46: Workplace Transition Archetypes
In this episode, I’m excited to talk in depth about the Workplace Transition Quiz and the four archetypes, and how knowing which one you are can help you improve your relationship with Leaving Well. If you’re new here, Leaving Well is the art and practice of leaving a place, role, title, or thing with intention and purpose, and when possible … joy.
Resources and articles mentioned in this episode:
To take the quiz: https://www.naomihattaway.com/quiz
To save the Archetype Playlists:
To learn more about Leaving Well, visit https://www.naomihattaway.com/
To support the production of this podcast, peruse my Leaving Well Bookshop or buy me a coffee.
This podcast is produced by Sarah Hartley.
Transcript:
Today we are digging into the Workplace Transition Archetype Quiz! Informed loosely by the DISC profile, there are four archetypes, the Transition Trailblazer, Change Champion, Steadfast Stabilizer, and Change Custodian. The quiz allows you to discover a way to lean into your personality and typical behavior in the workplace. It also supports you in creating an entire future-proof plan to navigate workplace transitions that leverages your incredible strengths!
The quiz is super helpful for entire teams to take, and place everyone’s archetypes on a grid to explore ways to partner and support each other.
The quiz is located on my website and has nine simple questions, such as selecting your biggest fear and your top motivation, and also choosing the way you typically leave a dinner party or event. To give you a little sneak peek, here are the four options for dinner party question:
Send the host a text message, give a business card to the folks you networked with, and slip out the front door (D)
Say goodbye to everyone loudly, make plans to see folks again, and offer to host next (I)
After making sure no one was left out from having someone to chat with during the dinner party, say goodbye to those you’re sitting closest to, and ask if everyone has a ride home (S)
Clean up the kitchen, help clear the dinner table, and find the recipe of the dish everyone was raving about to share with other guests (C)
When you take my quiz, you’ll be taken to a customized page that shares not only your archetype, but also some information about how to leverage your archetype, and a lovely playlist AND a recommended book list!
In today’s episode, I want to share details about each of the four archetypes. I encourage you to take the quiz at naomihattaway.com/quiz.
Here we go!
First up is the Change Champion. This archetype most matches the D in the DISC profile.
You are assertive, confident, and often take charge when it comes to change and transition. You thrive in dynamic environments and are quick to adapt. You may even view change as an opportunity for growth. an opportunity to lead, AND? To lead with determination and resilience, and inspire others towards transformation.
You may not realize it yet, but with these results, you’ve unlocked THE key way to exponentially grow your own decision confidence, generate more support for your journey (whether a workplace transition is on the horizon or not), and lean into a strategy that also aligns your values and strengths with ways to bolster your own relationship to transition and change.
But how does this help you, today?
It allows you to show up with more confidence in your skill set and strengths – just like the champion and catalyst you are!
Your archetype tells me that your ability to take charge and provide strong leadership, and your natural decisiveness can help in making quick and necessary decisions.
You also tend to be resilient and can handle pressure well, which is crucial during times of change (which is likely something you’re fairly comfortable with - change, that is). If you know yourself to be assertive and confident, consider using those strengths to set clear goals and help overcome obstacles. Not only that, but your adaptability allows you to be flexible in adjusting to new roles or responsibilities.
The Change Champions that I know are typically fast-paced and task-oriented, and place emphasis on accomplishing results and “seeing the big picture.” As a result, sometimes your confidence can come across as blunt or demanding.
As you love taking action, accepting challenges, and achieving results, rest easy that your values of competency, concrete results, and personal freedom can shine as you help folks through the challenges that can come during change and transition.
Keep an open mind for opportunities where you can share your vulnerabilities, and try to practice patience and empathy as often as possible! Balancing your decisive traits with also showing sensitivity, taking time to listen for / explain details, and allow for deliberation will help support being the best change champion you can be.
Stay in alignment with your tendency to focus on results which allows you to support those around you with strong pioneering and commanding inspiration.
And the best part? This also serves you at the same time. Because you have strong pioneering vibes, your archetype gives you all the superpowers when it comes to commanding attention and sharing inspiration, even during change and transition! When navigating your own workplace transition, understanding your archetype helps you leverage your inherent traits and strengths to make the process smoother and more successful.
Next up is the Transition Trailblazer. This archetype most matches the I in the DISC profile.
If you are a Transition Trailblazer, you embody the traits of being outgoing, influential, persuasive, and you excel at influencing and connecting with others during times of change. You find it easy to orchestrate collaboration. You also likely find joy in building connections and see change as a chance to create exciting possibilities.
You may not realize it yet, but with these results, you’ve unlocked THE key way to exponentially grow your own decision confidence, generate more support for your journey (whether a workplace transition is on the horizon or not), and lean into a strategy that also aligns your values and strengths with ways to bolster your own relationship to transition and change.
But how does this help you, today?
It allows you to show up with more confidence in your skill set and strengths – just like the trailblazer and maestro you are!
Your archetype tells me that your ability to pursue happiness through your relationships and authority, and your natural alignment with being a promoter of positivity allows you to support those around you with collaboration, trust, and your convincing ways. You love to take a new idea and run with it, as you build enthusiasm for projects, even when that means helping to navigate transitions in the workplace.
