We’ve all seen personality quizzes that profess to tell us what kind of traits make us who we are. From the infamous Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (TM), to identifying which type of learning style or love language each one of us has, there are many different quizzes at our fingertips just waiting to be Googled. A new archetype on the scene, however, is what type of problem-solving personality we each may have. In a new article from HBR, Cheryl Strauss Einhorn lays out what she calls the five PSPs, or Problem-Solving Personalities. Einhorn explains that our own cognitive biases often lead us to want to work with others that problem-solve in the same ways. In general, people who problem-solve the same way tend to think and make decisions in the same way as well. Unfortunately, this lack of problem-solving diversity can crush creativity.
First in the PSP lineup we have the Adventurers; these are the folks led by intuition and are the consummate optimists. Second, the Detectives; data-driven and precise, they dig into all information voraciously. Third, the Listeners; whose favorite way to problem-solve is to collaborate with others and collect ideas. Fourth, the Thinkers; who like to map out many options before deciding on one. And last but not least, the Visionaries; the creative types who pride themselves on being able to see solutions others don’t.
Some of these PSPs can interact together in very constructive ways, while others, unfortunately, seem to amplify their weaknesses. In order to play to all strengths, first team members must identify which kind of problem-solver they are. Then, advantages and disadvantages can be identified and teams can move forward in a collaborative environment. Check out the full article here for a deeper dive into each PSP’s details, and read some real-life examples of how leadership put these into action.