5.
Your Style is...The Thorough Thinker
I’m excited to share your Leadership Personality Wheel results with you. This framework grew out of more than a decade of coaching leaders across industries, continents, and cultures — and watching thousands of people realize, often for the first time, that there is nothing “wrong” with the way they are wired. In fact, their natural way of moving through the world is their leadership advantage.One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned from training over 10,000 leaders from 56+ countries is this: we don’t see the world as it is — we see it as we are. We assume others think like us, communicate like us, make decisions like us, and care about the same things we do. Sometimes they do. Often, they don’t. And when they don’t, we typically conclude that something is off — with them or with us.You’ve probably experienced this at some point:Someone rubbed you the wrong way, not because they lacked competence or character, but because their natural style clashed with yours. Or maybe you were the one who felt out of place — the round peg trying to squeeze into a square hole — and you wondered whether you were the problem.Let me assure you: you are not the problem.You are simply you — shaped by your experiences, culture, personality, upbringing, values, strengths, and yes, even your quirks. Every leader sees through a different lens. And those differences, when understood and valued, are exactly what make teams unstoppable.Yet most of us were taught a simplified version of empathy: “Treat others the way you want to be treated.” A lovely sentiment — but incomplete. It assumes everyone wants the same things, communicates the same way, or thrives under the same conditions. After years of coaching leaders around the world, I’ve learned a better principle:Don’t treat others the way you want to be treated. Treat them the way they want to be treated.That requires awareness — of yourself and of others. It requires understanding that some people like to start meetings with warm conversation, and others want to jump straight to the agenda. Some need time to process before deciding; others decide on instinct. Some crave harmony; others crave momentum. Some want data; others want vision.The Leadership Personality Wheel helps you recognize these patterns — in yourself and in the people around you — so you can lead with more empathy, nuance, and precision. Most people have a primary personality type and a secondary one. A rare few are true “unicorns” who move flexibly between all five, adjusting seamlessly to what a moment requires.As you explore your type, you will learn:• what energizes you• what drains you• where you naturally excel• where friction shows up• how to adapt in environments that differ from your style• how to collaborate with people who operate very differentlyYou’ll also learn how to build and lead teams where differences aren’t just tolerated — they’re leveraged. And you’ll discover that when you stop trying to be good at everything, and instead lead from your strengths, your clarity, confidence, and impact grow exponentially.I hope this guide supports you in becoming a more effective leader — and in building teams that thrive because of the rich mix of personalities within them. If you’d like to explore training or leadership development for your organization, Empower Global specializes in helping leaders harness their strengths and build high-trust, high-performing teams.Let’s dive in.STRENGTHS:
You like to evaluate all the options before getting to a solution, so your solution is typically more meticulous than the other personality types. You have thought through all the possible scenarios and diligently combed the research. You are reliable, detail-oriented, and organized.
You provide a ton of value to the team because they know you will come through with a thorough and detailed recommendation — even if it takes a little bit longer. If the team is experimenting with artificial intelligence, you are the person correcting hallucinations, checking primary sources, and ensuring accuracy. You may be skeptical of AI, but the secret is this: it doesn’t replace you. It amplifies your brilliance.
You are realistic about what is and isn’t possible, committed, loyal, and a genuinely solid team member. You are often the voice of reason in a sea of dreamers. You tend to be punctual, grounded, and trustworthy — qualities that build deep credibility in work and personal relationships. You evaluate before you leap, you consider before you commit, and you rarely make rash decisions.
You excel at mining through details and coming to conclusions — a skill that is gold for your Innovator colleagues who break out in hives around spreadsheets. You’re calm in crisis, methodical under pressure, and naturally objective. This is why people trust your judgment, even when they don’t always agree with it.
Growth Edges
Decision-Making:
Your mind is a powerful engine, but sometimes it drives you into “analysis paralysis.” You may stall, not because you’re indecisive, but because you want the right decision, not just a decision. Lean on your Innovators to help you get comfortable experimenting, trying things, and learning as you go.
Taking Action:
Your project does not need to be perfect beyond a reasonable doubt to be released into the world. Progress > perfection. Try breaking things into smaller chunks — blog posts before books, outlines before white papers. One step at a time still gets you there.
