How Can Entrepreneurs Best Utilize Their Personalities? | G&G Technologies

o entrepreneur has exactly the same gifts, and that includes you. When you know your unique strengths and challenges, you can use them to grow your business. Understanding your personality is a key to success.

I’ve worked with clients all over the world in the past 25 years, and I’ve observed four main patterns of behavior and personality. I call these patterns the four energy types. Your energy type shows up in all you do, including the way you run your business.

You can see differences in people for yourself. Some are animated and energetic, while others are more reserved or methodical.

Let’s look at the four types of entrepreneurs. Which one best describes you?

Type 1: The idea generator

Type 1 energy is fresh and animated. People who express this energy are often spontaneous and can see possibilities in everything. Their gift comes through ideas.

If this describes you, embrace your ability to jump from option to option. You’ll always have more ideas than you can act on. So, when you share your ideas with your team, trust that the correct ones will stick. Let the others go. Consistency can be a challenge for you and you’ll get weighed down by too much routine. Give yourself space for variety and recruit help to finish repetitive tasks.

These two Type 1 entrepreneurs put their gifts for variety and optimism to work:

Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amazon.com
Dave Thomas, founder of Wendy’s restaurants

Type 2: The detailed planner

Type 2 energy is smooth and connected. People who express this energy are naturally attentive to details. Their gift is gathering those details in order to make plans.

If you express Type 2 energy, you naturally notice subtleties and nuances. You can’t help but ask questions to fill in gaps. Your questions can lead your business or team to great solutions, so don’t be shy in asking them. If you have one challenge, it’s worrying. Your mind naturally connects present to future, and you can obsess over worst-case scenarios. Make your plans and trust your details.

These entrepreneurs used their gifts for details to create connections in the world:

Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook
Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft

Type 3: The swift go-getter

Type 3 energy is reactive and swift. People who express this energy move into action quickly and focus on results. Even though every type of person can be a successful entrepreneur, these people most naturally strike out on their own, looking for results.

If this describes you, go get ‘em. You have big energy and a natural confidence to carry you. Focus on the result you want and rely on your determined energy to follow through. Watch out for missing details. Because of your ready, fire, aim approach to life, you can react quickly and miss the small things. You’ll never be detail-oriented, but you can make sure you have someone on your team who is.

Entrepreneurs who use their big energy to get great big results:

Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin Group
Oprah, media mogul, found of OWN Network

Type 4: The clear communicator

Type 4 energy is bold and precise. People who express this energy have an ability to take in the big picture all at once and see immediately what can be improved.

If this describes you, capitalize on your gift for setting up structure and processes. A business without clear processes can quickly become chaotic. You bring the clarity. Be mindful of your tendency for perfectionism. Since you can always see possible improvements, you might get paralyzed in getting everything just right before releasing it. Your standard is higher than most. Decide what’s good enough and put it out in the world.

Entrepreneurs whose precise, perfecting natures offer improvements to the world:

Steve Jobs, founder of Apple Inc.
Arianna Huffington, founder of The Huffington Post and Thrive Global

Embrace your gifts, then build your team

No matter what type of entrepreneur you are, you can be successful – if you embrace your unique gifts. In fact, the most successful entrepreneurs are those who live most true to who they are. They know where they’re strong and build teams of people around them who shine where they don’t.

Steve Jobs said that making a successful team was more difficult than making a product, and he was most proud of making the team at Apple. Oprah said, “I try to surround myself with people who really know what they’re doing, and give them the freedom to do it.”

What are your constant challenges: Consistency? Organization? Bring someone onto your team who has a gift there. More importantly, which gifts are your strongest? Offer those and your business will grow.