Business chemistry This is a framework for understanding meaningful differences in people’s working styles. It identifies four primary types:  • Pioneers, who value possibilities and spark energy and imagination  • Guardians, who value stability and bring order and rigor  • Drivers, who value challenge and generate momentum  • Integrators, who value connection and draw teams together

Different working ways

<img src="https://thumbor.forbes.com/thumbor/400x0/smart/https%3A%2F%2Fspecials-images.forbesimg.com%2Fimageserve%2F604032ca46cb6b0894413b67%2F960x0.jpg%3FcropX1%3D0%26cropX2%3D1080%26cropY1%3D0%26cropY2%3D1080" alt="Kathy Caprino" width="64" height="64"><fbs-cordial type="Follow" natural-id="blogAuthorId/blog/author/144530" author-slug="kathycaprino" page-position="top" state="Follow"><button aria-label="Follow Author">Follow</button></fbs-cordial><h5>Tweet This</h5>Part of the series “Supporting Today’s Workforce” <img src="https://thumbor.forbes.com/thumbor/96x0/https%3A%2F%2Fblogs-images.forbes.com%2Fkathycaprino%2Ffiles%2F2018%2F05%2FiStock-687920320.jpg" alt="Understanding and embracing different work styles leads to a more productive team and culture" width="334" height="217"><div class="caption" ng-class="caption_state" dir="ltr"> 
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 </div>Several years ago, after working with over 10,000 executives and professionals around the world, I began to see more clearly how there are distinctly different styles that people follow in their approach to taking action in life and work, and in what motivates them to pursue a goal. I felt compelled to learn more, and conducted qualitative research to identify the most prevalent styles – including understanding what drives people to move forward, what they value most, and how they prefer to reach that goal. My research led to the identification of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/kathycaprino/2016/04/19/the-6-dominant-action-styles-why-you-need-to-know-yours-to-be-happy-and-successful/#33e154477046" data-ga-track="InternalLink:https://www.forbes.com/sites/kathycaprino/2016/04/19/the-6-dominant-action-styles-why-you-need-to-know-yours-to-be-happy-and-successful/#33e154477046" aria-label="6 Dominant Action Styles" dir="ltr">6 Dominant Action Styles</a>.Over the years, there have been many different, useful assessments and tools that have been developed to help us understand more about our working and personal styles – research and tools that offer new insight into who we are, how we see ourselves and others, and how to become more flexible and aware in our relationships so that we can all reach our highest potential in the ways that work best for us.PROMOTEDI was intrigued to learn about Kim Christfort and Suzanne Vickberg’s new research and book <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Business-Chemistry-Practical-Crafting-Relationships/dp/1119501563" rel="nofollow noopener" data-ga-track="ExternalLink:https://www.amazon.com/Business-Chemistry-Practical-Crafting-Relationships/dp/1119501563" aria-label="Business Chemistry: Practical Magic for Crafting Powerful Work Relationships" dir="ltr">Business Chemistry: Practical Magic for Crafting Powerful Work Relationships</a> which draws on the latest analytic technologies to reveal four scientiﬁcally based patterns of behavior. Their system is designed to provide insights about individuals and teams based on observable traits and preferences. Its goal is to serve as a practical guide for building relationships, team environments and organizational cultures that elevate the individual and improve the collective performance of all involved.<img src="https://thumbor.forbes.com/thumbor/96x0/https%3A%2F%2Fblogs-images.forbes.com%2Fshelcyvjoseph%2Ffiles%2F2018%2F05%2FWebinar-In-Article-Banner-take3.jpg" alt="Register now for Forbes Webinar &quot;Polish Your LinkedIn Profile For Success&quot;" width="334" height="67">Christfort is one of the original architects of Business Chemistry and the national managing director of <a href="https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/pages/operations/solutions/deloitte-greenhouse-experience.html" rel="nofollow noopener" data-ga-track="ExternalLink:https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/pages/operations/solutions/deloitte-greenhouse-experience.html" aria-label="The Deloitte Greenhouse" dir="ltr">The Deloitte Greenhouse</a>&nbsp;Experience group, which helps executives tackle tough business challenges through immersive, facilitated Lab experiences.Vickberg is a social-personality psychologist, the Applied Insights Lead for The Deloitte Greenhouse™ Experience Group, and the lead researcher for Business Chemistry.Here’s what they share about Business Chemistry and