What happens when your buttons get pushed?

Quiz Questions

• 1.
  First things first — so I can understand you a little better — do you currently work by yourself or do you manage a team?

  Image Source

  • A.
    I have a full blown internal team with 5+ people.
  • B.
    I have a small team — and occasionally work with freelancers.
  • C.
    I have an “external” team — working with some freelancers.
  • D.
    It's just me — hello! 👋🏼
• 2.
  Let's face it, we all get our buttons pushed sometimes... that’s life! But which of the following annoyances would upset you most?

  Image Source

  • A.
    When people have hidden agendas.
  • B.
    When people only think of themselves.
  • C.
    Being backed into a corner.
  • D.
    Having to decide in the moment.
• 3.
  Now, how would your closest friends describe you?

  Image Source

  • A.
    Feisty and driven.
  • B.
    Well prepared and deliberate.
  • C.
    Non-confrontational and cautious.
  • D.
    Caring and helpful.
• 4.
  You're enjoying your Sunday morning when a customer (who has spent a whole $47 on your services) calls. What do you do?

  Image Source

  • A.
    I feel a bit annoyed but I take so long to decide whether to answer the phone... that it stops ringing.
  • B.
    I immediately panic that my client is not happy. So I swallow (no chewing involved) my brioche in one piece and answer at once. They must need me?!
  • C.
    Who the *bleep* does she think she is? Calling on a Sunday? Hold my cappuccino... I need to give this woman a piece of my mind.
  • D.
    Nothing. I'm pretty sure that was someone else's phone ringing? 🤷‍♀️
• 5.
  WASP!

  Image Source

  • A.
    Image Source

    Kill. It. Now.
  • B.
    Image Source

    RUN
  • C.
    Image Source

    Do... nothing?
  • D.
    Image Source

    Catch it and move it to safety. Duh.
• 6.
  What magical *power drink* would you love to have on tap to get you through the week?

  Image Source

  • A.
    The Boundary Builder – would be great to say no without worrying what people think of me.
  • B.
    The Bravery Booster – to banish my fears and do exactly what I want.
  • C.
    The Action Activator – to make things happen more quickly... or at all!
  • D.
    The Chill Pill – I would love to not react to everything quite so intensely.
• 7.
  What phrase do you hear yourself repeating the most?

  Image Source

  • A.
    Can we please change the subject?
  • B.
    Less chat. More action.
  • C.
    Would you like for me to help you with that?
  • D.
    I can handle it myself.
• 8.
  Which Big Bang character could be your secret twin?

  • A.
    Image Source

    Penny: "Don't mess with me."
  • B.
    Image Source

    Raj: "I don't know what to say."
  • C.
    Image Source

    Sheldon: "I hate confrontation."
  • D.
    Image Source

    Leonard: 'Please love me.'
• 9.
  Your new business cards have arrived... But they are ugly! Not what you ordered at all! What do you say?

  Image Source

  • A.
    "What are these? You know that's not what I ordered."
  • B.
    "Ooooh thanks so much, love them."
  • C.
    "Sorry, I don't think my business partner will like them" (and now I don't need to say what I really think thanksss)
  • D.
    Zilch. Nada. Nothing. But on the way home I think of at least 10 things that I could have said!
• 10.
  And finally... sitting in the driver's seat is all about taking charge of the wheel, feeling safe, and consciously deciding on the direction YOU want to go in – even when the road is B.U.M.P.Y. How would it feel to do life on your own terms? (select as many as you like!)

  • A.
    More connected – I would have better and more thriving relationships, both in my career and at home.
  • B.
    More balanced - I would understand my emotions and know how to manage them better.
  • C.
    More effective – I would know how to be heard and get the results I'm looking for.
  • D.
    More confident. I would understand my needs and be able to communicate (and uphold!) them more easily.
  • E.
    Can I have one serving of all the above please, Cathy? 😄

