Every person is unique with a different set of experiences, skills and ambitions.
Research shows there are four core personality types each with four sub-types. While a person’s experiences, skills and ambitions change over time, personality is remarkably stable.
Learning about your personality will help you understand your needs and preferences.
This will enable you to make choices which enhance your level of career satisfaction.
Optimists make up about 15% of the global population. There are four types of Optimist: Motivators, Mentors, Guides, and Facilitators. Optimists live to explore their ever-evolving capabilities and to help others maximize their potential.
Optimist types share a number of characteristics. They are often idealistic, intuitive, and authentic. Optimists believe deeply in the potential of others. They are also often loving, kind, trusting and spiritual. Optimists share a passion for creating meaningful relationships with others and with their environment.
In their professional lives, Optimists excel at helping to transform organizations and the people within them. They are energized by the prospect of learning new things and by growing. With Optimists, what you see is what you get. Optimists have a deep sense of authenticity and integrity. Their innate commitment to growth and development often make Optimists highly effective educators and innovators.
Optimist Motivators make up about 3% of the population. Motivators are free spirited, spontaneous and enjoy being in the thick of things. They relish the opportunity to find and explore meaningful social and emotional connections. Outgoing by nature, their charm and interest in others means that they are likely to be the life and soul of the party.
Motivators are independent and prize authenticity, a trait which is appealing to others. They experience wide ranging emotions and express excitement about future possibilities. Motivators derive their energy from the freedom to come up with new and intriguing solutions. They lose energy in situations where they are responsible for administration or routine tasks.
Motivators are intuitive and compassionate. This enables them to see patterns in relationship and group dynamics that others do not. Being able to sense and interpret the motives of others gives them an edge when communication with others. When a Motivator speaks, others listen.
Motivators are expressive communicators both in writing and face-to-face. They share their experiences, insights and convictions to motivate and inspire others. They feel compelled to speak out on issues that they are passionate about.
A Motivator’s interpersonal skills, warmth and enthusiasm leads them to enjoy many friendships at work and at home. Likable, charming and spontaneous, a Motivator’s ability to make a good first impression and to draw people in makes them a positive force in the lives of others.
Motivators are brave and curious. They eagerly go outside their comfort zone to experience new and exciting opportunities. They have a thirst for life and are excited to learn and discover new things.
Motivators are curious about the people around them. They actively seek out intriguing people and try to understand their motives. This unique combination of intuition and observation enables them to identify people's issues. As a result, Motivators are sensitive to others’ needs.
Motivators are inspired by their experiences and observations. Their enthusiasm is infectious and inspires others. Through sharing their discoveries, Motivators strengthen connections, absorb new information and identify opportunities.
Motivators are interested in others, imaginative and enthusiastic. This translates into their ability to have easy going and engaging conversations. They fluidly adapt their style to the people they are with. Motivators can steer discussions from a social chat to a more meaningful dialog in a way which is both natural and intentional.
Motivators know how to have fun and relax. They live in the here and now and help those around them experience the joy of the moment. Motivators understand that life isn’t all about being serious and their zest for life is vibrant.
Motivators are sociable, interesting and fun to be with. Others find them to be open and approachable. Motivators are also deeply concerned for the welfare others. This makes them very popular and they get along with nearly everyone.
Motivators are great at coming up with ideas. They can struggle with translating their objectives into workable project plans. Further, they tend to find project management and routine administration emotionally taxing.
Because they find new possibilities and adventures so intriguing, Motivators can find it hard to stay focused on the task at hand. Their attention can frequently drift making it challenging for them to meet deadlines.
Motivators are sensitive and concerned with the feelings of others. Because they tend to be popular, they can easily become overwhelmed by appeals for their time. Their tendency to over analyze also makes them prone to stress as they are unable to help everyone.
Motivators view emotional expression as core to who they are. Under pressure, or facing criticism, they can be prone to emotional outbursts. Occasionally, these can be inappropriate or damaging to their relationships.
