There are many types of people that make up an organization and team. Sometimes the type of person needed changes depending on the circumstances within your organization. Innovation or innovative people types has become popular as of late. So I pose the question, when asked to create a list of innovative people, who comes to mind? Maybe Einstein, Gates, Jobs, Zuckerberg, Spielberg or Hanks. Innovators are people with the creative ability to come up with and act on something new. To take an idea, work with it and create. That leads to the question, who are the different kinds of innovators? When it comes to those in charge of businesses and organizations, there are five different types of innovative personalities that tend to end up at the top.
1. The Driver
The driver is a strong personal type that creates hard, disciplined leaders. They aim for targets, are motivated by results and they love rewards. As time moves on, they work hard to retain influence, to create impact and to leave a legacy. They have a unique ability to run with projects and promote their own success as they get things done. They work to the drum beat of “get it done” and their main question for their team members is “is it done yet?” The Driver make up about 33% of senior ranks.
2. The Pathfinder
Pathfinders are risk takers. They are open to fresh ideas and have a knack for choosing the right approach. They drive results through the use of creative engineering. For better or worse, Pathfinders believe that their sheer will to succeed will guide the way. Even though their ideas or initiatives will not always be fully supported, they dedicate themselves to the cause and apply an unparalleled work ethic to move great ideas along. Pathfinders make up about 16% of executives.
Related Article: 10 Powerful Questions to Ask to Understand What Motivates People
3. The Entrepreneur
Usually have excellent analytical abilities and are the great strategic thinker. Normally easy going, objective and seldom critical. They can succeed in any occupation they chose as long as it does not involve routine. They require independence, diversity, plenty of intellectual stimulation and the opportunity to generate ideas. Their work must be challenging to be satisfying. They do tend to be quick, ingenious, inventive, resourceful, social and enjoy complexity. Best to surround them went capable people.
4. The Wizard
Wizards love to learn, volunteer first, get noticed and everything works out for them even when it shouldn’t’t. They can be the organization’s pet, liked by everyone. Wizards have the ability to create relationships with the right people, support/build talent and leverage their skills for success. Wizards make up 24% of the senior team and are often the person in charge.
5. The Conformist
Conformists like to control and their risk tolerance is low. These individuals like clear instructions and authority. They like to be right, tend to be precise, and are highly organized, thorough and conscientious. Policy and procedure are key. Often they are challenged by change and transformation within their environment, especially if they have no say. Conformists are great tactical managers within the mid range of an organization. They make up about 12% of the senior team.
Related Article: 9 Steps to get Teams Going in the Same Direction
6. The Anchor
The Anchor helps hold everything together. They tie down the sails and batten the hatches. They are great at weighing pros and cons and taking one step at a time. They will sound the warning sign if things are not right. Anchors use approaches and methods that they know work. The Anchor will remind the team of their strengths and limitations. They are realists and love structure. Every boat needs an anchor. They make up about 23% of the senior team.
Final Thoughts
Each of these groups has their unique strengths. The Drivers and Pathfinders are enterprising, prone to risk and internally motivated. They are great for younger organizations. The Entrepreneur is great for creative teams solving problems or leverage opportunities. Unfortunately most traditional organizations and human resource professionals shy away from hiring these individuals because they do not understand how to leverage their unique abilities. Established organizations considering a change might need the Wizard to move vision and strategy forward. The Conformist gets people moving to the rhythm of structure and controls as the Anchor ensures that the rate of innovations is in step with the strengths and limitations of the organization.
Minds are like parachutes; they work best when open. T. Dewar Click To Tweet
The Driver and Pathfinder make things happen. The Entrepreneur figures things out quickly and strategically. The Conformist and the Anchor holds everything together.
A Side Note: Disruptions has become the big word in innovation thinking. Along with creative teams innovation drives success. The most innovative teams have a natural tension between risk and reality, and creating a strong mix of the above personality types can help keep a healthy balance. Of course there is always the potential for chaos. But managed chaos often requires the ability to diverge only to converge on new ideas and the different innovative personality types play an important role in making that happen.
Do your best,
Invest in the success of others,
May your journey count.
Richard