Quiz Outcomes

• 1.
  Your dominant stress response is... FIGHT     

  Image Source

  When your buttons get pushed and you feel derailed... your main reaction is to FIGHT right back. Step into the ring - GI Jane's in town!(BTW: We're not into pushing people into boxes here! There may be other ways that you react as well, but we'll dive into these later.)You’re honest, clear and transparent. People know where they stand with you. If something needs to be said, you're definitely the one to say it!You’re a good friend and people trust you because they know exactly what to expect. You’re protective towards the people that matter in your life. Your strong morals and values help you have a clear sense of what is right or wrong.However, secretly you might find it difficult to understand that others don’t see the world as you do. Like seriously, how?!And when things don't go your way — when you are thrown out of your driver's seat — you may find yourself in *attack mode*... A LOT!With your colleagues.With your partner.With that idiot taxi driver, who doesn't know how to signal. Even the television is on the receiving end of your frustration sometimes.And that makes you feel stressed out and exhausted.If only others could just get their act together... right?I get that, but:Luckily I’m here to tell you that it doesn't have to be like this 😊And please know that the way you react when you feel upset, overwhelmed, irritated... is not your fault. We’ve learned a lot of things in school (well, most of us 😉) but we’ve never learned how to deal with “those” emotions. The ones that irritate us, scare us, upset us, frustrate us.At best, at some point someone has told us to suppress these less-than-pleasant emotions. (“Stop being such a drama queen!”) But we all know how well that works… It's a temporary patch at best. And then the emotions come back, unexpectedly, and with a vengeance.But the answer might be easier than you think. We all get our buttons pushed (up to 20 times a day, btw!). It's normal. It's human. It's just not very helpful. And when that happens, we tend to react in a way that doesn't bring out the best in ourselves — nor in others. Pause and step back. Take a breath.You've *only* been pushed out of the driver's seat. Momentarily.Give your feelings a bit of space. Don't try to suppress them (they'll come back and bite you) and don't blow them out of proportion (that just makes it worse).It's OK to feel this way.When you gently allow those feelings to be, counter-intuitively they'll become smaller. You’ll start finding your way back to the wheel and be able to interact rather than react. To connect instead of convince.You'll be able to solve the problem, instead of making it worse 😉In other words: you’ll put yourself back into your driver's seat. In charge of the situation. In control of where it's going.Bonus! You might discover that the fear of the feeling is often more uncomfortable than the feeling itself.So... maybe it's time I introduce myself? 👋🏼Hi, I'm Cathy, founder of In The Driver's Seat!Every day I work with smart, talented people like you, who want to build their relationships and reach their goals... on their own terms.And that is done by navigating others, who push your buttons, inevitably. (hey, some people are easy to get along with... but others?)But the good thing is: there are simple ways to make more, better, easier connections — even with those people that right now you’d like to fire from your life!You may be happy with your quiz result, or you may be a little embarrassed about it. Please don’t be!By taking this quiz, you've taken a big step towards understanding that we all have our own, specific ways in which we (occasionally) make our relationships more difficult. But you've also started acknowledging that there are ways to put yourself right back in the driver’s seat. You know what that means? You're already one step ahead of the competition my friend!Looking for some easy wins that you can implement right away?If your dominant stress response is FIGHT, you may have noticed that it can get a tad overwhelming for others.So try this:1. Ask more questions. You’d be surprised by how often it turns out that the thing that's triggering you, turns out to be mostly a misunderstanding.2. Add empathy. Seriously! I know this is the last thing you want to do when someone pushes your buttons, but if you can create some emotional safety for yourself (it’s still OK to be pissed off) and for the other (they might be acting “stupid”, but they’re only human after all) – you’d be surprised by how different things could be.3. Upgrade your listening skills.Listening is more than just being quiet when someone else talks. Try to really focus, try to really understand, without preparing your defense. Silence can be a wonderful ally! —(DOWNLOAD THE LISTEN TO CONNECT FREEBIE HERE)With all that said, we are all human beings!We don't fit into convenient, standardised boxes.. We are messy, complex, and downright unpredictable at times (how boring would life be otherwise! 😊)So even though your dominant style may be FIGHT, please know that there is so much more to you than just a label. Through the quiz, you may have recognised some different ways that you react as well, depending on the situation.Make sure to keep an eye on your inbox where I’ll be sending you more details on your dominant style (yes, yes – there’s so much more to explore!) + we’ll start digging deeper into the other 3 styles, FLIGHT, FREEZE and PEOPLE PLEASE. Why? Because when you really understand all the facets of your personality (and that of others), that's where you can really take the wheel and start cruising through life. And oh boy, do I want that for you. Life is wonderful in the driver's seat!
• 2.
  Your dominant stress response is... FLIGHT