the four key styles:Kathy Caprino: What is Business Chemistry and why do we need to understand it?Kim Christfort: <a href="https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/pages/operations/solutions/business-chemistry.html" rel="nofollow noopener" data-ga-track="ExternalLink:https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/pages/operations/solutions/business-chemistry.html" aria-label="Business Chemistry" dir="ltr">Business Chemistry</a> is a framework for understanding meaningful differences in people’s working styles. It identifies four primary types:<UL><LI>Pioneers, who value possibilities and spark energy and imagination</LI><LI>Guardians, who value stability and bring order and rigor</LI><LI>Drivers, who value challenge and generate momentum</LI><LI>Integrators, who value connection and draw teams together</LI></UL>It’s important to understand Business Chemistry because it serves as a reminder that we’re not all the same and that people want and need different things to thrive. Once you understand how someone is different from you, you can adapt your style appropriately. For example, if you’re working with a Pioneer, you might want to take more of a sky’s the limit approach to things, even if you’re more practical by nature.To understand your own style, we’ve developed a test which <a href="https://businesschemistry.deloitte.com/" rel="nofollow noopener" data-ga-track="ExternalLink:https://businesschemistry.deloitte.com" aria-label="you can take here" dir="ltr">you can take here</a>.Caprino: How can leaders use Business Chemistry to get the most out of people?Christfort: A one-size-fits-all approach won’t work well on a team with a mix of types, as each type has different preferences in the workplace and different kinds of interactions or situations that can kill their potential or unlock it.For example, too many constraints can completely shut a Pioneer down, while a Guardian may withdraw in an environment that feels too chaotic. A Driver may become very frustrated in an organization that lacks decisiveness, while an Integrator may wither on a team that doesn’t value broad-based input.Caprino: What's the best Business Chemistry mix to have on a team?Suzanne Vickberg: We don’t believe there’s any one ideal Business Chemistry composition, but there are benefits to having a mix of types on a team. You wouldn’t want a team that was all about creative ideas with no focus on implementing those ideas. Or one that was just gunning for the big win with no attention paid to the people involved in getting there.Beyond having a mix of types present, we’ve found it’s most important to manage a team in ways that support the diverse needs of different types. Creative types may thrive in very flexible environments, but those with an implementation focus might benefit from a bit more structure. Highly goal-focused types may get a charge out of an emphasis on competition, but those with a people-orientation may thrive within a more collaborative format. Striking a balance between the perspectives is what really matters.Caprino: How can Business Chemistry help an individual get ahead?Vickberg: Developing empathy for others and understanding their preferences and needs is really helpful, but the real power of Business Chemistry is in how you use that information to adapt your own style.Let’s say you typically make decisions very quickly but your boss is a more deliberate decision-maker. You’re not likely to win a lot of points with her by trying to get her to rush a decision without providing ample information. Instead, you could ask her what information she needs in order to make a decision, provide her with it, and then ask her how long she needs to make the decision. By demonstrating that you understand what she needs, you will likely earn her trust, and that’s a big benefit to you.Caprino: What if a person doesn't like their own Business Chemistry type? Can they become a different type?Christfort: Business Chemistry is primarily about how you prefer to work. It’s not about who you are or what you can and cannot do. If there’s something you don’t like about your type, or more specifically about your own unique working style, sure you can work on it. Maybe you wish it was easier for you to embrace risk. Or on the contrary, you think it would be better if you spent more time thinking before acting. We can all flex in the short-term, stretching outside our comfort zone in quick bursts, and we can all grow in the long-term, expanding that comfort zone through experience and practice.One thing to keep in mind is that working outside your comfort zone takes effort and it can be tiring. So working on one or two aspects of your style at a time, with some periods of rest in between where you can