You also tend to be an excellent communicator which can help keep your team members engaged and informed during workplace transitions. You are incredibly adaptable and can adjust to new circumstances and ideas easily. Leaning in to your ability to motivate others is a powerful way to help others maintain a positive outlook during challenging times. Your natural emphasis on staying open-minded, task-oriented, and slow-paced allow others to embrace change as normal and an opportunity.
Keep an open mind for opportunities where you can focus on being organized, research facts to help you resist impulsive decisions or decisions. Look for opportunities to speak directly and candidly, and try to practice integrity when expressing your feelings. Balancing your decisive traits with being objective and following through on what others rely on you for will help support being the best transition trailblazer you can be.
Stay in alignment with your values of relationship, the beauty of coaching, and the freedom of expression, and continue influencing others with your charm, optimism, and energy!
And the best part? All of this also serves you at the same time. Because you excel at maintaining relationships, your archetype gives you all the superpowers when it comes to having folks in your corner when navigating your own workplace transition.
Next is the Steadfast Stabilizer + Navigator, represented by the S in the DISC profile:
You are the epitome of someone who is patient, dependable, and prefers a stable environment. You approach change cautiously and methodically, valuing consistency and teamwork to help them navigate transitions smoothly. You also use your nurturing qualities to guide others through transitions with care.
You may not realize it yet, but with these results, you’ve unlocked THE key way to exponentially grow your own decision confidence, generate more support for your journey (whether a workplace transition is on the horizon or not), and lean into a strategy that also aligns your values and strengths with ways to bolster your own relationship to transition and change.
But how does this help you, today?
It allows you to show up with more confidence in your skill set and strengths – just like the stabilizer and navigator you are! You are a specialist at investigative connection of patterns, and bring so much support and appreciation to the people who occupy the spaces you are in.
You excel in team environments and offer patience as an incredible asset to deal with the confusing nature of workplace transitions. Your natural ability to resolve conflicts helps to maintain an atmosphere of continuity during change in the workplace, by recommending gradual and stability-based processes and approaches.
You are slow-paced, people oriented, and hold sincerity and loyalty to be extremely important. Cooperation and dependability are some of your superpowers, your calm disposition brings predictability, stability, and consistency.
Keep an eye open for moments when you can lean into the discomfort of change, and realize that anything that feels like you’ve let people down is not a direct result of your accommodation of others. You are a natural collaborator who likes to reach consensus and create win-win situations. Try to balance passivity and overcome being indecisive so as not to let others take advantage of your supportive nature.
Your archetype tells me that your ability to cultivate harmony and stability, the way you strive for an environment that shares team accomplishments, and your natural alignment with the power of security allows you to support those around you during times of transition. Take opportunities to promote yourself and celebrate your personal growth in adapting to change.
And the best part? This also serves you at the same time. Because you lead with inclusivity and humility, your archetype gives you all the superpowers when it comes to affirmation and influencing others by your own consistent performance and the accommodation of others preferences. When navigating your own workplace transition, understanding your archetype helps you leverage your inherent traits and strengths to make the process smoother and more successful.
Finally, is the Change Custodian + Strategist, which matches the C in the DISC profile:
You are someone who is analytical, detail-oriented, and methodical in your approach to change. You seek to understand every aspect of a transition, ensuring it aligns with your standards and values. You also safeguard the organization and those who stay behind.
You likely prefer sticking to objective processes, maintaining accuracy and reliability. Your deep desire to attain (and then use!) knowledge and expertise makes you a natural at personal growth and leadership. The way you value accuracy lends well to both quality control (processes and outcomes) and meticulous documentation of those processes, which ensures clarity and accountability.
You may not realize it yet, but with these results, you’ve unlocked THE key way to exponentially grow your own decision confidence, generate more support for your journey (whether a workplace transition is on the horizon or not), and lean into a strategy that also aligns your values and strengths with ways to bolster your own relationship to transition and change.
But how does this help you, today?
It allows you to show up with more confidence in your skill set and strengths – just like the custodian and strategist you are! Are you often described as careful, analytical, systematic, diplomatic, accurate, and tactful? You are an objective thinker and influence others through your standards and objectivity!
Your skills in identifying, assessing, and mitigating risks ensures smoother transitions. Use your prowess to develop contingency plans that will provide a sense of security during changes. Look for improvement moments when acknowledging the feelings of those around you and remember to look past the data from time to time.
Keep an eye open for opportunities to pare down the over-analyzing, and look for places where you can delegate tasks, compromising for the good of your team. As you are incredibly disciplined and diligent, your careful analysis and planning can lead the way, but be mindful to not be too much of a perfectionist!
Your archetype tells me that your ability to plan and analyze, and your natural alignment with details and methodical processes allows you to support those around you with competent and strategy-based transition plans.
And the best part? This also serves you at the same time. Because you are deliberate and humble, your archetype gives you all the superpowers when it comes to being resolute and logical. When navigating your own workplace transition, understanding your archetype helps you leverage your inherent traits and strengths to make the process smoother and more successful.
Ok friend, that’s it for today’s episode! Which one of the archetypes are you? Email me at Naomi@8thandhome.com and let me know, and don’t forget to check out and save the playlist for your archetype, and explore the specific book recommendations I’ve curated for your archetype as well!