  Image Source

  When your buttons get pushed, your main reaction is FLIGHT Like... RUN from the situation as fast as you can. Forest Gump has got nothing on you!(BTW: We're not into boxes around here! There may be other ways that you react as well, but we'll go into these later!)So, I'm guessing you see yourself as introverted, or even shy. But from the answers you've given - I also know that you’re pretty self-sufficient.You enjoy being around people (but in small doses) and you're respectful of the ideas and opinions of others.Which doesn't mean you don't have your own ideas too (you do!). The difference is that you don’t feel the need to push them onto others. In your ideal world, people just notice that you’re smart & interesting! There's no need to make a lot of noise about it.But when things go wrong, you'd rather not deal with it. You want to get out of there. Hoping it'll just go away.You’re non-confrontational and treat people and situations with caution. But you’re also the Queen of Excuses 👑You know how to avoid difficult situations. AND you cancel things A LOT!Perhaps a little white lie won’t hurt?You may believe that a healthy dose of sympathy and a good venting session with your best friend will fix things. But have you noticed that nothing really changes?I’m here to tell you it doesn't have to be like this 😊Please know that it's not your faultWe’ve learned a lot in school (well – most of us 😉) – but we’ve never learned how to deal with “those” emotions. The ones that irritate you, scare you, upset you, frustrate you.At best, someone has told us to suppress these less-than-pleasant emotions. (“Stop being such a drama queen!”) But we all know how well that works… Temporary at best. And then the emotions come back – unexpectedly and with a vengeance.But the answer might be easier than you think. We all get our buttons pushed (up to 20 times a day btw!). That normal. That's human. It's just not very helpful. And when that happens, we tend to react in a way that doesn't bring out the best in ourselves - nor in others. Pause and step back. Take a breath.It’s only your red buttons being pushed. Give your feelings a bit of space. Don't try to suppress them (they'll come back and bite you) and don't blow them out of proportion (you're just making it worse).It's OK to feel this way.When you gently allow those feelings to be, counter-intuitively they'll become smaller.You’ll find that this will allow you to Interact rather than React. Connect instead of Convince.Solve the problem – not make it worse 😉.In other words: you’ll become InPoweredBonus! You might discover that the fear of the feeling is often more uncomfortable than the feeling itself.Ok, so it's about time I introduced myself!Every day I work with smart, talented people like you, who want to upgrade their relationships (both in business and in life).'Cause, hey – some people are easy to get along with. But others? You don’t always get to choose.And the good thing is: there are simple ways to make more, better, easier connections – even with those people that right now you’d like to fire from your life. You might be happy with your quiz result - or you might be a little embarrassed about it. Please don’t be!By taking this quiz, you're starting to understand that we all have our own specific way in which we (occasionally) make our relationships more difficult. AND that there are ways to put you right back in the driver’s seat. So you're already one step ahead of the competition my friend!Want some easy wins that you can implement right away? If your dominant Sabotage Style is Flight, you know that the things you’ve been avoiding will eventually come back…So try this:1. Add Empathy - for yourself. It’s OK to want to run away. Don’t bash yourself for it – or you’ll only run harder 😉.2. Buy Yourself Some TimeBy asking more questions. Honestly: you don’t need to have all the answers – inviting others to think with you can really change the dynamics of the conversation!3. Start Using the 1% Question “What can I do, to make things better, even just 1%?” The thing about this question is: it puts you right back into the driver’s seat (instead of in your running shoes). With all that said, we are all human beings! We don't fit into convenient equal-shaped boxes.. We are messy, complex, and downright unpredictable at times! (YAY! 😊)So even though your dominant style may be FLIGHT, you know there's so much more to you than a label. And through the quiz, you probably recognised different ways that you react dependent on each situation.Keep an eye on your inbox where I’ll be sending you more details on your dominant style (yes – there’s more 😉). And we’ll also start digging deeper into the other 3 styles, fight, freeze and people please. Because when you really understand all the facets of your personality (and others’) - that's when you can skyrocket your impact! 🚀
• 3.
  Your dominant stress response is... FREEZE

