You are a Panda!

    Around 12% of the UK population are Pandas
    Motto: How can I help everyone?

    Your Personality Strengths

    • Like to follow the rules
    • Enjoy connecting people
    • Like working to support themselves

    Around 12% of the UK population are Pandas.

    As a Person:

    Pandas are natural providers and protectors; they look after people whether they like it or not! They are genuinely interested in people, helping everyone, including friends, colleagues, even strangers. They remember the biographical details others forget, they’re like a wiki page, summarising colleagues and customers’ life situations. A panda might be heard opening a conversation with someone they met once, three years ago with: ‘How is your niece, Lorraine, she must be seven now, is she still enjoying Guides and Harry Potter?’

    When they’re in the right role they are the social glue that keeps teams positive, supportive and focused. At worst they can gossip and spend more time on socialising than working. However, their strong work ethic, camaraderie and team spirit, means they will be popular and valuable team members. They really do like to see others do well.

    They can sometimes be ‘too nice’ leading to exhaustion by over-committing themselves to helping other people. If they’re working so hard that they start to snap, snipe or shout, this is out of character and a sure sign they are really under pressure and need support from those around them. Compassion fatigue can be a problem when working in jobs and companies which support people at their core.

    Your Superpowers:

    How can you make a positive impact in your life, your business or wider society? Which of these superpowers do you relate to?

    • Kindness: Listening to and supporting others, putting their needs before your own.
    • Honesty: Ability to share one’s true thoughts and feelings.
    • Persistence: To keep going without giving up.
    • Leadership: Taking responsibility to complete a group task.
    • Social Intelligence: Ability to interact effectively in groups by combining empathy and boldness.
    • Citizenship: Acting in a way that serves the needs of the networks of people around you that you may not know personally.

    Background: Psychologist Martin Seligman created the field of positive psychology in the 1990s. He studied societies and cultures across the globe and throughout history. He identified the best human qualities that appeared regularly. These virtues or ‘superpowers’ can be a useful guide to ensure we make a positive impact.

    The qualities can be loosely aligned with personality animals to start a conversation and reveal our superpower, our most important qualities. Which of these will you use to help you make a mark? Most people focus on two or three.

    As a Brand:

    If you were a brand, what would you be? Apple, Nike, Microsoft, DHL? Like businesses we all have different strengths, values and contributions to make. Your personality strengths can help you identify how people might perceive you or your business as a brand:

    • At Your Best: Sociable, Loyal, Organized.
    • At Your Worst: Easily offended, Over-extended, Stubborn.

    Note these potentially negative words are offered to help you assess your own strengths and weaknesses, they are not offered pejoratively or as permanent labels. Indeed, these characteristics are usually good indicators of increasing stress or anxiety in an important part of your work or life and can be used as a wakeup call to prompt you to act or to alleviate the feelings and respond productively. Nobody is perfect and it is useful to consider what happens to us when we are not at our best.

    As a Business:

    There are three types of business personalities.

    Some businesses tend to look forward to growing, focusing on innovation and invention, such as Tech companies, drug companies, car manufacturers. Some look back to thrive and grow, focusing on tradition, experience and continuity, such as Insurance brokers, retail banking. Some focus on the present, providing immediate services and solutions, such as supermarkets and garages. Of course, many organisations have roles for all three positions, such as a theme park or fashion brands.

    Which role are you best suited to?

    Pandas tend to look back at their experiences to understand the present and work out the correct rules and systems to apply, with compassion as their guide. They tend to be good in the present, a natural host, attending to everyone’s practical and immediate needs.

    Pandas thrive when business success is dependent on the following qualities:

    • Creating harmonious and meaningful connections between organisations.
    • Bringing people together, asking: how can I build warm and positive relationships?
    • Where their kindness and generosity can be contagious.
    • When unscrupulous people can’t take advantage of their good nature.

    As a Leader:

    How do you make big decisions and bring people on that journey with you?

    When you need to make important decisions, your natural strengths probably mean you can:

    • Seek the opinions of others and can ask for support when it could be helpful.
    • Identify the steps required to achieve your goals.
    • Gather the opinions and advice of friends, family, and experts.
    • Work studiously to complete all steps on schedule. You are comforted rather than stressed by deadlines.

    And here are some skills you may need to work on. Do you agree these are skills worth developing, to make better decisions?

    • Listening without interrupting and sharing out tasks rather than taking on more than your fair share.
    • Consider imaginative and unusual options, looking beyond the obvious.
    • Concentrate on what needs to be done without sentimentality.
    • Being flexible and adapting your plans when circumstances change.

    As a Partner:

    The best partnerships, whether work or personal, are built on a shared vision, trust, flexibility, and empowerment.

    Pandas are naturally good team players, they perform best when:

    • Working as part of a team doing something socially useful.
    • Knowing what they’re expected to do, how to do it, and when to be finished.
    • Performing tasks using the knowledge and skills they’ve learned.
    • Following systems sympathetically and paying careful attention to details.
    • Helping people in a practical way.
    • Being acknowledged, thanked, and recognised by their boss, colleagues, and clients.

    How to get on better with colleagues:

    Look at their personality description. Notice their differences. Allow them opportunities to use their strengths, especially when they complement and balance your strengths. Look at the strengths of your shadow animal. This is your direct opposite, the Tawny Owl. Their strengths are likely to be your weakest areas. Look to develop these as skills to help you become a great all-rounder. It’s a bit like a right-footed footballer learning to kick better or tackle with their left foot.

    You are an Eagle!

    Around 3% of the UK population are Eagles
    Motto: I'll manage everything

    Your Personality Strengths

    • Like being original
    • Enjoy asking the tough questions
    • Work best with competition

    Eagles are symbols of power, leadership and strength. You are likely to share these qualities, often soaring high to generate new ideas. Others are often willing to follow you, drawn in by your determination, drive and vision.

    As a Person:

    Eagles like to research and understand everything to gain control of the world around them. As natural entrepreneurs, they gravitate to working in fast-paced environments where it is possible to make a big impact. This can seep into their social lives where they enjoy action and activity.

    They are guided by their thinking skills. They are seen as strategic, blunt, direct, honest and unsentimental but also friendly and fair.

    They are unlikely to show signs of stress. They naturally prefer to get on with things, rising above challenges. If necessary, they’ll work harder, for longer. When things do overwhelm eagles, they can give in, give up, blame others, engulfed by waves of confusing emotions. This is only likely to happen rarely. If you spot this happening take a breather and a step back. Timeout can help new perspectives come into focus to the benefit of all.

    Your Superpowers:

    How can you make a positive impact in your life, your business or wider society? Which of these superpowers do you relate to?

    • Leadership: Taking responsibility to complete a group task.
    • Curiosity: To focus on asking questions rather than providing answers.
    • Love of learning: Pleasure from actively researching and discovering new knowledge, skills and meaning.
    • Social intelligence: Ability to interact effectively in groups by combining empathy and boldness.
    • Modesty: Seeking to discover other people’s strengths rather than sharing yours.
    • Gratitude: Recognising and appreciating what you have.

    Background: Psychologist Martin Seligman created the field of positive psychology in the 1990s. He studied societies and cultures across the globe and throughout history. He identified the best human qualities that appeared regularly. These virtues or ‘superpowers’ can be a useful guide to ensure we make a positive impact.

    As a Brand:

    If you were a brand, what would you be? Apple, Nike, Microsoft, DHL? Like businesses we all have different strengths, values and contributions to make. Your personality strengths can help you identify how people might perceive you or your business as a brand:

    • At Your Best: Authoritative, Innovative, Entrepreneurial.
    • At Your Worst: Domineering, Obstinate, Disruptive.

    Note: These potentially negative words are offered to help you assess your own strengths and weaknesses, they are not offered pejoratively or as permanent labels. Indeed, these characteristics are usually good indicators of increasing stress or anxiety in an important part of your work or life and can be used as a wakeup call to prompt you to act or to alleviate the feelings and respond productively. Nobody is perfect and it is useful to consider what happens to us when we are not at our best.

    As a Business:

    Eagles naturally look to the future by understanding and developing theories and ideas, with impact as their aim.

    Eagles will contribute most to business success when:

    • They can organize their thoughts, people and things with a steely focus.
    • They can work out how to complete tasks efficiently.
    • They ask themselves: what can I achieve today?
    • They can whizz through challenges with ease and alacrity.
    • They don’t have to slow down to review, canvass opinions, be sensitive, and reflect carefully (others can usually better expedite these roles).

    As a Leader:

    How do you make big decisions and bring people on that journey with you?

    When you need to make important decisions, your natural strengths probably mean you can:

    • Gather the opinions of others and can ask for support when it could be helpful, usually after you’ve decided which path you’ll take.
    • Consider imaginative and unusual options, looking beyond the obvious.
    • Concentrate on what needs to be done and how to do it without sentimentality.
    • Stick to a plan and work vigorously to complete all steps on schedule.

    And here are some skills you may need to work on. Do you agree these are skills worth developing, to make better decisions?

