What's your leadership style? (Plus exclusive AI tips for your results!)

Quiz Questions

• 1.
  There is a 3 day deadline for a project that likely requires 6 days, so I

  • A.
    Relay the new deadline and tell everyone to get to work.
  • B.
    Have a team meeting where we hear everyone's opinions about the best way to proceed.
  • C.
    Immediately call the client, ask them to have lunch, and persuade them to extend the deadline
  • D.
    Find a technological solution like chat GPT that reduces the amount of time it will take to get things done
  • E.
    Panic. There is no way that we can get the type of analysis needed done in 3 days.
• 2.
  This is how I make decisions as to future steps.

  • A.
    I experiment, brainstorm, look at future trends, and dream big
  • B.
    Consult with someone I trust over coffee and bounce ideas off each other
  • C.
    Bring everyone to the table and get their opinions on how to move forward
  • D.
    I look through all of the evidence based data and try to spot trends and build a data based argument
  • E.
    I consult one or two people, and then just make a decision. It is crazy how much time some people waste on figuring out what decision to make.
• 3.
  I think that the most important aspect of great leaders: 

  • A.
    the ability to get stuff done and hold their teams accountable
  • B.
    humility and the ability to prevent and resolve conflict
  • C.
    being methodical and not making decisions on a whim, creating robust reasoning to support decisions
  • D.
    the ability to envision the future, dream big, and build products we didn't even know we needed
  • E.
    are exceptional with people. They are highly emotionally intelligent and know how to influence people.
• 4.
  This is how I feel about small talk. 

  • A.
    I hate it. Can't stand it. What's the point?
  • B.
    super easy for me, can do it all day.
  • C.
    as long as everyone gets an equal opportunity to speak, and no one hogs the conversation, I'm fine with it.
  • D.
    I don't mind small talk with interesting people.
  • E.
    I prefer deep one on one discussions.
• 5.
  I have a new person starting on my team,    so I 

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  • A.
    Take them step by step through the onboarding materials
  • B.
    Invite them into a team meeting and have each person introduce themselves, explain their roles, and how they fit into the broader picture
  • C.
    Put all of their tasks in a project management tracker, then walk them through the tasks and make sure they understand what to do
  • D.
    brainstorm with them their best ideas for their role moving forward
  • E.
    Take them out to lunch and get to know them 1:1.
• 6.
  This is me and my relationship to getting stuff done

  Image Source

  • A.
    So much easier to hire people to carry out the minutia while I do the important work of entertaining clients and being front facing.
  • B.
    I get distracted easily, so I have a coach and lots of systems to attempt to keep me on task.
  • C.
    I delegate tasks evenly across the team, although I sometimes take on too much of someone else's work in an effort to lessen the load on them.
  • D.
    I evaluate all possible routes to get things done, then I carefully apply the most effective route
  • E.
    I am a master at getting stuff done. I make to do lists, organize efficiently, and am a productivity master.
• 7.
  These are the three words that most closely describe me:

  Image Source

  • A.
    Communication, Adaptability, Influencer
  • B.
    Achiever, Responsibility, Competition
  • C.
    Analytical, Intellectual, Thoughtful
  • D.
    Ideator, Futuristic, Learner
  • E.
    Empathy, Inclusion, Coaching

Quiz Outcomes

• 1.
  Your Style is... Executor

  Image Source

  Preface: 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 differently You’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. Your strengths:You are great at GSD (getting stuff done). You love challenges, and you are capable of rising to them. You work well under pressure and naturally take charge of projects. You know how to break a task into small parts to bring it to fruition, and you can laser focus to get everything done. You tend to be competitive, which means you also tend to win more than those who don’t care about coming out on top. You aren’t afraid to communicate directly and are honest and transparent. You are organized, diligent, and reliable. People know that you are efficient and get straight to the point. Your growth edges:You may be easily frustrated by other styles that move more slowly and love small talk. Relationship builders, for example, like to chat before they start into items of business. If you are in a relationship-building culture (Latin America, the American South, etc.), they won’t even DO business with you until they form a relationship with you first. Only some people like to get to business right away. You might want to start a meeting with, hi, how are you, or How are your kids before you jump right into agenda items. Some people need authentic human connection, and they will feel put off if you are always all business. They won’t feel valued. You must also realize that not everyone is as efficient as you are. Express patience and help find out what they need from you and the team to execute on time. Also, make sure to allow for other voices to come to the table – we know you are smart, but there are likely other intelligent people around you whose ideas you are missing out on if you always need to have control. Relax, take a deep breath, and smile You are a direct communicator, which creates clarity for people as they never wonder what you are thinking, but be careful not to come off too direct or harsh, especially in cultures that prefer indirect feedback, especially if it’s negative. Try utilizing downgraders, or offer feedback as “suggestions,” “growth opportunities,” and “constructive criticism” to soften your feedback so that people aren’t threatened or feel as if you are rude. Also, make sure that you LISTEN. Try to ask more questions rather than make statements. Sometimes your brain moves so fast that focusing on someone else's words can be challenging. You want to listen to understand, not listen to respond. Try this technique from mediation – when someone says something, repeat it or paraphrase it back to them, then ask if you got it right before you move on. As Brene Brown says, if you don’t address people’s fears and feelings, you cannot address problematic behavior. Your best partnersFor decision-making and conflict prevention:The Harmony Seekers and InfluencersThe Harmony Seekers are good at slowing you down and bringing other people to the table. They will want to get people to a consensus, so they resist the urge to be impatient because it takes longer when many people are involved. Even if you are convinced that your decision or plan of action is the right one, people are much more likely to go along with and buy into a decision if they were involved in the process versus receiving a top-down decision. They are excellent listeners and know how to make people feel heard. They are softer and can round out an executor’s sharper edges. For influencing:The InfluencersThe relationship builders are natural salespeople and lobbyists. They could sell sand in the desert. They are also excellent at bridging divides and making people feel good. They tend to be extroverted and the life of the party, which means you can hand them the plan you want to execute, and they will be masters at getting people to buy in. Don't stick them behind a computer screen all day. Get them on calls, zooms, and in person conversations as much as possible - they are people persons and will suffer in front of a computer and not do their best work. For business partnership:The InnovatorsThe Innovators will drive you up the wall and inspire you. They are non-linear and to executors can seem like chaotic messes. However, where they excel is that they tend to be able to see the big picture and the grand strategy, forecasting trends way ahead of everyone else. They love to try out and experiment with new ideas, and just when you think hope is lost, they will have an idea for how to change or fix something. They are also early adopters who will likely be able to help you adjust to a new technology or system because they embraced it without hesitation. Your job is to keep them on task and help them follow their ideas. They can inspire people to follow their vision and cross the Red Sea, but when it comes to creating a step-by-step process to implement it, they desperately need your master execution skills and detail orientation. They also lean towards optimism and idealism, which can counter your more realism-grounded mentality. 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, leading innovation, 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, 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.We’ll show you our 21st century leadership accelerator, Women's Leadership Accelerator, and listen to 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 :)
• 2.
  Your Style is... Harmony Seeker

