Software Advice recently posted a series of blog posts entitled, ‘Psychological Profiles of the Dream Team.’ Each post highlights one of the four profiles that make up what they call the “Dream Team” – The Giver, The Champ, The Matrix Thinker, and The Savant. The profiles each work as a guide to help others understand that individual’s unique needs. Being able to identify these traits in the people that you communicate with both professionally and personally will help you to work with them more efficiently and effectively. Each profile is summarized below.

The Giver

Summary:
Givers are those people you know who always put others needs ahead of their own and strive to go above and beyond to support what they are passionate about, whether it be the company they work for, their family, or a cause. Givers can be good leaders, but tend to do better when taking orders from someone else as they are people pleasers.
Strengths and Weaknesses:
Because Givers are most concerned with the needs of others, they do well working in teams. Their goal is to reach success for the company as a whole and they are naturally motivated to achieve that. Due to their personal investment in the companies they work for, turnover is low with Givers.
Givers prefer to avoid confrontation. This can become a negative when the fear of confrontation prevents important conversations from happening.
What Employers Can Do:

  • Be careful with feedback- When giving feedback, provide constructive criticism and emphasize the positive.
  • Take care of them- Because Givers are constantly focused on others, they may not think about opportunities for themselves such as career advancement, compensation and job satisfaction. As a manager you should check-in with them and help them to progress as the time comes.
  • Encourage open dialogue- Since Givers avoid confrontation, they may be discouraged from speaking up about things that are bothering them. Allowing them the opportunity to speak up in private may help them to open up.

Read the full profile here.

 

The Champ

Summary:
Champs are full of energy, and they exert that energy in their interaction with others. Their natural ability to communicate with people leads them to success in both their personal and professional lives. The confidence gained from this may cause them to have a “chip” on their shoulder, which, depending on the situation, can be both a positive and a negative.
Strengths and Weaknesses:
Champs competitive nature motivates them to perform at high levels and they always strive to be the best they can be. Their determination and communication skills help them to advance throughout the company, many of them becoming top-level executives over time.
Sometimes Champs let success go to their head, making them hard to work with in a team setting. It may also cause conflicts with their managers and current and potential customers.
What an Employer Can Do:

  • Keep up with them- Champs are motivated by “winning” so setting goals that they can meet and providing them with career advancement opportunities will keep them satisfied.
  • Keep them in line- Because of their confidence and success, Champs sometimes step over boundaries with authority. Having a leadership hierarchy and defined roles can prevent these mishaps.
  • Gauge your Champs’ maturity level- It may take young Champs some time to figure out how to control their confidence. As they mature through important life stages they will become easier to work with and an asset to your company.

Read the full profile here.

 

The Matrix Thinker

Summary:
Matrix Thinkers are incredibly smart, curious, and creative. They have a unique way of thinking which leads them to revolutionary ideas that likely confuse others, but undoubtedly lead to their success.
Strengths and Weaknesses:
Some of the most creative minds are Matrix Thinkers, including Thomas Edison and Paul McCartney.  In addition to their creativity they are independent and great problem-solvers, always thinking outside of the box.
Because Matrix Thinkers have a strong sense of independence, they may not work well in a team setting. Following the rules is sometimes challenging for Matrix thinkers because of their creativity and unique way of thinking.
What an Employer Can Do:

  • Don’t overload them with inputs. Since Matrix Thinkers absorb all inputs, it’s important not to give them too much. Help them to set priorities so they can focus on one thing at a time.
  • Make sure they know what’s expected of them. Considering Matrix Thinkers are independent, they prefer to have full control over projects. When working in a team is required, clearly define roles so they can align their thoughts and achieve what they are assigned.
  • Don’t penalize them for disorganization. The workspace of a Matrix Thinker might appear to be a mess, but it’s an organized mess. As long as it is not distracting others then try your best to let it be.

Read the full profile here.

 

The Savant

Summary:
Savants are very talented, usually becoming an expert in one specific field. It is in their nature to be independent and introverted which makes it challenging for them to build relationships, but once they do, they are lasting.
Strengths and Weaknesses:
Savants are quick to learn new skills and once they discover what it is that they are meant to do, success comes naturally. They set high standards for themselves and are therefore extremely dedicated and determined to excel.
Their determination becomes a negative when they associate failure with their self-worth, sometimes causing depression. Their introverted personality may cause social anxiety and a tendency to isolate themselves from others.
What an Employer Can Do:

  • Don’t over-manage them- Savants will perform better when they have less structure from management and more freedom to follow their own plan. Their independence and motivation make it easy for them to stay on task.
  • Don’t assume they can do everything- Savants ability to quickly learn new skills does not mean that they can do everything. Recognize their specialty and let them focus on that.
  • Acknowledge a job well done- Although Savants are independent and self-motivating, they are also their toughest critic. It is important to acknowledge and reward their success appropriately – it will give them the extra boost they need.

Read the full profile here.

 

Image courtesy of: “Gold Guys”