Motivators are free spirits who desire autonomy. The enjoy exploring experiences or ideas that appeal to them in the moment. Motivators can struggle with authority and dislike being bound to convention, rules or obligations.
Optimist Motivators thrive in the company of others. They work best in environments which allow them to explore new ideas and devise brilliant innovations. Because Motivators are less judgmental than others, they listen to all suggestions to assimilate a wide range of input. The solutions they create are often so ingenious they seem like no-brainers.
Motivators are open minded and adventurous, ever willing to take on new challenges outside their comfort zone. They appreciate the freedom to get on with tasks independently without interference from others. As a result, most Motivators do not respond well to micromanagement.
Work gives you meaning and purpose and life is empty without it.
Motivators love to explore new ideas. Their focus can stray well before a project is truly completed and they may need help to stay on track. They need to be careful not to over commit to avoid a reputation for under delivering. Learning techniques to help them deliver projects on time and on budget could help their productivity and reputation.
Motivators can become stressed in situations where they feel trapped or compelled to make rapid data-based decisions. They may also become agitated if they lose valued relationships or have to spend significant time working alone. A Motivator’s stress can sometimes manifest itself in unexpected emotional outbursts. Some Motivators realize significant benefits by studying their triggers and responses to learn how to maintain composure in tough situations. This enables them to remain cool under pressure and preserve important relationships.
Motivators are popular with their colleagues who value their caring and supportive nature. In teams, they are protective of those with an alternative view. Motivators are also willing to point out “the elephant in the room”. They play a significant role in keeping things fresh by challenging the status quo.
Optimist Motivators focus more on people than tasks and thrive in the company of others. They are expert communicators. Not only do they share their own thoughts, ideas and experiences, but most Motivators are also expert listeners. They have a unique flair for learning from a wide range of people and build on their views to generate new ideas and insights.
With their enthusiasm for identifying and exploring new concepts, Motivators act as a catalyst for change. They can help ensure that the team doesn’t become stale or tied to the status quo.
Alone we can do so little. Together we can do so much.
A Motivator will speak up when others might stay quiet and encourage less forthcoming types to contribute to the discussion. Less expressive types can sometimes find Motivators overwhelming. Some Motivators use basic questioning and listening techniques to create greater balance in their interactions. This enables them to get the most out of conversations and preserve relationships.
Motivators are egalitarian, optimistic and inspiring. They enjoy making a positive contribution to team morale. A Motivator’s ability to sense the mood and emotions of others and their kindness and concern make them popular and trusted colleagues.
Optimist Motivators energize others with their passion and vision. Surprisingly, they often do not relish the responsibilities of leading others. Motivators do not appreciate hierarchy in the same way more concrete types do. As a result, they are less comfortable with tasks they view as bureaucratic or routine. When they do choose to lead people, Motivators can be very popular. Their democratic style and approachability enable them to connect with their people on an emotional level.
As free spirits themselves, Motivators prefer to give autonomy to members of their team. Those with a more concrete and detailed work style are likely to struggle with this and may feel neglected. Learning to adapt to the supervision needs of other personality types can help some Motivator leaders provide better direction to all their people. It can also increase individual satisfaction and overall team performance.
Motivators are passionate about new ideas and projects. They are also likely to find the discipline of managing projects onerous. One strategy some Motivators use is to delegate project management to others. In cases where it is not possible, they can benefit by strengthening their planning and time management skills. They can also improve by using hacks to break projects down and tackle them bit by bit.This will enable them to execute more complex projects with greater consistency and reliability.
In a leadership role, a Motivator will tend to view themselves as part of the team rather than managing from on high. This can be effective when is all is going well. It can be more challenging when they need to take corrective action or give negative feedback.
If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.