    • Focus and consider detailed research without rushing to conclusions.
    • Identify the steps required to achieve your goals.
    • Respect the opinions and advice of friends, family, and experts.
    • Being flexible and changing your plans quickly.

    As a Partner:

    The best partnerships, whether work or personal, are built on a shared vision, trust, flexibility and empowerment.

    Eagles like to be in charge. In partnerships they contribute the following:

    • Being entrepreneurial and adding their own ideas on how to do things better.
    • Working to solve complex problems to do with machines, systems, theories, or things.
    • Explaining to and inspiring customers and colleagues.
    • Increasing the stakes and challenge to prevent boredom.
    • Investigating and doing things in their own way.
    • Being exceptionally competent at what they do.

    How to get on better with colleagues:

    Look at their personality description. Notice their differences. Allow them opportunities to use their strengths, especially when they complement and balance your strengths.

    Look at the strengths of your shadow animal. This is your direct opposite, the Seal. Their strengths are likely to be your weakest areas. Look to develop these as skills to help you become a great all-rounder. It’s a bit like a right-footed footballer learning to kick better or tackle with their left foot.

    You are a Seal!

    Around 2% of the UK population are Seals
    Motto: How will that impact everyone else?

    Your Personality Strengths

    • Being given time to think through a task
    • Generating creative and original new ideas
    • Working cooperatively

    Seals can be imaginative, playful and supportive around their social group in the water and quiet and careful on land. You are likely to combine the same qualities. Others see them as deep and wise. They are careful about whom they trust and confide in which can pose difficulties if they’re in large teams and organisations. They can thrive in smaller teams with people they feel a connection.

    As a Person:

    Seals can appear to be like a mature river, flowing calmly and blending in harmoniously with their surroundings. Heavy rain can overwhelm rivers and wreak havoc on the immediate environment. Similarly, when facing severe pressure, the seal’s laidback generous warmth is swept away, replaced by sharp criticism or a single-minded, inflexible approach to the task or situation which triggered the stress.

    They are the least likely to be team leaders and managers in commercially focused organisations. When they are, they offer a unique perspective. However, their inward focus, penchant for nuance and desire to see everyone do well results in seals being more common in industries that reflect their world views. Many organisations are becoming more seal-like in their governance, focusing on environmental impact, equality and diversity and social justice.

    Your Superpowers:

    How can you make a positive impact in your life, your business or wider society? Which of these superpowers do you relate to?

    • Creativity: To seek new patterns or describe old patterns in a new way. Create original maps, models, theories and art.
    • Citizenship: Acting in a way that serves the needs of the networks of people around you that you may not know personally.
    • Kindness: Listening to and supporting others, putting their needs before your own.
    • Appreciation of beauty: Seek out and enjoy the unique and innate majesty of the world around us with awe and wonder.
    • Love: Appreciating, accepting and nurturing living things as they are.
    • Forgiveness: Moving on afresh from stressful feelings such as hurt and anger.

    Background: Psychologist Martin Seligman created the field of positive psychology in the 1990s. He studied societies and cultures across the globe and throughout history. He identified the best human qualities that appeared regularly. These virtues or ‘superpowers’ can be a useful guide to ensure we make a positive impact.

    As a Brand:

    If you were a brand, what would you be? Apple, Nike, Microsoft, DHL? Like businesses we all have different strengths, values and contributions to make. Your personality strengths can help you identify how people might perceive you or your business as a brand:

    • At Your Best: Idealistic, Compassionate, Flexible.
    • At Your Worst: Disorganised, Scatterbrain, Stubborn.

    Note: These potentially negative words are offered to help you assess your own strengths and weaknesses, they are not offered pejoratively or as permanent labels. Indeed, these characteristics are usually good indicators of increasing stress or anxiety in an important part of your work or life and can be used as a wakeup call to prompt you to act or to alleviate the feelings and respond productively. Nobody is perfect and it is useful to consider what happens to us when we are not at our best.

    As a Business:

    Seals generally prefer to look forward. They enjoy pondering all the options. They can struggle to choose one option and action it. Sometimes hedging your bets and patience can be a great strategy; this is when seals are likely to be most valuable. Seals can see further ahead than other animal personality types. Looking ten or twenty years ahead is often too far for many companies.

    However, they will be successful in roles when:

    • They assess situations against their strong inner values.
    • They gain understanding by comparing people’s actions with underlying values and principles.
    • They ask themselves: How does this fit with how I feel people should behave in this situation?
    • They connect directly and compassionately to people.

    As a Leader:

    How do you make big decisions and bring people on that journey with you?

    When you need to make important decisions, your natural strengths probably mean you can:

    • Think carefully to avoid hasty decisions.
    • Consider imaginative and unusual options, looking beyond the obvious solutions.
    • Tactfully gather the opinions and advice of colleagues, clients and experts.
    • Being flexible and adapt your plans and schedules when things change.

    And here are some skills you may need to work on. Do you agree these are skills worth developing, to make better decisions?

    • Gather the opinions of others and ask for their support when it could be helpful.
    • Identify the facts and practical steps required to achieve the goals.
    • Concentrate on what needs to be done and how to do it without excessive sentimentality.
    • Sticking to schedules and deadlines.

    As a Partner:

    The best partnerships, whether work or personal, are built on a shared vision, trust, flexibility and empowerment.

    Seals contribute most in the following ways:

    • Variety of tasks or locations to stop me becoming bored.
    • Helping people in a way that makes their lives better.
    • Being creative in some way.
    • Adding my own ideas on how to do things better.
    • Being able to concentrate and work on my own when needed.
    • Being thanked and appreciated by the people I work with or my customers.

    How to get on better with colleagues:

    Look at their personality description. Notice their differences. Allow them opportunities to use their strengths, especially when they complement and balance your strengths.

    Look at the strengths of your shadow animal. This is your direct opposite, the Black Bear. Their strengths are likely to be your weakest areas. Look to develop these as skills to help you become a great all-rounder. It’s a bit like a right-footed footballer learning to kick better or tackle with their left foot.

    You are a Black Bear!

    Around 10% of the UK population are Black Bears
    Motto: Of course I’ll take charge

    Your Personality Strengths

    • Like to be setting the rules
    • Relish organising people or things
    • Work best towards a specific goal or prize

    Black Bears are symbols of strength and power. You are likely to be strong, taking charge of situations and organising so things get done efficiently, without faff or fanfare. You set high standards for yourself and expect the same from others.

    As a Person:

    Bears are symbols of strength and power. You are likely to be strong, taking charge of situations and organising so things get done efficiently, without faff or fanfare. You set high standards for yourself and expect the same from others.

    Your life is a cycle of set goal, achieve goal, set next goal, achieve next goal, and so on. It’s not that you like to succeed, you must succeed. You like to be acknowledged and rewarded for your achievements. You generally appreciate the finer things in life, gravitating to expensive and high-status brands.

    Your Superpowers:

    How can you make a positive impact in your life, your business or wider society? Which of these superpowers do you relate to?

    • Leadership: Taking responsibility to complete a project.
    • Persistence: To keep going without giving up.
    • Prudence: To understand strategy, when to hesitate or to act, in complex situations.
    • Social intelligence: Ability to interact effectively in groups by combining empathy and boldness.
    • Citizenship: Acting in a way that serves the needs of the networks of people around you that you may not know personally.
    • Gratitude: Recognising and appreciating what you have.

    Background: Psychologist Martin Seligman created the field of positive psychology in the 1990s. He studied societies and cultures across the globe and throughout history. He identified the best human qualities that appeared regularly. These virtues or ‘superpowers’ can be a useful guide to ensure we make a positive impact.

    As a Brand:

    If you were a brand, what would you be? Apple, Nike, Microsoft, DHL? Like businesses we all have different strengths, values and contributions to make. Your personality strengths can help you identify how people might perceive you or your business as a brand:

    • At Your Best: Focused, Authoritative, Determined.
    • At Your Worst: Aggressive, Wilful, Too Careful.

    Note: These potentially negative words are offered to help you assess your own strengths and weaknesses, they are not offered pejoratively or as permanent labels. Indeed, these characteristics are usually good indicators of increasing stress or anxiety in an important part of your work or life and can be used as a wakeup call to prompt you to act or to alleviate the feelings and respond productively. Nobody is perfect and it is useful to consider what happens to us when we are not at our best.

    As a Business:

    Black Bears look back at their experiences to understand the present and work out the correct rules and systems, with task completion and success as their guide.

    They succeed when:

    • They organize their thoughts, people and things with a steely focus.
    • They can gain satisfaction from working out how to complete tasks efficiently.
    • They can ask themselves: what can I achieve today?
    • When on song they wade through challenges with ease and alacrity.
    • They can measure their success against tough and challenging goals.

    As a Leader:

    How do you make big decisions and bring people on that journey with you?

    When you need to make important decisions, your natural strengths probably mean you can:

    • Seek the opinions of others and delegate, if you decide not to do everything yourself!
    • Establish the facts and steps required to achieve your goals.
    • Concentrate on what needs to be done without sentimentality.
    • Work industriously to complete all steps on schedule. You are comforted not stressed by deadlines.

    And here are some skills you may need to work on. Do you agree these are skills worth developing, to make better decisions?

