Work Styles

The Work Styles Test is based on the Competing Values Framework.

• "Catalyst" Flexible and External: highly energised by creative expression, external partnerships, and bringing fresh ideas to life. Prefers flexible, stimulating environments and excel at generating innovative solutions and engaging with clients or audiences.
• "Navigator" Control and External: highly motivated by clear goals, measurable outcomes, and steering projects toward targets. Excels at balancing structure with responsiveness and thrives where deadlines and performance metrics matter.
• "Guardian" Control and Internal: finds deep satisfaction in maintaining order, ensuring accuracy, and mitigating risk. Excels at precision, consistency, and accountability, serving as the reliable foundation others can count on.
• "Compass" Flexible and Internal: energised by shaping how colleagues feel, grow, and collaborate. Excels at nurturing relationships, supporting team dynamics, and creating inclusive, supportive work environments.

Why is this important? Because if a candidate's work is constantly forcing them to work in a manner that is strongly contrary to their preferred style, they will hate their job. Think about it, a real 'A-type' person who is super competitive, a bit colder emotionally, and very ambitious will melt down if their work performance matters less than how their coworkers *feel* about them. Or if they need freedom and flexibility to work effectively, but they are in an organisation with strict rules and procedures and are dinged for doing things that have not been tested and proven. A work place is going to reward some behaviors and penalize others, you want candidates to be in a situation where their preferred style is rewarded.

The Work Styles Test provides a chance for you to *see* how candidates prefer to work, speak clearly about it, and help you identify work situations that will nuture and reward them for who they are instead of forcing them into situations that drain their energy and drive.

The Work Styles Test will help you identify which of these four styles a candidate prefers and how to identify a work situation that is a good fit for them. It will also help you understand their interactions with coworkers and how they might work with them more effectively. A company has to perform ALL of these functions to be successful. They need to have good "Guardians" to make sure things are done right, but they also need "Catalysts" to make sure they are innovating and not falling behind the market. They need "Navigators" to make sure they are hitting goals, but they also need "Compasses" to make sure employees are happy and healthy. A candidate will have a work style preference, and the company's culture will probably lean in one direction or another. By understanding these styles, you can understand what kind of work environment each candidate needs to thrive.