Presenting:
Your natural instinct is to explain the entire process behind your conclusion — but audiences vary.
• Principles-first cultures (France, Spain, Italy):
They want to understand how you got there.
But keep it big-picture, not a dissertation.
• Application-first cultures (U.S., Canada):
They want your recommendations first, fast, and clearly.
Then (briefly!) explain your reasoning.
Regardless of culture:
Shorter is always safer than longer.
You live in the weeds, but most people live on the surface.
Love & Relationships:
You may feel strongly in the moment and jump into something — then your analytical brain kicks in and reverse-engineers all the reasons it might not work. This can confuse partners who admire your steadiness but not your second-guessing. Sometimes it’s okay to trust your heart.
GROWTH EDGES:Decision makingWhere you need to be careful is when you end up in “analysis paralysis,” and stagnate from coming to a decision because you haven’t had the time or haven’t found all of the evidence. Lean on your innovator colleagues to help you get more comfortable with experimenting, taking risks, and trying new things. PresentingYou also want to be careful when you create presentations. Depending on whether you’re in a culture that values Application First or Principles First, find out whether the audience necessitates or wants a thorough explanation of how you got to your conclusion, or if they would prefer to ask questions after if they are curious. Ask how much time you have and create a presentation shorter than what you normally would, because sometimes you have trouble and end up wading in the weeds whilst everyone else is on the surface wondering where you are. TrustYou can have a tendency not to trust what someone says or presents unless you know where it came from and how they got to that point. This is an extremely valuable skill in a world of misinformation, and your ability to be discerning is very helpful from that frame. However, you want to be careful to appear as too distrustful of people which may come across to them like you are judging them. It is valuable to build trust with someone, but you also don't want to appear outwardly aloof or judgemental which may prevent them from wanting to build a relationship with you. Your Best Partners: Your Best Partners
Thorough Thinkers flourish when they have partners who honor their need for accuracy, depth, and thoughtful pacing, while also nudging them into the world of action, connection, and possibility. Below is your fully restored and expanded partnership guidance — including all the original ideas, now with added nuance.
1. For Risk Taking
Partner: The Innovator
Innovators can drive you crazy — in the same way a glitter cannon can drive a librarian crazy. But that doesn’t change the fact that the glitter cannon is often the one who helps you see magic where you previously saw risk.
Why this pairing works:
• Innovators push you out of analysis paralysis and help you experiment.
• They remind you that not every decision requires a peer-reviewed study.
• Where you anticipate the worst-case scenario, they open windows into the best-case scenario.
• You balance their enthusiasm with data, logic, and structured planning.
How to work together:
• Let them pitch the big idea first — unfiltered. Take notes.
• Then walk it back together: what’s feasible, what needs evidence, what requires a pilot.
• Let them energize you when your caution becomes self-limiting.
• Offer them your “measured risk map”:
o What’s the upside?
o What’s the true downside?
o What data do we need before moving forward?
o What timeline is realistic?
What you give them:
You help Innovators turn a brilliant idea into something that can survive a meeting with a skeptical CFO. Your rigor protects their vision. Your structure makes it real.
What they give you:
Permission to leap — or at least hop.
2. For Networking & Relationship Building
Partner: The Influencer
Networking can feel like an anthropological experiment you didn’t sign up for — all that small talk, performative excitement, and mingling. Meanwhile, the Influencer walks into a room like it was built for them.
Why this pairing works:
• They enjoy connecting in the ways you may find draining or inefficient.
• They open doors socially while you solidify plans strategically.
• Their emotional intelligence helps soften your edges; your logic helps structure their enthusiasm.
How to work together:
• Let them “work the room” while you focus on deeper, more meaningful conversations with a few key people.
• Before an event, give them 3–5 bullet points describing what you’re trying to accomplish. They’ll turn it into small-talk gold.
• After an event, let them help you interpret interpersonal dynamics — who liked you, who you should follow up with, who needs a warmer email vs. a formal proposal.
What you give them:
Real substance behind their charm. You help them avoid overpromising or connecting without follow-through.
What they give you:
Access. Social fluency. Emotional translation. And occasionally a reminder that not every relationship needs a spreadsheet.