    • Focus and consider detailed research without rushing to conclusions.
    • Gather and respect the opinions and advice of friends, family, and experts.
    • Consider imaginative and unusual options, looking beyond the obvious.
    • Being bold and flexible to adapt your plans if circumstances change.

    As a Partner:

    The best partnerships, whether work or personal, are built on a shared vision, trust, flexibility and empowerment.

    Black Bears bring the following strengths and needs to partnerships:

    • Knowing what I’m required to do, how to do it and when to be finished.
    • Solving problems using the knowledge and skills I’ve honed.
    • Leading or working as part of a team doing something to benefit society and.
    • Applying rules and paying careful attention to details.
    • Achieve respect, personal financial rewards and higher status for my efforts.
    • Helping my organisation do well and reach targets.

    How to get on better with colleagues:

    Look at their personality description. Notice their differences. Allow them opportunities to use their strengths, especially when they complement and balance your strengths.

    Look at the strengths of your shadow animal. This is your direct opposite, the Seal. Their strengths are likely to be your weakest areas. Look to develop these as skills to help you become a great all-rounder. It’s a bit like a right-footed footballer learning to kick better or tackle with their left foot.

    You are a Seahorse!

    Seahorses are around 2-3% of the UK population
    Motto: Leave it with me

    Your Personality Strengths

    • Time to think
    • Generating creative and well-researched new ideas
    • Working collaboratively

    Seahorses have been credited with deep mystical qualities. You are also likely to be seen as deep, sagacious, and persuasive.

    As a Person:

    Seahorses have been credited with deep mystical qualities. You are also likely to be seen as deep, sagacious, and persuasive. Like a human fingerprint, the pattern of a Seahorse’s head is unique. The belief in the uniqueness and value of everyone permeates the Seahorse’s worldview in work and beyond. This puts them at odds with some corporate cultures.

    Seahorses are sensitive advocates for the underdog, either individuals or causes. This can be a strength or a weakness depending upon organisational and team priorities. They usually excel in roles reliant upon a good vocabulary and where patience is a virtue. Integrity is key for Seahorses. It feeds their resolute single-mindedness and compassion.

    Your Superpowers:

    How can you make a positive impact in your life, your business or wider society? Which of these superpowers do you relate to?

    • Creativity: To seek new patterns or describe old patterns in a new way. Create original maps, models, theories and art.
    • Honesty: Ability to share one’s true thoughts and feelings.
    • Perspective: Being able to see things from different angles, moving from the present to the past and future positions.
    • Citizenship: Acting in a way that serves the needs of the networks of people around you that you may not know personally.
    • Kindness: Listening to and supporting others, putting their needs before your own.
    • Appreciation of Beauty: Seek out and enjoy the unique and innate majesty of the world around us with awe and wonder.

    Background: Psychologist Martin Seligman created the field of positive psychology in the 1990s. He studied societies and cultures across the globe and throughout history. He identified the best human qualities that appeared regularly. These virtues or ‘superpowers’ can be a useful guide to ensure we make a positive impact.

    As a Brand:

    If you were a brand, what would you be? Apple, Nike, Microsoft, DHL? Like businesses we all have different strengths, values and contributions to make. Your personality strengths can help you identify how people might perceive you or your business as a brand:

    • At Your Best: Conscientious, Patient, Creative.
    • At Your Worst: Procrastinator, Too Careful, Unrealistic.

    Note: These potentially negative words are offered to help you assess your own strengths and weaknesses, they are not offered pejoratively or as permanent labels. Indeed, these characteristics are usually good indicators of increasing stress or anxiety in an important part of your work or life and can be used as a wakeup call to prompt you to act or to alleviate the feelings and respond productively. Nobody is perfect and it is useful to consider what happens to us when we are not at our best.

    As a Business:

    Seahorses naturally look to the future and provide ideas about how to make it better for people, guided by integrity and empathy. Because they are not usually practical, they can be prone to procrastination and inaction as they generate more and more ideas. They can also look further ahead than most other animals.

    Seek Business Tasks in which you:

    • Generate and explore many big picture themes.
    • Seek the opinion of trusted experts, friends, and colleagues about the options, either by brain-storming or meticulous individual research.
    • Make long-term decisions tied to your strongly held values and beliefs, which makes you a determined and committed ally or detractor.

    As a Leader:

    How do you make big decisions and bring people on that journey with you?

    When you need to make important decisions, your natural strengths probably mean you can:

    • Focus and consider detailed research without rushing to decisions.
    • Consider imaginative and unusual options, looking beyond the obvious.
    • Gather the opinions and advice of friends, family, and experts.
    • Work methodically to complete all steps on schedule. You are comforted rather than stressed by deadlines.

    And here are some skills you may need to work on. Do you agree these are skills worth developing, to make better decisions?

    • Seek the opinions of others and can ask for support when it could be helpful.
    • Identify the steps required to achieve your goals.
    • Concentrate on what needs to be done and how to do it without sentimentality.
    • Being flexible and adapt your plans and schedules when things change.

    As a Partner:

    The best partnerships, whether work or personal, are built on a shared vision, trust, flexibility and empowerment.

    Seahorses contribute most when:

    • Being able to schedule, lead and finish projects I start.
    • Helping people in a way that makes their lives better.
    • Being creative in some way.
    • Adding my own ideas on how to do things better.
    • Being able to concentrate and work on my own when needed.
    • Being thanked and appreciated by the people I work with or my customers and clients.

    How to get on better with colleagues:

    Look at their personality description. Notice their differences. Allow them opportunities to use their strengths, especially when they complement and balance your strengths.

    Look at the strengths of your shadow animal. This is your direct opposite, the Panther. Their strengths are likely to be your weakest areas. Look to develop these as skills to help you become a great all-rounder. It’s a bit like a right-footed footballer learning to kick better or tackle with their left foot.

    You are a Panther!

    Around 8% of the UK population are Panthers
    Motto: Let’s try something else (or don’t let me be bored!)

    Your Personality Strengths

    • Enjoy variety
    • Like working out how to get a task done their way
    • Work best with freedom

    Panthers are confident and fearless explorers. They enjoy honing their skills in the jungle. You are likely to share this outlook.

    As a Person:

    Panthers are confident and fearless explorers. They enjoy honing their skills in the jungle. You are likely to share this outlook.

    As hedonists, they enjoy being in the real world, exploring places, spaces, tastes, sights, and sounds. Life is an adventure to be lived. Make excellent negotiators. Combine living on the edge with being able to win people over to causes they believe in. They’re good at working people out and selling ideas or products. They use wit, wiles, and wonder to form fun and exciting relationships.

    Your Superpowers:

    How can you make a positive impact in your life, your business or wider society? Which of these superpowers do you relate to?

    • Open mindedness: Offer an open and relaxed approach to new situations and people. Don’t judge or dismiss without first finding out the facts.
    • Bravery: Will channel inner courage to accept difficult challenges with alacrity.
    • Persistence: To keep going without giving up.
    • Teamwork: Will spur on the group to ensure the full strengths, skills, and qualities are understood and utilised to reach an agreed goal.
    • Hope: Focus on a future which positively uses the available natural resources.
    • Humour: Finding and sharing the funny in situations with others.

    Background: Psychologist Martin Seligman created the field of positive psychology in the 1990s. He studied societies and cultures across the globe and throughout history. He identified the best human qualities that appeared regularly. These virtues or ‘superpowers’ can be a useful guide to ensure we make a positive impact.

    As a Brand:

    If you were a brand, what would you be? Apple, Nike, Microsoft, DHL? Like businesses, we all have different strengths, values, and contributions to make. Your personality strengths can help you identify how people might perceive you or your business as a brand:

    • At Your Best: Irrepressible, Bold, Savvy.
    • At Your Worst: Unreliable, Reckless, Domineering.

    Note: These potentially negative words are offered to help you assess your own strengths and weaknesses, they are not offered pejoratively or as permanent labels. Indeed, these characteristics are usually good indicators of increasing stress or anxiety in an important part of your work or life and can be used as a wakeup call to prompt you to act or to alleviate the feelings and respond productively. Nobody is perfect and it is useful to consider what happens to us when we are not at our best.

    As a Business:

    Panthers live in the present. They collect information in the here and now to make decisions. They are less inclined to look back or forward for evidence or inspiration. They make a start and will respond to new information as it presents and change direction or plans without fuss or regret.

    Achieve Business Success When:

    • They gain knowledge and skill whilst they are performing tasks or enjoying live events.
    • They focus on being in the moment and absorbing the experience fully.
    • They need to perform and improvise, rather than scripted work.
    • They are supported by people who attend to procedures and contractual details.

    As a Leader:

    How do you make big decisions and bring people on that journey with you?

    When you need to make important decisions, your natural strengths probably mean you can:

    • Seek the opinions and support of others when it could be helpful, though you may pretend to value it more than you really do, trusting your own instincts.
    • Establish the facts and steps required to achieve your goals.
    • Concentrate on what needs to be done without sentimentality.
    • Be bold and flexible to adapt your plans if circumstances change.

