Your personality is the foundation for everything you do. It is the reason that you are the person you are.
As it turns out, your personality is directly correlated with career achievement and whether you’re happy and fulfilled in your job. The better your career fits who you are, the more quickly you’ll reach your goals.
You will know when you are in the right job for your personality when:
- You look forward to going to work
- You are extremely successful and productive
- You feel energised by what you do
- You feel optimistic about the future
- Your contribution is respected and appreciated
- You’re proud and passionate when describing your work to others
- You enjoy and respect the people you work with
WHICH PERSONALITY STYLE ARE YOU?
Research shows that you are one of four personality styles (Driver, Promoter, Supporter or Analyser – most people are a combination of these). When blended together in varying percentages, these four personality styles make us who we are. These styles define the way you act, think, learn, socialise and behave. There are 16 combinations of these four basic styles.
Everyone has one ‘dominant’ style. This is our primary style and is established at an early age. It is our motivating force and is the style we are most comfortable using. We are “hardwired” with this style from birth. Most of us also have a secondary style, which has the important function of creating balance and assisting you in the decision-making process.
Do you recognise yourself here?
DRIVERS
Drivers are strong willed, practical and decisive. They are action oriented and results driven. Drivers are assertive and they like to tell others what to do. Drivers prefer jobs that are task- rather than relationship-oriented. Drivers are entrepreneurial and are most comfortable when they are in control. They are competitive, thrive under pressure and can often be confrontational. They exude energy, move faster, speak louder and certainly decide quicker. They are less emotional and more in control of their feelings and responses than other styles.
Ideal careers for Drivers are where they can take charge or have authority.
Where they have goals and where results count. Drivers are big picture people who appreciate systems and procedures. They function best when carrying out responsibilities with authority. Careers in Arts, Business, Chefs, Engineering, IT, Law, Medical, Management, Military, Police, Radio & TV, Science & Technology, Skilled Trades & Construction, Sales & Marketing, and Sport would suit Driver styles.
Personal growth tips for Drivers
- Be a better listener
- Become less controlling
- Show support for others
- Explain your decisions
- Build your relationship skills
PROMOTERS
Promoters are independent, outgoing individuals who use their charm and persuasion to achieve their goals. They are enthusiastic and optimistic. They are very approachable, warm, competitive and fast paced. They believe that cooperation is the best way to achieve results. They are terrific in teams and group activity, often wanting to be the leader, because they have excellent leadership skills. Promoters have great people skills and like to tell others what to do. When given the choice, they prefer to work with other people rather than alone. They consider power and personal recognition very important.
Ideal careers for Promoters involve people and communication.
Promoters are outgoing extroverts with excellent communication skills with the ability to persuade and influence others. Creative by nature, they are friendly, optimistic people who enjoy motivating, representing and lobbying. Careers in Advertising, Communication, Coaching, Design, Entertainment, Fashion, Healthcare, Hospitality, HR, Public Relations, Publishing, Sales & Marketing, Media, Recruitment, Retail, and Tourism would suit Promoter styles.
Personal growth tips for Promoters
- Talk less, listen more
- Focus on details
- Don’t be easily distracted
- Be more results oriented
- Improve time management
SUPPORTERS
Supporters are at ease with people, fitting comfortably into most situations. They are law abiding and tend to be more factual than intuitive. They’re great at organising and have a talent for logistics. Supporters love their family and friends and stay in contact with them frequently. They do not believe in instant success but that you have to work in order to achieve. Whilst they don’t see themselves as set in their ways they dislike sudden changes. Supporters work hard at not letting others down. They are conscientious people who will drop everything to assist a fellow worker. They are willing to volunteer their time to assist the needy and are often the unsung heroes. They are friendly people, easy going, who get on well with and are liked by most people.
For Supporters the ideal jobs are those that involve people, service and information.
Supporters are easy-going people who enjoy working in a secure team environment that requires repetitive tasks or processes. They enjoy following routines and instructions and have a natural inclination to solve problems. Careers in Administration, Agriculture, Animal Care, Customer Service, Community, Education, Environment, Healthcare, Medical, Project Management, and Transport/Logistics would suit Supporter styles.
Personal growth tips for Supporters:
- Be prepared to express your ideas
- Increase your work pace to accomplish more
- Become confident & accept change
- Accept new challenges
- Become more assertive
ANALYSERS
Analysers strive for accuracy. For them, details and facts are most important. They are not very relationship orientated nor are they highly expressive or fast paced. Analysers like to be more in control and less emotional and focus on tasks rather than people. They tend to be perfectionists and can be quite hard on themselves. Often they like to work alone rather than in a group, and they generally prefer a closed-door environment. Despite their solitary nature they are loyal and very supportive. It is important to Analysers to know exactly what is required of them and what their responsibilities are. They want to get it right the first time and hate having to do things over again. They are loyal, supportive and are good problem solvers.
For Analysers the ideal jobs are those involving facts and information.
Analysers are ‘no-nonsense’ people who are naturally inclined to gather information. They are detail oriented and don’t mind working alone. They enjoy the challenge of providing precise evaluations and reports. They are very capable administrators who follow procedures in a conscientious and conservative manner. Careers in Administration, Agriculture, Architecture, Business & Finance, Construction, Design, Education, Engineering, Healthcare, Law, Science, Medical & Dental, Skilled Trades and IT would suit Analyser styles.
Personal growth tips for Analysers:
- Focus less on facts and more on people
- Increase your work pace to accomplish more
- Become more decisive
- Accept that everything’s “not perfect”
- Be less critical of other peoples ideas & work
IN THE END IT’S A MATTER OF PERSONALITY
The Harvard Business Review featured an article on “Managing Yourself”. In this article, they state: “Like one’s strengths, how one performs is unique. It is a matter of personality.”
“Whether personality is a matter of nature or nurture, it surely is formed long before a person goes to work. And how a person performs is a given, just as what a person is good at or not good at is a given. A person’s way of performing can be slightly modified, but it is unlikely to be completely changed – and certainly not easily.”
“Just as people achieve results by doing what they are good at, they also achieve results by working in ways that they best perform. A few common personality traits usually determine how a person performs.”
“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” Ralph Waldo Emerson