It takes all types to keep the business world thriving. When experts study various types of workers, they often limit themselves to levels of authority: those who are leaders and those who are followers. But there are other ways to categorise workers to get a better understanding of their contribution to a company. Professor Michael J Kirton, in his research at the Hatfield Polytechnic Institute in St. Albans, England, studied the work styles of more than 500 employees. He correlated each worker’s style with his or her value in the firm, then classified each of them on the basis of how they tackled job problems and how they felt about work. For the most part, two groups emerged: adapters and innovators. Adapters are the steady performers who carry out daily tasks without fuss. Innovators are those who desire and need change. Indeed, both types complement each other and are vital to company growth.
Reflect on your present or past work situations. You probably haven’t thought much about whether you are an adapter or an innovator. Here’s a chance to find out where you stand.
In the following quiz, answer each item as it best describes you. Give yourself a score of 4 for A, 3 for B, 2 for C and 1 for D. Count the total number of points and see if you are an innovator or adapter at work!
1) I approach problems in a precise and methodical manner.
A. Not like me
B. Somewhat unlike me
C. Somewhat like me
D. Very much like me
2) I don’t have a problem with doing boring jobs.
A. Not like me
B. Somewhat unlike me
C. Somewhat like me
D. Very much like me
3) I find it difficult to cope with several problems at the same time.
A. Not like me
B. Somewhat unlike me
C. Somewhat like me
D. Very much like me
4) I work like a ‘steady plodder’ at assignments and projects.
A. Not like me
B. Somewhat unlike me
C. Somewhat like me
D. Very much like me
5) I’m a conformist; I tend to follow society’s expectations as compared to others.
A. Not like me
B. Somewhat unlike me
C. Somewhat like me
D. Very much like me
6) When doing routine tasks for long periods of time, I tend to make very few mistakes.
A. Not like me
B. Somewhat unlike me
C. Somewhat like me
D. Very much like me
7) I tend to apply tried-andtested solutions to problems.
A. Not like me
B. Somewhat unlike me
C. Somewhat like me
D. Very much like me
8 ) I prefer working for a company to working for myself.
A. Not like me
B. Somewhat unlike me
C. Somewhat like me
D. Very much like me
9) I prefer to work with colleagues who don’t suggest too many changes to projects.
A. Not like me
B. Somewhat unlike me
C. Somewhat like me
D. Very much like me
10) Detailed work does not bore me as easily as it does most people.
A. Not like me
B. Somewhat unlike me
C. Somewhat like me
D. Very much like me
11) Acing without my boss’s permission bothers me.
A. Not like me
B. Somewhat unlike me
C. Somewhat like me
D. Very much like me
12) I take pleasure from doing detailed work.
A. Not like me
B. Somewhat unlike me
C. Somewhat like me
D. Very much like me
RESULTS
12- 24: you are an adaptor Adaptive workers, more so than their innovative comrades, can handle (and generally enjoy) jobs that require accuracy and precision. They are tolerant of repetitive work, make fewer errors than innovators in performing the same task, and deal better with details. Compared with innovators, adapters are rulefollowers. They dislike surprises and prefer predictability. They try to do things better, while innovators try to do things differently. If given a choice, adapters usually opt to work in a company rather than on their own, believing that a company provides security.
25-48: you are an innovator Innovators, on the other hand, have a strong need for variety in their daily activities. They try to handle several projects at once and tend to be risk-takers who try new twists on old routines. They like to experiment, and they trust their own resources when confronted with novelty. Adapters and innovators often make excellent teammates, whether in work, friendship, or love. More often than not, they tend to balance each other out. Check out personality quizzes on www.chatterbean.com for more information and compare your answers with your friends!
Volume 1 Issue 8