    And here are some skills you may need to work on:

    • Focus on listening to and considering the full picture before reaching a conclusion.
    • Avoiding reckless behaviour.
    • Consider imaginative and unusual options, looking beyond the obvious.
    • Work steadily to complete all steps on schedule.

    As a Partner:

    The best partnerships, whether work or personal, are built on a shared vision, trust, flexibility, and empowerment.

    Panthers enjoy forming partnerships and thrive when:

    • Doing or being somewhere different each day.
    • Being active with some excitement and adventure.
    • Solving problems using the skills they’ve learned.
    • Performing an important task or skill.
    • Relating to different kinds of people.
    • Not being told what to do all the time.

    How to get on better with colleagues:

    Look at their personality description. Notice their differences. Allow them opportunities to use their strengths, especially when they complement and balance your strengths.

    Look at the strengths of your shadow animal. This is your direct opposite, the Seahorse. Their strengths are likely to be your weakest areas. Look to develop these as skills to help you become a great allrounder. It’s a bit like a right-footed footballer learning to kick better or tackle with their left foot.

    You are a Lion!

    Lions are around 7% of the UK population
    Motto: Lights, camera, action!

    Your Personality Strengths

    • Like tasks that involve action and doing
    • Like working out how to get a task done their way
    • Work best with freedom

    Lions are very sociable cats. They enjoy spending time with their family group. You too probably enjoy socialising and having fun to be close to friends and family.

    As a Person:

    Lions are very sociable cats. They enjoy spending time with their family group. You too probably enjoy socialising and having fun to be close to friends and family.

    Lions become graceful and skillful hunters. You too enjoy learning, perfecting, applying, and adapting your skills in the real world where you can make an impact.

    You are generally at your best when fully committed to tasks, either at play or at work, and sometimes these two activities merge. Many people clearly separate their work and home lives, but lions tend to take a party atmosphere with them wherever they go.

    Your Superpowers:

    How can you make a positive impact in your life, your business or wider society? Which of these superpowers do you relate to?

    • Bravery: Will channel inner courage to personally accept difficult challenges and lead from the front.
    • Teamwork: Will galvanize to ensure the whole group’s strengths, skills, and qualities are maximized to reach an agreed goal.
    • Modesty: Seeking to discover other people’s strengths rather than sharing yours.
    • Hope: Focus on a future which positively uses the available personal resources.
    • Zest: Can inspire and motivate others with their willingness to act appropriately, without ego.
    • Open-mindedness: Offer an open and energetic approach to new situations and people. Don’t judge or dismiss without first finding out more.

    Background: Psychologist Martin Seligman created the field of positive psychology in the 1990s. He studied societies and cultures across the globe and throughout history. He identified the best human qualities that appeared regularly. These virtues or ‘superpowers’ can be a useful guide to ensure we make a positive impact.

    As a Brand:

    If you were a brand, what would you be? Apple, Nike, Microsoft, DHL? Like businesses we all have different strengths, values, and contributions to make. Your personality strengths can help you identify how people might perceive you or your business as a brand:

    • At Your Best: Entertaining, Bold, Observant.
    • At Your Worst: Contradictory, Scatterbrain, Headstrong.

    Note: These potentially negative words are offered to help you assess your own strengths and weaknesses, they are not offered pejoratively or as permanent labels. Indeed, these characteristics are usually good indicators of increasing stress or anxiety in an important part of your work or life and can be used as a wakeup call to prompt you to act or to alleviate the feelings and respond productively. Nobody is perfect and it is useful to consider what happens to us when we are not at our best.

    As a Business:

    Lions live in the present. They collect information in the here and now to make decisions. They are less inclined to look back or forward for evidence or inspiration. They make a start and will respond to new information as it presents and change direction or plans without hesitation.

    Lions achieve Business Success When:

    • They gain knowledge and skill whilst they are performing tasks or enjoying live events that involve interacting with people.
    • They focus on responding in the moment and helping others fully enjoy the experience.
    • They need to perform and improvise, rather than scripted and repetitive work.
    • They are supported by people who attend to procedures and details.

    As a Leader:

    How do you make big decisions and bring people on that journey with you?

    When you need to make important decisions, your natural strengths probably mean you can:

    • Seek the opinions and support of others when it could be helpful, though you may pretend to value it more than you really do, trusting your own instincts.
    • Establish the facts and steps required to achieve your goals.
    • Read and assess the feelings of others.
    • Be bold and flexible to adapt your plans if circumstances change.

    And here are some skills you may need to work on. Do you agree these are skills worth developing, to make better decisions?

    • Focus on listening to and considering the full picture before reaching a conclusion.
    • Avoiding risky decisions.
    • Consider imaginative and unusual options, looking beyond the obvious.
    • Work steadily to complete all steps on schedule.

    As a Partner:

    The best partnerships, whether work or personal, are built on a shared vision, trust, flexibility, and empowerment.

    Lions enjoy building partnerships. They thrive when:

    • Meeting different people.
    • Doing or being somewhere different each day.
    • Being active with some excitement and adventure.
    • Solving problems using the skills they have learned.
    • Working as part of a team doing something useful for people.
    • Not being told what to do all the time.

    How to get on better with colleagues:

    Look at their personality description. Notice their differences. Allow them opportunities to use their strengths, especially when they complement and balance your strengths.

    Look at the strengths of your shadow animal. This is your direct opposite, the Barn Owl. Their strengths are likely to be your weakest areas. Look to develop these as skills to help you become a great all-rounder. It’s a bit like a right-footed footballer learning to kick better or tackle with their left foot.

    You are a Polar Bear!

    Polar Bears are around 12% of the UK population
    Motto: I know exactly how to do that

    Your Personality Strengths

    • Set high personal standards
    • Enjoy doing practical things
    • Like to check the rules are being followed

    Polar Bears are strong and determined. Sitting at the top of the food chain, they perfect their hunting prowess to be as efficient as they are skilled. You are likely to share this outlook and approach.

    As a Person:

    Polar Bears are strong and determined. Sitting at the top of the food chain, they perfect their hunting prowess to be as efficient as they are skilled. You are likely to share this outlook and approach. Being competent, clinical, and cool under pressure is valuable in all areas of life.

    You are life’s dependable and trustworthy people. If a job’s worth doing, do it properly is a sentiment you live by. You will be thorough and dedicated to each task.

    Your Superpowers:

    How can you make a positive impact in your life, your business or wider society? Which of these superpowers do you relate to?

    • Honesty: Ability to share one’s true thoughts and feelings.
    • Persistence: To keep going without giving up.
    • Citizenship: Acting in a way that serves the needs of the networks of people around you that you may not know personally.
    • Gratitude: Recognising and appreciating what you have.
    • Kindness: Listening to and supporting others, putting their needs before your own.
    • Leadership: Taking responsibility to complete a group task.

    Background: Psychologist Martin Seligman created the field of positive psychology in the 1990s. He studied societies and cultures across the globe and throughout history. He identified the best human qualities that appeared regularly. These virtues or ‘superpowers’ can be a useful guide to ensure we make a positive impact.

    As a Brand:

    If you were a brand, what would you be? Apple, Nike, Microsoft, DHL? Like businesses, we all have different strengths, values, and contributions to make. Your personality strengths can help you identify how people might perceive you or your business as a brand:

    • At Your Best: Authoritative, Dependable, Self-Sufficient.
    • At Your Worst: Inflexible, Stubborn, Predictable.

    Note: These potentially negative words are offered to help you assess your own strengths and weaknesses, they are not offered pejoratively or as permanent labels. Indeed, these characteristics are usually good indicators of increasing stress or anxiety in an important part of your work or life and can be used as a wakeup call to prompt you to act or to alleviate the feelings and respond productively. Nobody is perfect and it is useful to consider what happens to us when we are not at our best.

    As a Business:

    Polar Bears look back at their experiences to understand the present and work out the correct rules and systems, with justice as their guide. They succeed when:

    • They relive experiences.
    • They gain knowledge and understanding by thinking through the details of past events.
    • They ask themselves: What can the past tell me about what to do now and next?
    • They are focused and vigilant to threats and danger.
    • Being risk-averse, stubborn, and predictable are assets.

    As a Leader:

    How do you make big decisions and bring people on that journey with you?

    When you need to make important decisions, your natural strengths probably mean you can:

    • Focus and conduct meticulous research without rushing to conclusions.
    • Establish the facts and steps required to achieve your goals.
    • Concentrate on what needs to be done without sentimentality.
    • Work industriously to complete all steps on schedule. You are reassured not stressed by deadlines.

    And here are some skills you may need to work on. Do you agree these are skills worth developing, to make better decisions?

    • Seek the opinions of others and can ask for support when it could be helpful.
    • Gather and respect the opinions and advice of friends, family, and experts.
    • Consider imaginative and unusual options, looking beyond the obvious.
    • Being bold and flexible to adapt your plans if circumstances change.

    As a Partner:

    The best partnerships, whether work or personal, are built on a shared vision, trust, flexibility, and empowerment.