  Image Source

  So, when your buttons get pushed your reaction is to FREEZE!"Somebody please hand me Harry Potter's invisibility cloak... so no one can see me!!"(BTW: We're not into pushing people into boxes here! There may be other ways that you react as well, but we'll dive into these later.)You’re well-prepared and deliberate. You don't rush things and would rather take your time to make sure that everything is just right. You’re trustworthy and your friends always know that they can count on you.You love to gather information and would rather say nothing than open your mouth and spew nonsense, just for the sake of it. You sleep on things... a lot! 🛏But when things go wrong it feels like your brain stops working! Sounds familiar?Your brain freezes.You literally can’t think of a single thing to say, let alone of what to do. Your energy gets drained left, right and centre, and you feel like you've become invisible. Yes, you’re still in the room, but you're no longer reacting or listening... so what's the point? You’re just sitting there.Which frankly, makes you feel stupid. And helloooo imposter syndrome and comparisonitis! 👋🏼But of course you always know what you should have done, after the facts.You know that you have something valuable to contribute, but you just can't kick yourself into action on the moments it matters. You think the better choice is to say nothing at all, rather than say something that isn't perfect.Luckily I’m here to tell you that it doesn't have to be like this 😊And please know that the way you react when you feel upset, overwhelmed, irritated... is not your fault. We’ve learned a lot of things in school (well, most of us 😉) but we’ve never learned how to deal with “those” emotions. The ones that irritate us, scare us, upset us, frustrate us.At best, at some point someone has told us to suppress these less-than-pleasant emotions. (“Stop being such a drama queen!”) But we all know how well that works… It's a temporary patch at best. And then the emotions come back, unexpectedly, and with a vengeance.But the answer might be easier than you think. We all get our buttons pushed (up to 20 times a day, btw!). It's normal. It's human. It's just not very helpful. And when that happens, we tend to react in a way that doesn't bring out the best in ourselves — nor in others. Pause and step back. Take a breath.You've *only* been pushed out of the driver's seat. Momentarily.Give your feelings a bit of space. Don't try to suppress them (they'll come back and bite you) and don't blow them out of proportion (that just makes it worse).It's OK to feel this way.When you gently allow those feelings to be, counter-intuitively they'll become smaller. You’ll start finding your way back to the wheel and be able to interact rather than react. To connect instead of convince.You'll be able to solve the problem, instead of making it worse 😉In other words: you’ll put yourself back into your driver's seat. In charge of the situation. In control of where it's going.Bonus! You might discover that the fear of the feeling is often more uncomfortable than the feeling itself.So... maybe it's time I introduce myself? 👋🏼Hi, I'm Cathy, founder of In The Driver's Seat!Every day I work with smart, talented people like you, who want to build their relationships and reach their goals... on their own terms.And that is done by navigating others, who push your buttons, inevitably. (hey, some people are easy to get along with... but others?)But the good thing is: there are simple ways to make more, better, easier connections — even with those people that right now you’d like to fire from your life!You may be happy with your quiz result, or you may be a little embarrassed about it. Please don’t be!By taking this quiz, you've taken a big step towards understanding that we all have our own, specific ways in which we (occasionally) make our relationships more difficult. But you've also started acknowledging that there are ways to put yourself right back in the driver’s seat. You know what that means? You're already one step ahead of the competition my friend!Looking for some easy wins that you can implement right away?If your dominant style is FREEZE, you really hate being put on the spot.So try this:1. Prepare for the unexpected Because it’s less unexpected than you might think. Have you noticed how it’s always the same people and the same situations that tend to trigger you? See, that’s what you prepare for 😊2. Buy yourself some time By asking more questions, for example. Because the thing that might be tripping you up, is the feeling that you need to have all the answers... NOW.3. Normalize needing timeIn fact, 50% of the population are slower thinkers, just like you. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. With all that said, we are all human beings!We don't fit into convenient, standardised boxes.. We are messy, complex, and downright unpredictable at times (how boring would life be otherwise! 😊)So even though your dominant style may be FLIGHT, please know that there is so much more to you than just a label. Through the quiz, you may have recognised some different ways that you react as well, depending on the situation.Make sure to keep an eye on your inbox where I’ll be sending you more details on your dominant style (yes, yes – there’s so much more to explore!) + we’ll start digging deeper into the other 3 styles, FIGHT, FREEZE and PEOPLE PLEASE. Why? Because when you really understand all the facets of your personality (and that of others), that's where you can really take the wheel and start cruising through life. And oh boy, do I want that for you. Life is wonderful in the driver's seat!
• 4.
  Your dominant stress response is... PEOPLE PLEASE