act more in line with your natural inclinations, may be a bit more sustainable than trying to change a lot of things all at once.Caprino: Are Business Chemistry types born or made? Is a person's type likely to change over time? Or with a role change?Vickberg: There’s likely a bit of both nature and nurture at play in determining a person’s working style. We do see gender differences in Business Chemistry types. For instance, <a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.forbes.com%2Fsites%2Fkathycaprino%2F2018%2F05%2F22%2Fthe-four-key-working-styles-that-create-business-chemistry-which-is-yours%2F&amp;text=Women%20are%20more%20likely%20than%20men%20to%20be%20Integrators%20and%20men%20are%20more%20likely%20than%20women%20to%20be%20Drivers." rel="nofollow noopener" data-ga-track="ExternalLink:https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.forbes.com%2Fsites%2Fkathycaprino%2F2018%2F05%2F22%2Fthe-four-key-working-styles-that-create-business-chemistry-which-is-yours%2F&amp;text=Women%20are%20more%20likely%20than%20men%20to%20be%20Integrators%20and%20men%20are%20more%20likely%20than%20women%20to%20be%20Drivers." aria-label="women are more likely than men to be Integrators and men are more likely than women to be Drivers." dir="ltr">women are more likely than men to be Integrators and men are more likely than women to be Drivers.</a> But both biological and environmental theories could explain these differences.We also see differences between the generations&nbsp;— Millennials are more likely than Baby Boomers to be Guardians and Baby Boomers are more likely than Millennials to be Pioneers or Integrators (with Generation X falling in the middle) — but these could be true generational differences or life- and career-stage differences, or a mix of both.Whether a person’s Business Chemistry type is likely to change over time or with role changes is a bit of an open question. We find leaders are more likely than staff to be Pioneers, and staff are more likely than leaders to be Guardians (with managers falling in the middle). And we find C-suite executives are most likely to be Pioneers or Drivers.But there are a variety of possible explanations for these patterns, from self-selection factors like career aspirations (we find Pioneers and Drivers are more likely to have them), to external selection factors such as the fact that people often hire and promote those who are a lot like them, to possible changes over time. There is research evidence that people do change as they gain power, becoming more big-picture focused, flexible, decisive, and impulsive, as well as less aware of constraints and risks, so that’s likely part of the explanation too.Caprino: How can readers start applying a Business Chemistry mindset at work immediately?Christfort: &nbsp;A great first step is to start noticing differences between people that come from approaching things from diverse perspectives. Sometimes the root cause of a particularly challenging relationship suddenly becomes clear when you look at it through this lens.Maybe you’re an Integrator and have been struggling to relate to someone who is a Driver. Now that you think about it, you may realize that their way of speaking very directly isn’t meant to offend, but to efficiently get to the point so you can all get more done. Seeing it in this way might make it more palatable.Then, to take it one step further, you might try out being a bit more direct in your communications with that person. If you do so, you’ll likely find they respond positively and that your work together becomes easier.For more information, visit the <a href="https://businesschemistryblog.com/%20or%20https:/www2.deloitte.com/us/en/pages/operations/solutions/business-chemistry.html" rel="nofollow noopener" data-ga-track="ExternalLink:https://businesschemistryblog.com/%20or%20https:/www2.deloitte.com/us/en/pages/operations/solutions/business-chemistry.html" aria-label="Business Chemistry" dir="ltr">Business Chemistry</a> blog.For more from Kathy Caprino,&nbsp; learn your <a href="http://kathycaprino.com/actionstylequiz" rel="nofollow noopener" data-ga-track="ExternalLink:http://kathycaprino.com/actionstylequiz" aria-label="Dominant Action Style" dir="ltr">Dominant Action Style</a>, and join her <a href="http://www.amazingcareerproject.com/" rel="nofollow noopener" data-ga-track="ExternalLink:http://www.amazingcareerproject.com" aria-label="Amazing Career Project" dir="ltr">Amazing Career Project</a>&nbsp;online course to build a more rewarding career.<img src="https://thumbor.forbes.com/thumbor/96x0/https%3A%2F%2Fspecials-images.forbesimg.com%2Fimageserve%2F9d6501f215a04741a18669cb19f6121d%2F960x960.jpg%3Ffit%3Dscale%26background%3D000000" alt="uncaptioned" width="167" height="167">

