Remember that collaboration is key, but also be mindful of not taking on too much.
Recommended reading:
Hone your skills:
- How to Say “No” and Get Win-Win Results
- Strategic Self-Promotion to Advance Your Career and Your Organization
- Finding the Balance That Works For You: Leadership and Work-Life Balance
The Expert
You value structure and clear objectives, and you excel when given specific tasks to complete. As an Expert, you pride yourself on being highly skilled in a few key areas and your work speaks for itself. You are known for your attention to detail and efficiency.
However, you may struggle with flexibility and change. You also tend to avoid conflict and may have a hard time communicating effectively with others. It’s important to remember that sometimes you need to step outside of your comfort zone to grow and develop new skills.
Best practices:
- Challenge yourself to step outside of your comfort zone and take on new projects.
- Work on communicating more effectively with others.
- Remember to be flexible and adaptable when changes arise.
Recommended reading:
- Getting It Done: How to Clearly Communicate Your Professional Goals
- Difficult Conversations Made Simple
Hone your skills:
- Communicate More By Saying Less
- Transformational Leadership Begins With You: Inspire, Include, Innovate
- Leadership Under Pressure: Managing Through the Uncertainty and Change
The Innovator
You are creative, flexible, and enjoy exploring new ideas and approaches. As an Innovator, you tend to be independent and self-motivated and are willing to take risks and try new things. You thrive in times of change and love a challenge.
However, you may struggle with authority or rigid structures and may have trouble collaborating effectively with others. It’s important to know that while it’s great to think outside of the box and see where you could go, it’s also important to figure out exactly how you’ll get there! And remember – you can’t do it alone!
Best practices:
- Try to find a balance between creativity and structure.
- Work on collaborating more effectively.
- Remember to create a structured plan of action when implementing new ideas.
Recommended reading:
Hone your skills:
- Managing Unrealistic Expectations So They Don’t Manage You
- Coaching Strategies to Take Your Team to the Next Level
- Delegation Strategies: Maximize Your Time and Empower Others
So, which work personality do you identify with the most? Remember that there are no right or wrong answers. Understanding who you are and how you work can help you better understand your strengths and weaknesses. By recognizing your work personality and using the tips above, you can become a more effective and fulfilled employee!