    Polar Bears say they excel in teams and roles when these tasks are a major part of their work:

    • Knowing what I’m expected to do, how to do it, and when to be finished.
    • Solving problems using the knowledge and skills I’ve acquired.
    • Working as part of a team doing something useful to benefit society.
    • Applying rules and paying careful attention to details.
    • Being able to concentrate and work alone when needed.
    • Helping my organisation do well and reaching personal targets.
    • Being respected and rewarded for my hard work.

    How to get on better with colleagues:

    Look at their personality description. Notice their differences. Allow them opportunities to use their strengths, especially when they complement and balance your strengths.

    Look at the strengths of your shadow animal. This is your direct opposite, the Clownfish. Their strengths are likely to be your weakest areas. Look to develop these as skills to help you become a great all-rounder. It’s a bit like a right-footed footballer learning to kick better or tackle with their left foot.

    You are a Tiger!

    Around 6% of the UK population are Tigers
    Motto: Ready, steady, go! (Or Don’t make me angry)

    Your Personality Strengths

    • Independence
    • Working competitively
    • Adapting their plans and schedules

    Tigers are determined and strong. They are confident and assertive explorers, always ready to dive into tasks with enthusiasm and independence.

    As a Person:

    Tigers are now rare, but they are determined and strong. They are the largest cat and are confident and assertive explorers. They like to learn by doing rather than listening to long speeches or reading lengthy instruction manuals. They will respect bosses who lead by example ahead of those leading with verbose speeches laden with personal anecdotes.

    They often possess a dry sense of humor which diffuses tension in difficult situations. Tigers can be impulsive and impatient, needing roles where these qualities help rather than hinder their career trajectory.

    Your Superpowers:

    How can you make a positive impact in your life, your business or wider society? Which of these superpowers do you relate to?

    • Persistence: To keep going without giving up.
    • Open mindedness: Offer a relaxed approach to new situations and people. Don’t judge or dismiss without first establishing the facts.
    • Bravery: Will channel inner courage to personally accept difficult challenges with relish.
    • Teamwork: Will ensure the strengths, skills and qualities of the whole group are understood and utilized to reach an agreed goal.
    • Self-regulation: Can control their own thoughts, feelings and behavior to be ready for whatever challenge is presented.
    • Zest: Can inspire and motivate others with their willingness to act appropriately in the moment, without ulterior motives.

    Background: Psychologist Martin Seligman created the field of positive psychology in the 1990s. He studied societies and cultures across the globe and throughout history. He identified the best human qualities that appeared regularly. These virtues or ‘superpowers’ can be a useful guide to ensure we make a positive impact.

    As a Brand:

    If you were a brand, what would you be? Apple, Nike, Microsoft, DHL? Like businesses we all have different strengths, values and contributions to make. Your personality strengths can help you identify how people might perceive you or your business as a brand:

    • At Your Best: Determined, Observant, Independent.
    • At Your Worst: Bored, Aggressive, Inflexible.

    Note: These potentially negative words are offered to help you assess your own strengths and weaknesses, they are not offered pejoratively or as permanent labels. Indeed, these characteristics are usually good indicators of increasing stress or anxiety in an important part of your work or life and can be used as a wakeup call to prompt you to act or to alleviate the feelings and respond productively. Nobody is perfect and it is useful to consider what happens to us when we are not at our best.

    As a Business:

    Tigers live in the present. They collect information in the here and now to make decisions. They are less inclined to look back or forward for evidence or inspiration. They make a start and will respond to new information as it presents and change direction or plans without fuss or regret.

    Tigers achieve business success when:

    • They analyze experiences and learn by trying things out.
    • They focus on being in the moment and absorbing the experience fully so adjustments can be made for the future.
    • They can perform and improvise, rather than stick to rules and systems.
    • They are supported by people who attend to procedures and personal niceties.

    As a Leader:

    How do you make big decisions and bring people on that journey with you?

    When you need to make important decisions, your natural strengths probably mean you can:

    • Focus and consider the data before reaching a conclusion.
    • Establish the facts and steps required to achieve your goals.
    • Concentrate on what needs to be done without sentimentality.
    • Be bold and flexible to adapt your plans if circumstances change.

    And here are some skills you may need to work on. Do you agree these are skills worth developing, to make better decisions?

    • Seek the opinions of others and can ask for support when it could be helpful.
    • Gather, respect and utilize the opinions and advice of friends, family, and experts.
    • Consider imaginative and unusual options, looking beyond the obvious.
    • Work steadily to complete all steps on schedule.

    As a Partner:

    The best partnerships, whether work or personal, are built on a shared vision, trust, flexibility and empowerment.

    Tigers say they excel in teams and roles when these tasks are a major part of their work:

    • Doing or being somewhere different each day.
    • Being active with some excitement and adventure.
    • Solving problems using the skills I have learned.
    • Performing an interesting task or skill.
    • Meeting different types of people.
    • Not being told what to do all the time.

    How to get on better with colleagues:

    Look at their personality description. Notice their differences. Allow them opportunities to use their strengths, especially when they complement and balance your strengths.

    Look at the strengths of your shadow animal. This is your direct opposite, the Dolphin. Their strengths are likely to be your weakest areas. Look to develop these as skills to help you become a great all-rounder. It’s a bit like a right-footed footballer learning to kick better or tackle with their left foot.

    You are a Jaguar!

    Around 6% of the UK population are Jaguars
    Motto: Thanks, but I’ll catch more fishing my own way

    Your Personality Strengths

    • Being able to complete tasks my way
    • Contact with people
    • Controlling my plans and schedules

    Like Jaguars you can stay hidden away, but people will soon know you are present if you have something important to say or do. Generally popular but independent team members. They are a calming and reassuring influence as they conduct themselves with grace, compassion and modesty.

    As a Person:

    Like Jaguars you can stay hidden away, but people will soon know you are present if you have something important to say or do. Generally popular but independent team members. They are a calming and reassuring influence as they conduct themselves with grace, compassion and modesty.

    They can be unassertive, trusting and unlikely to seek praise and credit, even when deserved, which means they travel under the radar in many organisations. They are action-oriented, seeking to get on with tasks, with patience and flexibility.

    Your Superpowers:

    How can you make a positive impact in your life, your business or wider society? Which of these superpowers do you relate to?

    • Open mindedness: Provide an open and relaxed approach to new situations and people. Don’t judge or dismiss without first finding out more about the task.
    • Bravery: Will channel inner courage to personally accept difficult challenges and lead by example.
    • Hope: Focus on a future which positively uses the available resources.
    • Modesty: Seeking to discover other people’s strengths rather than sharing yours.
    • Zest: Can inspire and motivate others with their willingness to act appropriately, without ego.
    • Self-regulation: Can control their own thoughts, feelings and behaviour, in the moment, to be ready for whatever challenge is presented.

    Background: Psychologist Martin Seligman created the field of positive psychology in the 1990s. He studied societies and cultures across the globe and throughout history. He identified the best human qualities that appeared regularly. These virtues or ‘superpowers’ can be a useful guide to ensure we make a positive impact.

    As a Brand:

    If you were a brand, what would you be? Apple, Nike, Microsoft, DHL? Like businesses we all have different strengths, values and contributions to make. Your personality strengths can help you identify how people might perceive you or your business as a brand:

    • At Your Best: Comradery, Improviser, Calm.
    • At Your Worst: Unreliable, Rudderless, Risk-taker.

    Note: These potentially negative words are offered to help you assess your own strengths and weaknesses, they are not offered pejoratively or as permanent labels. Indeed, these characteristics are usually good indicators of increasing stress or anxiety in an important part of your work or life and can be used as a wakeup call to prompt you to act or to alleviate the feelings and respond productively. Nobody is perfect and it is useful to consider what happens to us when we are not at our best.

    As a Business:

    Jaguars live in the present. They collect information in the here and now to make decisions. They are less inclined to look back or forward for evidence or inspiration. They make a start and will respond to new information as it presents and change direction or plans without fuss or regret.

    Achieve business success when:

    • They acquire knowledge and skills whilst they are performing tasks or enjoying live events.
    • They focus on being in the moment, absorbing the experience fully and bringing others along with them.
    • They can improvise, rather than follow prescribed procedures.
    • They are supported by people alert to important deadlines.

    As a Leader:

    How do you make big decisions and bring people on that journey with you?

    When you need to make important decisions, your natural strengths probably mean you can:

    • Focus and consider the data before reaching a conclusion.
    • Establish the facts and steps required to achieve your goals.
    • Concentrate on what needs to be done without sentimentality.
    • Be bold and flexible to adapt your plans if circumstances change.

    And here are some skills you may need to work on. Do you agree these are skills worth developing, to make better decisions?

    • Seek the opinions of others and can ask for support when it could be helpful.
    • Not being overly influenced by trying to please others in your decision making.
    • Consider imaginative and unusual options, looking beyond the obvious.
    • Work conscientiously to complete all steps on schedule.

    As a Partner:

    The best partnerships, whether work or personal, are built on a shared vision, trust, flexibility and empowerment.

    Jaguars say they excel in teams and roles when these tasks are a major part of their work:

    • Providing services to different people.
    • Doing or being somewhere different each day.
    • Being active with some excitement and adventure.
    • Solving problems using the skills I have learned.
    • Working as part of a team doing something useful for people.
    • Not being told what to do all the time.