Understanding business chemistry gives us a lens into key differences in our core preferences and styles and what we need to thrive in our work.

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Part of the series “Supporting Today’s Workforce”

Understanding and embracing different work styles leads to a more productive team and culture

Several years ago, after working with over 10,000 executives and professionals around the world, I began to see more clearly how there are distinctly different styles that people follow in their approach to taking action in life and work, and in what motivates them to pursue a goal. I felt compelled to learn more, and conducted qualitative research to identify the most prevalent styles – including understanding what drives people to move forward, what they value most, and how they prefer to reach that goal. My research led to the identification of <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/kathycaprino/2016/04/19/the-6-dominant-action-styles-why-you-need-to-know-yours-to-be-happy-and-successful/#33e154477046">6 Dominant Action Styles </a>.

Over the years, there have been many different, useful assessments and tools that have been developed to help us understand more about our working and personal styles – research and tools that offer new insight into who we are, how we see ourselves and others, and how to become more flexible and aware in our relationships so that we can all reach our highest potential in the ways that work best for us.

I was intrigued to learn about Kim Christfort and Suzanne Vickberg’s new research and book <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Business-Chemistry-Practical-Crafting-Relationships/dp/1119501563">Business Chemistry: Practical Magic for Crafting Powerful Work Relationships </a>which draws on the latest analytic technologies to reveal four scientiﬁcally based patterns of behavior. Their system is designed to provide insights about individuals and teams based on observable traits and preferences. Its goal is to serve as a practical guide for building relationships, team environments and organizational cultures that elevate the individual and improve the collective performance of all involved.

Christfort is one of the original architects of Business Chemistry and the national managing director of <a href="https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/pages/operations/solutions/deloitte-greenhouse-experience.html">The Deloitte Greenhouse </a> Experience group, which helps executives tackle tough business challenges through immersive, facilitated Lab experiences.

Vickberg is a social-personality psychologist, the Applied Insights Lead for The Deloitte Greenhouse™ Experience Group, and the lead researcher for Business Chemistry.

Here’s what they share about Business Chemistry and the four key styles:

Kathy Caprino: What is Business Chemistry and why do we need to understand it?

Kim Christfort : <a href="https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/pages/operations/solutions/business-chemistry.html">Business Chemistry </a>is a framework for understanding meaningful differences in people’s working styles. It identifies four primary types:

<ul><li>Pioneers , who value possibilities and spark energy and imagination </li><li>Guardians , who value stability and bring order and rigor </li><li>Drivers, who value challenge and generate momentum </li><li>Integrators, who value connection and draw teams together </li> </ul>

It’s important to understand Business Chemistry because it serves as a reminder that we’re not all the same and that people want and need different things to thrive. Once you understand how someone is different from you, you can adapt your style appropriately. For example, if you’re working with a Pioneer, you might want to take more of a sky’s the limit approach to things, even if you’re more practical by nature.

To understand your own style, we’ve developed a test which <a href="https://businesschemistry.deloitte.com/">you can take here </a>.

Caprino: How can leaders use Business Chemistry to get the most out of people?

Christfort : A one-size-fits-all approach won’t work well on a team with a mix of types, as each type has different preferences in the workplace and different kinds of interactions or situations that can kill their potential or unlock it.

For example, too many constraints can completely shut a Pioneer down, while a Guardian may withdraw in an environment that feels too chaotic. A Driver may become very frustrated in an organization that lacks decisiveness, while an Integrator may wither on a team that doesn’t value broad-based input.

Caprino: What's the best Business Chemistry mix to have on a team?

Suzanne Vickberg : We don’t believe there’s any one ideal Business Chemistry composition, but there are benefits to having a mix of types on a team. You wouldn’t want a team that was all about creative ideas with no focus on implementing those ideas. Or one that was just gunning for the big win with no attention paid to the people involved in getting there.

Beyond having a mix of types present, we’ve found it’s most important to manage a team in ways that support the diverse needs of different types. Creative types may thrive in very flexible environments, but those with an implementation focus might benefit from a bit more structure. Highly goal-focused types may get a charge out of an emphasis on competition, but those with a people-orientation may thrive within a more collaborative format. Striking a balance between the perspectives is what really matters.

Caprino: How can Business Chemistry help an individual get ahead?