3. For GSD (Getting Stuff Done)
Partner: The Executor
Executors are your accelerators — sometimes too much so. But when paired well, they help you finish the thoughtful, careful work you’re already doing.
Why this pairing works:
• They break large tasks into small, actionable steps — something you can overcomplicate.
• They push momentum where you tend to pause.
• Their speed + your depth = an unstoppable execution engine.
How to work together:
• Set expectations early:
o “This needs three hours of research — not thirty minutes.”
• Negotiate timelines together rather than accepting their first deadline.
• Share executive summaries so they stay engaged without drowning in details.
• Let them hold the sprint pace while you ensure the work is sound.
What you give them:
You protect them from sloppy execution and costly oversights. You bring rigor, quality, and logic to their speed.
What they give you:
Momentum. Accountability. And the occasional fire you need lit under your desk chair.
4. For Big-Picture Mapping, Buying Stakeholder Alignment, and Future Visioning
Partner: The Harmony Seeker
Harmony Seekers are your bridge into the emotional and relational world — which you sometimes underestimate but deeply benefit from.
Why this pairing works:
• You analyze systems; they understand people.
• You organize variables; they read the emotional temperature in the room.
• You create logic; they create buy-in.
Together you create plans that are both correct and adoptable.
How to work together:
• Let them pressure-test your recommendations for emotional viability:
o Will people accept this?
o Who needs to be consulted first?
o What fears or concerns will this raise?
• They help you avoid rolling out ideas that are logically brilliant but “dead on arrival” emotionally.
• In turn, help them ground their relational approach with data, clarity, and structure.
What you give them:
You help them balance empathy with realism and validate whether consensus is truly necessary or if it's stalling progress.
What they give you:
Broader perspective. Emotional readability. And the social scaffolding needed to get your solutions implemented.
5. For Communicating Evidence-Based Ideas in a Human Way
Partner: The Influencer + Thorough Thinker + Executor Trio (The Triple Play)
There are times when you benefit from all three:
• Influencer warms up the room and hooks people emotionally.
• Thorough Thinker (you) provides the data, logic, proof points.
• Executor lays out the implementation plan, timeline, and next steps.
This trio is the closest thing to a guaranteed win in corporate environments.
Why this works:
It mirrors how humans make decisions:
• Emotion first.
• Logic second.
• Action plan third.
You are the logic center in that sequence — the one who makes the case watertight.
Before We Go Any Further – Let Me Introduce MyselfHi there, I’m Samantha Karlin, founder and CEO of Empower Global.We are experts in all things leadership, be it inclusive leadership, women's leadership, cross-cultural leadership, and beyond.We believe that leadership is not about telling people what to do - it's about enabling people to reach their full potential.We also teach and frame DEI in terms of leadership to make it resonate with your company, rather than having it be a proverbial eye roll. We create and run leadership trainings and accelerators for companies, non-profits, and international organizations, speak all over the world about leadership, and create online learning for scale with our partners at Trillium Creative Solutions. We also teach the groundbreaking Women's Leadership Challenge - more below :)I'm currently working on a book about 21st century leadership, having trained over 2500 people leaders from 38 countries on a range of leadership topics, and hosting a podcast, Samanthropolitics, on global leadership (and often the lack thereof).Extra Resources?1) Check out The Women's Leadership Challenge. This awesome program works with women in small cohorts to help them step into their power, shatter glass ceilings, embody new and authentic styles of leadership, and create change. As one alum said, the WLC "isn't just worthy, it's transformational." :) If you're ready to change your life and join an amazing global community of powerful change making women, the Challenge is for you. 🔥🥵Want to know more about the WLC? Book your free discovery/coaching call now. We will get clear on where you are at, what's holding you back, and figure out a plan of action to take you to the next level, whether it is the Women's Leadership Challenge or something else :)Book Your Free Discovery Call2) If you're interested in corporate training or speaking, book a free 30 minute consultation with me.We’ll show you our 21st century leadership accelerator, Women's Leadership Accelerator, and Cross Cultural Leadership Training and hear what your pain points are to see if we are the right people to solve them. For scalable online learning solutions, we partner with our friends at Trillium Creative Solutions.Book A Free 30 Minute ConsultationPlus Expect to See Us in Your Inbox Soon With Leadership Resources :)