  Image Source

  When your buttons get pushed, your main reaction is to...PEOPLE PLEASE! OK Cinderella, it's time to put down the duster! (BTW: We're not into pushing people into boxes here! There may be other ways that you react as well, but we'll dive into these later.)You're everyone's go-to friend and you connect effortlessly with others, because you care about their needs. You pride yourself on how empathetic you are and people love you because they feel seen and understood when they're around you. You are impeccably fair and understand others' perspectives (particularly if they're kind ones).And you LOVE being asked to help and offer it regularly. Cakes for the bake sale? On it! Lift to the airport ? I got you! Shoulder to cry on? Here are the tissues!You relish compliments and people saying thank you. Because that means you did a good job ⭐️But sometimes you worry that, maybe, it’s not enough. Did I do a good enough job?Are people mad at me? Do people even like me? And then, heaven forbid, things go wrong because you hate conflict! It feels like you'd rather be unhappy for the rest of your life, just as long as no one else is angry at you.Please, please, please don’t be mad. Don’t leave me. Don’t fire me.Feeling responsible for other people’s wellbeing can be exhausting, overwhelming and, at some point, you will start to resent it.Luckily I’m here to tell you that it doesn't have to be like this 😊And please know that the way you react when you feel upset, overwhelmed, irritated... is not your fault. We’ve learned a lot of things in school (well, most of us 😉) but we’ve never learned how to deal with “those” emotions. The ones that irritate us, scare us, upset us, frustrate us.At best, at some point someone has told us to suppress these less-than-pleasant emotions. (“Stop being such a drama queen!”) But we all know how well that works… It's a temporary patch at best. And then the emotions come back, unexpectedly, and with a vengeance.But the answer might be easier than you think. We all get our buttons pushed (up to 20 times a day, btw!). It's normal. It's human. It's just not very helpful. And when that happens, we tend to react in a way that doesn't bring out the best in ourselves — nor in others. Pause and step back. Take a breath.You've *only* been pushed out of the driver's seat. Momentarily.Give your feelings a bit of space. Don't try to suppress them (they'll come back and bite you) and don't blow them out of proportion (that just makes it worse).It's OK to feel this way.When you gently allow those feelings to be, counter-intuitively they'll become smaller. You’ll start finding your way back to the wheel and be able to interact rather than react. To connect instead of convince.You'll be able to solve the problem, instead of making it worse 😉In other words: you’ll put yourself back into your driver's seat. In charge of the situation. In control of where it's going.Bonus! You might discover that the fear of the feeling is often more uncomfortable than the feeling itself.So... maybe it's time I introduce myself? 👋🏼Hi, I'm Cathy, founder of In The Driver's Seat!Every day I work with smart, talented people like you, who want to build their relationships and reach their goals... on their own terms.And that is done by navigating others, who push your buttons, inevitably. (hey, some people are easy to get along with... but others?)But the good thing is: there are simple ways to make more, better, easier connections — even with those people that right now you’d like to fire from your life!You may be happy with your quiz result, or you may be a little embarrassed about it. Please don’t be!By taking this quiz, you've taken a big step towards understanding that we all have our own, specific ways in which we (occasionally) make our relationships more difficult. But you've also started acknowledging that there are ways to put yourself right back in the driver’s seat. You know what that means? You're already one step ahead of the competition my friend!Looking for some easy wins that you can implement right away?If your dominant style is PEOPLE PLEASE, you tend to go into overdrive helping others out... which means that overwhelm is always lurking around the corner.So try this:1. Don’t confuse empathy with sympathyBecause that’s the door down your rabbit hole.2. Allow the feelings Yours AND theirs. It’s not your job to take them away.3. Upgrade your listening skills You might be surprised to learn what others really need. Spoiler alert: a (real) listening ear is often all it takes!—(DOWNLOAD THE LISTEN TO CONNECT FREEBIE HERE)With all that said, we are all human beings!We don't fit into convenient, standardised boxes.. We are messy, complex, and downright unpredictable at times (how boring would life be otherwise! 😊)So even though your dominant style may be PEOPLE PLEASE, please know that there is so much more to you than just a label. Through the quiz, you may have recognised some different ways that you react as well, depending on the situation.Make sure to keep an eye on your inbox where I’ll be sending you more details on your dominant style (yes, yes – there’s so much more to explore!) + we’ll start digging deeper into the other 3 styles, FLIGHT, FREEZE and PEOPLE PLEASE. Why? Because when you really understand all the facets of your personality (and that of others), that's where you can really take the wheel and start cruising through life. And oh boy, do I want that for you. Life is wonderful in the driver's seat!