Vickberg : Developing empathy for others and understanding their preferences and needs is really helpful, but the real power of Business Chemistry is in how you use that information to adapt your own style.

Let’s say you typically make decisions very quickly but your boss is a more deliberate decision-maker. You’re not likely to win a lot of points with her by trying to get her to rush a decision without providing ample information. Instead, you could ask her what information she needs in order to make a decision, provide her with it, and then ask her how long she needs to make the decision. By demonstrating that you understand what she needs, you will likely earn her trust, and that’s a big benefit to you.

Caprino: What if a person doesn't like their own Business Chemistry type? Can they become a different type?

Christfort: Business Chemistry is primarily about how you prefer to work. It’s not about who you are or what you can and cannot do. If there’s something you don’t like about your type, or more specifically about your own unique working style, sure you can work on it. Maybe you wish it was easier for you to embrace risk. Or on the contrary, you think it would be better if you spent more time thinking before acting. We can all flex in the short-term, stretching outside our comfort zone in quick bursts, and we can all grow in the long-term, expanding that comfort zone through experience and practice.

One thing to keep in mind is that working outside your comfort zone takes effort and it can be tiring. So working on one or two aspects of your style at a time, with some periods of rest in between where you can act more in line with your natural inclinations, may be a bit more sustainable than trying to change a lot of things all at once.

Caprino: Are Business Chemistry types born or made? Is a person's type likely to change over time? Or with a role change?

Vickberg: There’s likely a bit of both nature and nurture at play in determining a person’s working style. We do see gender differences in Business Chemistry types. For instance, <a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.forbes.com%2Fsites%2Fkathycaprino%2F2018%2F05%2F22%2Fthe-four-key-working-styles-that-create-business-chemistry-which-is-yours%2F&text=Women%20are%20more%20likely%20than%20men%20to%20be%20Integrators%20and%20men%20are%20more%20likely%20than%20women%20to%20be%20Drivers.">women are more likely than men to be Integrators and men are more likely than women to be Drivers. </a> But both biological and environmental theories could explain these differences.

We also see differences between the generations — Millennials are more likely than Baby Boomers to be Guardians and Baby Boomers are more likely than Millennials to be Pioneers or Integrators (with Generation X falling in the middle) — but these could be true generational differences or life- and career-stage differences, or a mix of both.

Whether a person’s Business Chemistry type is likely to change over time or with role changes is a bit of an open question. We find leaders are more likely than staff to be Pioneers, and staff are more likely than leaders to be Guardians (with managers falling in the middle). And we find C-suite executives are most likely to be Pioneers or Drivers.

But there are a variety of possible explanations for these patterns, from self-selection factors like career aspirations (we find Pioneers and Drivers are more likely to have them), to external selection factors such as the fact that people often hire and promote those who are a lot like them, to possible changes over time. There is research evidence that people do change as they gain power, becoming more big-picture focused, flexible, decisive, and impulsive, as well as less aware of constraints and risks, so that’s likely part of the explanation too.

Caprino: How can readers start applying a Business Chemistry mindset at work immediately?

Christfort:  A great first step is to start noticing differences between people that come from approaching things from diverse perspectives. Sometimes the root cause of a particularly challenging relationship suddenly becomes clear when you look at it through this lens.

Maybe you’re an Integrator and have been struggling to relate to someone who is a Driver. Now that you think about it, you may realize that their way of speaking very directly isn’t meant to offend, but to efficiently get to the point so you can all get more done. Seeing it in this way might make it more palatable.

Then, to take it one step further, you might try out being a bit more direct in your communications with that person. If you do so, you’ll likely find they respond positively and that your work together becomes easier.

For more information, visit the <a href="https://businesschemistryblog.com/%20or%20https:/www2.deloitte.com/us/en/pages/operations/solutions/business-chemistry.html">Business Chemistry </a>blog.

For more from Kathy Caprino,  learn your <a href="http://kathycaprino.com/actionstylequiz">Dominant Action Style </a>, and join her <a href="http://www.amazingcareerproject.com/">Amazing Career Project </a> online course to build a more rewarding career.

The Four Key Working Styles That Create Business Chemistry -- Which Is Yours?

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