    How to get on better with colleagues:

    Look at their personality description. Notice their differences. Allow them opportunities to use their strengths, especially when they complement and balance your strengths.

    Look at the strengths of your shadow animal. This is your direct opposite, the Eagle. Their strengths are likely to be your weakest areas. Look to develop these as skills to help you become a great all-rounder. It’s a bit like a right-footed footballer learning to kick better or tackle with their left foot.

    You are a Barn Owl!

    Approximately only 1% of the UK population, the rarest personality type.
    Motto: I’ll work out a perfect solution

    Your Personality Strengths

    • Time to think through a task
    • Generating creative and original perspectives
    • Juggling complex theories and ideas

    Barn Owls are symbols of intelligence, determination, and wisdom. These are qualities you are likely to both possess and admire in others.

    As a Person:

    Owls are symbols of intelligence, determination, and wisdom. These are qualities you are likely to both possess and admire in others.

    Barn owls often excel when they find a niche or specialism, they can call their own, whether within a large organisation or as an independent consultant. They are over-represented in scientific and technical roles and Higher Education as lecturers or researchers. As they enjoy daydreaming, imagining future possibilities, it’s no surprise they’re also overrepresented as authors and journalists. In fact, Barn Owls are high achievers across all top professions. There is little they can’t do if they apply their mind to it.

    Your Superpowers:

    How can you make a positive impact in your life, your business or wider society? Which of these superpowers do you relate to?

    • Curiosity: To focus on asking questions rather than providing answers.
    • Love of learning: Pleasure from actively researching and discovering new knowledge, skills and meaning.
    • Fairness: Treating people well and consistently.
    • Modesty: Seeking to discover other people’s strengths rather than sharing yours.
    • Leadership: Taking overall responsibility to complete a task to the highest standards.
    • Humour: Finding and sharing the funny in situations with others.

    Background: Psychologist Martin Seligman created the field of positive psychology in the 1990s. He studied societies and cultures across the globe and throughout history. He identified the best human qualities that appeared regularly. These virtues or ‘superpowers’ can be a useful guide to ensure we make a positive impact.

    As a Brand:

    If you were a brand, what would you be? Apple, Nike, Microsoft, DHL? Like businesses we all have different strengths, values and contributions to make. Your personality strengths can help you identify how people might perceive you or your business as a brand:

    • At Your Best: Independent, Strategic, Shrewd.
    • At Your Worst: Disruptive, Cynical, Wilful.

    Note: These potentially negative words are offered to help you assess your own strengths and weaknesses, they are not offered pejoratively or as permanent labels. Indeed, these characteristics are usually good indicators of increasing stress or anxiety in an important part of your work or life and can be used as a wakeup call to prompt you to act or to alleviate the feelings and respond productively. Nobody is perfect and it is useful to consider what happens to us when we are not at our best.

    As a Business:

    Barn owls naturally look ahead, attracted to exploring new theories, ideas, products. They can also choose the best ideas from their creative output, to turn their ideas into a detailed plan. They can conduct thorough research to ensure they benefit from applying wisdom from past approaches. Barn Owls are unusual in their ability to look across future, past and present perspectives, in that sequence.

    • They gain clarity by comparing each experience with their research evidence and internal guiding principles.
    • Their insight cuts straight to the essence of a situation or issue.
    • In roles which don’t suit them they can hold on stubbornly to an idea when their radar is wrong and become isolated or seen as a maverick.

    As a Leader:

    How do you make big decisions and bring people on that journey with you?

    When you need to make important decisions, your natural strengths probably mean you can:

    • Focus and consider detailed research without rushing to conclusions.
    • Consider imaginative and unusual options, looking beyond the obvious.
    • Concentrate on what needs to be done and how to do it without sentimentality.
    • Stick to a plan and work studiously to complete all steps on schedule.

    And here are some skills you may need to work on. Do you agree these are skills worth developing, to make better decisions?

    • Gather and respect the opinions of others and can ask for support when it could be helpful.
    • Identify the steps required to achieve your goals.
    • Incorporate the opinions and advice of friends, family, and experts.
    • Being flexible and change your plans quickly.

    As a Partner:

    The best partnerships, whether work or personal, are built on a shared vision, trust, flexibility and empowerment.

    Barn Owls say they excel in teams and roles when these tasks are a major part of their work:

    • Being original adding my own ideas on how to do things better.
    • Working to solve problems to do with complex machines, systems, theories, things or subjects.
    • Explain how things work to colleagues or to clients.
    • Being able to concentrate and develop ideas independently.
    • Investigate and consider things critically.
    • Becoming exceptionally good at what I do.

    How to get on better with colleagues:

    Look at their personality description. Notice their differences. Allow them opportunities to use their strengths, especially when they complement and balance your strengths.

    Look at the strengths of your shadow animal. This is your direct opposite, the Lion. Their strengths are likely to be your weakest areas. Look to develop these as skills to help you become a great all-rounder. It’s a bit like a right-footed footballer learning to kick better or tackle with their left foot.

    You are a Tawny Owl!

    Around 2% of the UK population are Tawny Owls
    Motto: Here’s a new theory

    Your Personality Strengths

    • Inventing new ideas
    • Working with theories
    • Changing plans and direction

    Owls are symbols of intelligence, determination, and wisdom. You are likely to both possess and admire these qualities in others.

    As a Person:

    Owls are symbols of intelligence, determination, and wisdom. These are qualities you are likely to both possess and admire in others.

    Tawny owls often excel when they find a niche or specialism they can call their own, whether within a large organisation or as an independent consultant. They are over-represented in scientific and technical roles and Higher Education as lecturers or researchers.

    In many ways, they are the clichéd ‘mad professor,’ like Einstein or Marie Curie, content when thinking and being inside their heads. They often say they prefer the abstract world and can sometimes be awkward and uncomfortable in the ‘real’ world.

    Your Superpowers:

    How can you make a positive impact in your life, your business, or wider society? Which of these superpowers do you relate to?

    • Curiosity: To focus on asking questions rather than providing answers.
    • Love of learning: Pleasure from actively researching and discovering new knowledge, skills, and meaning.
    • Perspective: Being able to see things from different angles, moving from the present to the past and future positions.
    • Modesty: Seeking to discover other people’s strengths rather than sharing yours.
    • Humour: Finding and sharing the funny in situations with others.
    • Gratitude: Recognising and appreciating what you have.

    Background: Psychologist Martin Seligman created the field of positive psychology in the 1990s. He studied societies and cultures across the globe and throughout history. He identified the best human qualities that appeared regularly. These virtues or ‘superpowers’ can be a useful guide to ensure we make a positive impact.

    As a Brand:

    If you were a brand, what would you be? Apple, Nike, Microsoft, DHL? Like businesses, we all have different strengths, values, and contributions to make. Your personality strengths can help you identify how people might perceive you or your business as a brand:

    • At Your Best: Analytical, Inventive, Abstract.
    • At Your Worst: Impractical, Disengaged, Rudderless.

    Note: These potentially negative words are offered to help you assess your own strengths and weaknesses, they are not offered pejoratively or as permanent labels. Indeed, these characteristics are usually good indicators of increasing stress or anxiety in an important part of your work or life and can be used as a wakeup call to prompt you to act or to alleviate the feelings and respond productively. Nobody is perfect and it is useful to consider what happens to us when we are not at our best.

    As a Business:

    Tawny owls naturally look ahead, attracted to exploring new theories, ideas, products. They can struggle to choose the best ideas from their creative output, so benefit when others help turn nebulous ideas into a detailed plan.

    They gain clarity by comparing each experience with their internal guiding principles. Their best roles apply their insight to cut straight to the essence of a situation or issue. In their less suited roles, they can hold on stubbornly to an idea when their radar is wrong or keep searching for new ideas when it’s time to do something now.

    As a Leader:

    How do you make big decisions and bring people on that journey with you?

    When you need to make important decisions, your natural strengths probably mean you can:

    • Focus and consider detailed research without rushing to conclusions.
    • Consider imaginative and unusual options, looking beyond the obvious.
    • Concentrate on what needs to be done and how to do it without sentimentality.
    • Be flexible and change your plans and direction.

    And here are some skills you may need to work on. Do you agree these are skills worth developing to make better decisions?

    • Gather and respect the opinions of others and ask for support when it could be helpful.
    • Identify the steps required to achieve your goals.
    • Incorporate the opinions and advice of friends, family, and experts.
    • Stick to a plan and work to complete all steps on schedule.

    As a Partner:

    The best partnerships, whether work or personal, are built on a shared vision, trust, flexibility, and empowerment.

    Tawny Owls say they work best with others when these tasks are a major part of their work:

    • Being original and adding my own ideas on how to do things differently.
    • Working to solve abstract problems to do with machines, systems, theories, subjects, or things.
    • Explain how things work to colleagues or to customers.
    • Being able to concentrate and work on my own when needed.
    • Investigate and consider things in my own way.
    • Developing deep expertise in my field of work.