Motivators are sensitive and adept at identifying interpersonal issues within the group. However, they tend to be overly diplomatic when trying to resolve issues. This tendency can hamper honest and direct communication. In order to mitigate this, a Motivator may need to verify that others have understood exactly what the Motivator intended to communicate. Learning to deliver real-time feedback and coaching with specific, objective behavioral examples will ensure that a Motivator’s message is clear and actionable.
Adventurous and exploring by nature, Motivators are excited by change and the possibilities that it brings. They involve others in decision making and make sure to listen to all voices. A Motivator’s strong emotional radar allows them to sense the degree acceptance by the team. Consequently, Motivators will actively support people through the personal challenges associated with change. the introduction of new products, processes and systems.
Motivators tend to struggle with the detail and routine associated with executing complex projects or initiatives. The best Motivator leaders use simple tools to drive execution with their teams. They align objectives with strategy, select the right talent for key roles, and create follow-up mechanisms to track progress. This way, they are able to both create and deliver effective solutions.
Motivators tend to resist hierarchy and bureaucracy. Similarly, some Motivators either reject politics or see themselves as apolitical. As a result, they may make political or procedural errors. As leaders, they need to take care that they role model company standards if they want to get the support they need to be successful. Learning to navigate organizational politics by sensing how people and organizations function can help some Motivator leaders. They will accelerate achievement of their goals by anticipating political pitfalls and adjusting their approach appropriately.
Optimist Motivators are the great networkers, integrators and drivers of change in modern organizations. No other type can match the passion of a Motivator when it comes to championing a new way forward. Motivators love to be part of innovation, particularly if it involves the realization of a bold vision.
Motivators are adventurous and brave, fascinated by new ideas, concepts and innovations. Their ideal career allows them the freedom to use these strengths and develop themselves along the way.
Motivators have deep insight into people’s motives and behaviors. As a result, they communicate in a way which resonates with their audience. These skills are essential in many fields. Motivators enjoy work in psychology, counseling, teaching, management consulting, public relations and politics. Additionally, Motivators may be inspired to work for solution providers, that help them make meaningful connections with their customers.
I attribute my success to this - I never gave or took any excuse.
Optimist Motivators energize others with their passion and vision. Surprisingly, they often do not relish the responsibilities of leading others. Motivators do not appreciate hierarchy in the same way more concrete types do. As a result, they are less comfortable with tasks they view as bureaucratic or routine. When they do choose to lead people, Motivators can be very popular. Their democratic style and approachability enable them to connect with their people on an emotional level.
As free spirits themselves, Motivators prefer to give autonomy to members of their team. Those with a more concrete and detailed work style are likely to struggle with this and may feel neglected. Learning to adapt to the supervision needs of other personality types can help some Motivator leaders provide better direction to all their people. It can also increase individual satisfaction and overall team performance.
Motivators are passionate about new ideas and projects. They are also likely to find the discipline of managing projects onerous. One strategy some Motivators use is to delegate project management to others. In cases where it is not possible, they can benefit by strengthening their planning and time management skills. They can also improve by using hacks to break projects down and tackle them bit by bit.This will enable them to execute more complex projects with greater consistency and reliability.
In a leadership role, a Motivator will tend to view themselves as part of the team rather than managing from on high. This can be effective when is all is going well. It can be more challenging when they need to take corrective action or give negative feedback.
Too often, we leave our growth to random chance. That can be frustrating because we can’t always grow as fast as we want (or need) to! While experience can be a great teacher, there is no substitute for learning proven strategies to maximize our potential.
Optimist Motivators have tremendous capabilities. They also share some common challenges. Possible areas for growth for Motivators include:
Keep your cool in stressful situations
Leverage personal accountability and discipline to maximize your productivity
Provide others with insight in a way which helps improve their performance
Understand people accurately, appreciate alternate viewpoints and encourage honest, two-way communication
Navigate complex organizational relationships and power dynamics
Look ahead to accomplish your critical goals more efficiently
Deliver critical project outcomes on time and on budget
Adapt your interpersonal approach to build rapport and influence others
Allocate your time and effort efficiently to boost your productivity
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