    How to get on better with colleagues:

    Look at their personality description. Notice their differences. Allow them opportunities to use their strengths, especially when they complement and balance your strengths.

    Look at the strengths of your shadow animal. This is your direct opposite, the Panda. Their strengths are likely to be your weakest areas. Look to develop these as skills to help you become a great all-rounder. It’s a bit like a right-footed footballer learning to kick better or tackle with their left foot.

    You are a Clownfish!

    Around 5% of the UK population are Clownfish
    Motto: Hey, let’s do something new and meaningful

    Your Personality Strengths

    • Creative
    • Energetic
    • Optimistic

    Clownfish are creative, energetic and busy fish. They live among anemones but don’t feel their stings due to a clever coating on their skin.

    As a Person:

    Clownfish are creative, energetic and busy fish. They live among anemones but don’t feel their stings due to a clever coating on their skin. You too are likely to be thinking of new and clever ways of doing things.

    They never become bored of make-believe games and fantasy, throughout their lives, they retain this youthful and naive outlook to life which exhibits as an enduring contagious enthusiasm. Colleagues and friends can be swept along by this intoxicating optimistic mix, especially if there’s a worthy cause driving the campaign.

    Your Superpowers:

    How can you make a positive impact in your life, your business or wider society? Which of these superpowers do you relate to?

    • Creativity: To seek new patterns or describe old patterns in a new way. Create original maps, models, theories and art.
    • Social intelligence: Ability to interact effectively in groups by combining empathy and boldness.
    • Appreciation of beauty: Seek out and enjoy the unique and innate majesty of the world around us with awe and wonder.
    • Citizenship: Acting in a way that serves the needs of the networks of people around you that you may not know personally.
    • Open-mindedness: Offer an open and relaxed approach to new situations and people. Don’t judge or dismiss without first establishing the bigger picture.
    • Love: Appreciating, accepting and nurturing living things as they are.

    Background: Psychologist Martin Seligman created the field of positive psychology in the 1990s. He studied societies and cultures across the globe and throughout history. He identified the best human qualities that appeared regularly. These virtues or ‘superpowers’ can be a useful guide to ensure we make a positive impact.

    As a Brand:

    If you were a brand, what would you be? Apple, Nike, Microsoft, DHL? Like businesses we all have different strengths, values and contributions to make. Your personality strengths can help you identify how people might perceive you or your business as a brand:

    • At Your Best: Energetic, Perceptive, Creative.
    • At Your Worst: Manipulative, Disengaged, Disruptive.

    Note: These potentially negative words are offered to help you assess your own strengths and weaknesses, they are not offered pejoratively or as permanent labels. Indeed, these characteristics are usually good indicators of increasing stress or anxiety in an important part of your work or life and can be used as a wakeup call to prompt you to act or to alleviate the feelings and respond productively. Nobody is perfect and it is useful to consider what happens to us when we are not at our best.

    As a Business:

    Clownfish look unflinchingly forward, spellbound to future possibilities. They can’t help generating new ideas. Working out which ideas are great, and which are rubbish is their first challenge. Their second, when they recognize a great idea, is to complete the project to the end.

    At their natural best when they:

    • Consolidate knowledge and gain meaning by generating and exploring new ideas.
    • Enjoy starting new projects.
    • Ask themselves: What could be?
    • Sculpt exciting ideas and opportunities for themselves and society.

    As a Leader:

    How do you make big decisions and bring people on that journey with you?

    When you need to make important decisions, your natural strengths probably mean you can:

    • Seek the opinions and support of others when it could be helpful, though you may pretend to value their input more than you really do, generally trusting your own instincts.
    • Consider imaginative and unusual options, looking beyond the obvious.
    • Read and assess the feelings of colleagues, customers and clients.
    • Be bold and flexible to adapt your plans if circumstances change.

    And here are some skills you may need to work on. Do you agree these are skills worth developing, to make better decisions?

    • Focus on listening to and considering the full picture, including the ‘boring’ things (like law, regulations, contracts) before reaching a conclusion.
    • Establish the facts and steps required to achieve the goals, avoiding spontaneous decisions that may confuse or disorientate those you lead.
    • Working attentively to complete all steps on schedule.

    As a Partner:

    The best partnerships, whether work or personal, are built on a shared vision, trust, flexibility and empowerment.

    Clownfish say they work best with others when these tasks are a major part of their work:

    • Helping people in a way that makes their lives better.
    • Being creative in some way.
    • Adding my unique ideas on how to do things better.
    • Working as part of a friendly and supportive team doing something useful for society.
    • Plenty of variety to stop me becoming bored.
    • Being thanked and appreciated by colleagues, customers or clients.

    How to get on better with colleagues:

    Look at their personality description. Notice their differences. Allow them opportunities to use their strengths, especially when they complement and balance your strengths.

    Look at the strengths of your shadow animal. This is your direct opposite, the Polar Bear. Their strengths are likely to be your weakest areas. Look to develop these as skills to help you become a great all-rounder. It’s a bit like a right-footed footballer learning to kick better or tackle with their left foot.

    You are a Dolphin!

    Dolphins represent 4% of the UK population
    Motto: I sort out your problems.

    Your Personality Strengths

    • Like a positive and supportive atmosphere
    • Like developing ideas to create new products or services
    • Energized by being around other people

    Dolphins are known for their warmth, insight, and determination. These qualities make them popular and respected friends and colleagues.

    As a Person:

    Dolphins are driven to connect and grow people by establishing and maintaining harmonious interpersonal relationships. They also enjoy solving complex problems by finding and implementing an orderly and workable structure. They rarely look tired, even when exhausted, because they pride themselves on creating a bonded team aligned to a meaningful purpose.

    As a natural coach, mentor, adviser, or sage, dolphins excel in roles involving these attributes. However, they must also focus on self-care and avoid micromanaging to reach their full potential.

    Your Superpowers:

    How can you make a positive impact in your life, your business or wider society? Which of these superpowers do you relate to?

    • Social intelligence: Ability to interact effectively in groups by combining empathy and boldness.
    • Creativity: To seek new patterns or describe old patterns in a new way. Create original maps, models, theories, and art.
    • Love: Appreciating, accepting, and nurturing living things as they are.
    • Forgiveness: Moving on afresh from stressful feelings such as hurt and anger.
    • Perspective: Being able to see things from different angles, moving from the present to the past and future positions.
    • Kindness: Listening to and supporting others, putting their needs before your own.

    Background: Psychologist Martin Seligman created the field of positive psychology in the 1990s. He studied societies and cultures across the globe and throughout history. He identified the best human qualities that appeared regularly. These virtues or ‘superpowers’ can be a useful guide to ensure we make a positive impact.

    As a Brand:

    If you were a brand, what would you be? Apple, Nike, Microsoft, DHL? Like businesses, we all have different strengths, values, and contributions to make. Your personality strengths can help you identify how people might perceive you or your business as a brand:

    • At Your Best: Charismatic, Compassionate, Conscientious.
    • At Your Worst: Stubborn, Manipulative, Detached.

    Note: These potentially negative words are offered to help you assess your own strengths and weaknesses, they are not offered pejoratively or as permanent labels. Indeed, these characteristics are usually good indicators of increasing stress or anxiety in an important part of your work or life and can be used as a wakeup call to prompt you to act or to alleviate the feelings and respond productively. Nobody is perfect and it is useful to consider what happens to us when we are not at our best.

    As a Business:

    Dolphins tend to be able to connect the past with the future. They excel when they:

    • Generate and explore many big-picture themes and ideas.
    • Gather relevant information from trusted experts, friends, or colleagues through group discussion or meticulous individual research.
    • Oversee a project from start to finish.
    • Make decisions that align with their strongly held values and beliefs, making them a committed ally or detractor.

    As a Leader:

    How do you make big decisions and bring people on that journey with you?

    When you need to make important decisions, your natural strengths probably mean you can:

    • Seek the opinions of others and ask for support when it could be helpful.
    • Consider imaginative and unusual suggestions, looking beyond the obvious.
    • Make everyone feel important and involved.
    • Work steadily to complete all steps on schedule.
    • Feel comforted rather than stressed by deadlines.

    And here are some skills you may need to work on. Do you agree these are skills worth developing, to make better decisions?

    • Identifying team strengths and delegating tasks rather than doing everything yourself.
    • Identify the ‘boring’ facts and details required to achieve the goals.
    • Concentrate on what needs to be done without sentimentality.
    • Being flexible and adapting your plans when circumstances change.

    As a Partner:

    The best partnerships, whether work or personal, are built on a shared vision, trust, flexibility, and empowerment.

    Dolphins say they work best with others when these tasks are a major part of their work:

    • Working as part of a friendly, focused, and supportive team, building relationships.
    • Helping people in a way that makes their lives better, resolving their conflicts.
    • Being creative in a way that is useful for society.
    • Adding my own ideas on how to do things better.
    • Being able to schedule, lead, and finish projects I start.
    • Being thanked and appreciated by the people I work with or my customers.

    How to get on better with colleagues:

    Look at their personality description. Notice their differences. Allow them opportunities to use their strengths, especially when they complement and balance your strengths.

    Look at the strengths of your shadow animal. This is your direct opposite, the Tiger. Their strengths are likely to be your weakest areas. Look to develop these as skills to help you become a great all-rounder. It’s a bit like a right-footed footballer learning to kick better or tackle with their left foot.

    You are a Koala!

    Koalas are 14% of the UK population
    Motto: Oops, I’ve been brilliant again and no-one noticed

    Your Personality Strengths

    • Like to be following the rules
    • Enjoy lifting others
    • Like working to support their families

    As an animal, koalas are usually hidden away in trees, going about their business of eating leaves in a determined and quiet manner. As a person you are probably similar in expressing your quiet determination with an unassuming and modest style.

    As a Person:

    As a team player willing to listen to others and give them credit for their good ideas (and even yours!) you tend to be popular. You can go unnoticed and therefore unrewarded for your important contributions.

    The natural quietness and politeness of the koala can be misunderstood as disinterest or even rudeness. They are rarely riled enough to speak out, so if they do, people around them should take note and react sympathetically.

    Generally, they appreciate time and space to think things through thoroughly before offering an opinion. Put them on the spot and they are unlikely to supply their best ideas.

    Your Superpowers:

    How can you make a positive impact in your life, your business or wider society? Which of these superpowers do you relate to?

    • Perspective: Being able to see things from different angles, moving from the present to the past and future positions.
    • Kindness: Listening to and supporting others, putting their needs before your own.
    • Persistence: To keep going without giving up.
    • Prudence: To understand when to hesitate or to act, in complex situations.
    • Citizenship: Acting in a way that serves the needs of the networks of people around you that you may not know personally.
    • Modesty: Seeking to discover other people’s strengths rather than sharing yours.

    Background: Psychologist Martin Seligman created the field of positive psychology in the 1990s. He studied societies and cultures across the globe and throughout history. He identified the best human qualities that appeared regularly. These virtues or ‘superpowers’ can be a useful guide to ensure we make a positive impact.

    As a Brand:

    If you were a brand, what would you be? Apple, Nike, Microsoft, DHL? Like businesses we all have different strengths, values and contributions to make. Your personality strengths can help you identify how people might perceive you or your business as a brand:

    • At Your Best: Conscientious, Considerate, Self-Sufficient.
    • At Your Worst: Timid, Pessimistic, Too Careful.

    Note: These potentially negative words are offered to help you assess your own strengths and weaknesses, they are not offered pejoratively or as permanent labels. Indeed, these characteristics are usually good indicators of increasing stress or anxiety in an important part of your work or life and can be used as a wakeup call to prompt you to act or to alleviate the feelings and respond productively. Nobody is perfect and it is useful to consider what happens to us when we are not at our best.

    As a Business:

    Most Koalas prefer to look back, trusting their experience and the ‘tried and tested’ approaches.

    This means they:

    • Collect information and review specifics and details.
    • Read policies and documents.
    • Follow procedures and look for precedents.
    • Use their experience to guide them.
    • Schedule work via a plan, using a timetable, checklist, and respect deadlines.

    As a Leader:

    How do you make big decisions and bring people on that journey with you?

    When you need to make important decisions, your natural strengths probably mean you can:

    • Focus and consider detailed research without rushing to conclusions.
    • Identify the steps required to achieve your goals.
    • Gather the opinions and advice of friends, family, and experts.
    • Work steadily to complete all steps on schedule. You are reassured rather than stressed by deadlines.

    And here are some skills you may need to work on. Do you agree these are skills worth developing, to make better decisions?

    • Seek the opinions of others and can ask for support when it could be helpful.
    • Consider imaginative and unusual options, looking beyond the obvious.
    • Concentrate on what needs to be done and how to do it without sentimentality.
    • Being bold and flexible to adapt your plans if circumstances change.

    As a Partner:

    The best partnerships, whether work or personal, are built on a shared vision, trust, flexibility and empowerment.

    Koalas say they excel in teams and roles when these tasks are a major part of their work:

    • Knowing what I’m expected to do, how to do it and when to be finished.
    • Solving problems using the experience and qualifications I’ve gained.
    • Working as part of a team doing something useful to society.
    • Paying careful attention to details and procedures.
    • Being able to concentrate and work alone when needed.
    • Helping people in a practical way and being acknowledged and rewarded for my hard work.

    How to get on better with colleagues:

    Look at their personality description. Notice their differences. Allow them opportunities to use their strengths, especially when they complement and balance your strengths.

    Look at the strengths of your shadow animal. This is your direct opposite, the Falcon. Their strengths are likely to be your weakest areas. Look to develop these as skills to help you become a great all-rounder. It’s a bit like a right-footed footballer learning to kick better or tackle with their left foot.

    You are a Falcon!

    Around 4% of people are Falcons
    Motto: Let me invent some new products

    Your Personality Strengths

    • Like independence
    • Like being unique
    • Enjoy asking the tough questions

    Falcons are the fastest flying birds. Your personality could be summarised as fast. You are energetic, restless, and easily bored. You tend to move, speak and think quickly, your attention darting from topic to topic.

    As a Person:

    Falcons are the fastest flying birds. Your personality could be summarised as fast. You are energetic, restless, and easily bored. You tend to move, speak and think quickly, your attention darting from topic to topic. You are at your best when you can focus on something you are good at and become an expert in that field. You can then relax, excel and inspire confidence in those around you.

    Falcons need to be in control of themselves, events, or others. They like to appear cool and calm. They commit fully to projects, hobbies and interests, often becoming experts in films, musicians, artists, sports or whatever fascinates and inspires their devotion.

    Your Superpowers:

    How can you make a positive impact in your life, your business or wider society? Which of these superpowers do you relate to?

    • Curiosity: To focus on asking good questions rather than providing answers.
    • Love of learning: Pleasure from actively researching and discovering new knowledge, skills and meaning.
    • Humour: Finding and sharing the funny in situations with others.
    • Zest: Can inspire and motivate others with their willingness to act appropriately in the moment, without ego or ulterior motives.
    • Bravery: Will channel inner courage to personally accept difficult challenges.
    • Creativity: To seek new patterns or describe old patterns in a new way. Create original maps, models, theories and art.

    Background: Psychologist Martin Seligman created the field of positive psychology in the 1990s. He studied societies and cultures across the globe and throughout history. He identified the best human qualities that appeared regularly. These virtues or ‘superpowers’ can be a useful guide to ensure we make a positive impact.

    As a Brand:

    If you were a brand, what would you be? Apple, Nike, Microsoft, DHL? Like businesses we all have different strengths, values and contributions to make. Your personality strengths can help you identify how people might perceive you or your business as a brand:

    • At your best: Iconoclast, Engaging, Charismatic.
    • At your worst: Unrealistic, Manipulative, Unreliable.

    Note: These potentially negative words are offered to help you assess your own strengths and weaknesses, they are not offered pejoratively or as permanent labels. Indeed, these characteristics are usually good indicators of increasing stress or anxiety in an important part of your work or life and can be used as a wakeup call to prompt you to act or to alleviate the feelings and respond productively. Nobody is perfect and it is useful to consider what happens to us when we are not at our best.

    As a Business:

    Most falcons are attracted to looking forward. This means:

    • They look forward to future possibilities with relish.
    • They consolidate knowledge and gain meaning by exploring new ideas and experiences.
    • They ask themselves: What could be?
    • At best they sculpt exciting ideas and opportunities for themselves and others.
    • At worst they don’t look back and learn from their past errors or build on their previous successes.

    As a Leader:

    How do you make big decisions and bring people on that journey with you?

    When you need to make important decisions, your natural strengths probably mean you can:

    • Gather the opinions of others and can ask for support when it could be helpful, usually after you’ve decided which path you’ll take.
    • Consider imaginative and unusual options, looking beyond the obvious.
    • Concentrate on what needs to be done and how to do it without sentimentality.
    • Be flexible and change your plans instantly.

    And here are some skills you may need to work on. Do you agree these are skills worth developing, to make better decisions?

    • Focus and consider detailed research without rushing to conclusions.
    • Identify the steps required to achieve your goals.
    • Respect the opinions and advice of friends, family, and experts.
    • Stick to a plan and work steadily to complete all steps on schedule.

    As a Partner:

    The best partnerships, whether work or personal, are built on a shared vision, trust, flexibility and empowerment.

    Falcons say they excel in teams and roles when these tasks are a major part of their work:

    • Being original and adding my own ideas on how to do things better.
    • Working to solve abstract problems to do with machines, systems, theories, or things.
    • Explain how things work to people I work with or to customers.
    • Plenty of variety to stop me becoming bored.
    • Investigate and consider things in my own way.
    • Becoming exceptionally good at what I do.

    How to get on better with colleagues:

    Look at their personality description. Notice their differences. Allow them opportunities to use their strengths, especially when they complement and balance your strengths.

    Look at the strengths of your shadow animal. This is your direct opposite, the Koala. Their strengths are likely to be your weakest areas. Look to develop these as skills to help you become a great all-rounder. It’s a bit like a right-footed footballer learning to kick better or tackle with their left foot.

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