  Image Source

  Preface: 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 differently You’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. Your Strengths:You are a master at taking all different personalities and viewpoints into one room and helping them get along. You can sense quickly when someone gets irritated, and your calm demeanor and measured responses often help to quell conflict before it even starts. Crises do not ruffle you, and you often perform better in them because you can see quite clearly when everyone else is freaking out. You are high in empathy, and can help others to walk in someone else’s shoes.You are good at slowing things down and bringing other people to the table. You want to get people to a consensus, and are especially patient. You are a master facilitator and conflict resolution expert. You recognize that people are much more likely to go along with and buy into a decision if they are involved in the process versus receiving a top-down decision without their input. You are an excellent listener and know how to make people feel heard – which is one of the most important and fundamental aspects of exceptional leadership. People want to feel seen, recognized, valued and heard. Your calmness in crisis is extremely valuable – spread your calm energy everywhere in order to quell a heated situation. Your Growth Edges: Your Empathy is a superpower, but it also means you can get so wrapped up in other’s emotions that you can’t stop feeling them for days. Other’s emotions affect you. Draw careful boundaries, and make sure you still know how to be empathetic to yourself while you are spending time trying to steady a rocky boat. Often harmony seekers are so attuned to others’ needs, emotions, and problems that they unconsciously abandon their own. Also don’t be so conditioned to listen to others that you forget to listen to your own voice. When you are so busy bringing everyone else’s voice to the table, you may forget that YOU have a unique perspective to bear and wisdom to impart. Don’t make space for everyone else at the table and then sit on the sidelines. In addition, you will not do well with people who are super impatient or have a lot of anger – but they will be drawn to you due to your calm demeanor. Limit friendships and romantic relationships with those types of people, because you can only resist soaking in their negativity and volatility for a short period of time. Will drive you nuts: The executorThe executor will often strike you as too direct, too harsh, and too matter of fact. You can soften the edges of the executor by reminding them that people are more likely to go along with decisions that they have been part of. That being said, you don't have to seek consensus from everyone for every decision. Sometimes you can borrow from the expert's quick decision-making style by separating those big decisions that require buy-in and decisions that can just be made yourself. Will drive you nuts: The thorough thinkerThe thorough thinker does not trust his heart. They rely on evidence based data and they want solid proof. Explaining things from a feeling sense will confuse them and make them think less of you. Help them to explore their feelings and hidden vulnerability and connect with people in a genuine way, and work with them to create evidence based arguments for other thorough thinkers who are critical in decision-making processes.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, leading innovation, 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, 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 and my team.We’ll show you our 21st century leadership accelerator, Women's Leadership Accelerator, and listen to 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 :)
• 3.
  Your Style is... The Influencer

  Image Source

  Preface: 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 differently You’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 are an individual with exceptional skills in influencing and inspiring others. With natural charisma, authentic communication style, and remarkable storytelling abilities, you effortlessly captivate audiences and motivate them to take positive action. You possess a magnetic presence that draws people towards you, making you a force to be reckoned with in the realm of influence.Your genuine passion for making a difference shines through in every interaction you have. You deeply empathize with your audience, understanding their aspirations, fears, and desires, which allows you to connect with them on a profound level. Your messages evoke strong emotions and encourage your followers to question their beliefs, fostering personal growth and transformation.Your ability to communicate complex ideas in a relatable and accessible manner enables you to bridge gaps between diverse groups, fostering understanding and forging meaningful connections. Your enthusiasm and passion inspire others to join you in making a positive impact on the world.Growth Edges: While You excel at influencing others, there are areas where you can focus on personal growth when working with personality types different from your own. These growth edges include:1. Flexibility in Communication: Your storytelling skills may be less effective with individuals who prefer a more straightforward and concise communication style. By developing flexibility in your communication approach, you can ensure her messages resonate with a wider range of personality types.2. Openness to Feedback: Your influence often attracts praise and adoration, which may make it difficult for you to receive constructive criticism. By cultivating an openness to feedback, you can refine your message and connect with a broader audience more effectively.3. Collaboration and Teamwork: Your individual influence is remarkable, but you may struggle with collaborating with strong personalities or differing perspectives. By embracing collaboration and valuing diverse perspectives, you can leverage the strengths of others and achieve even greater impact.By recognizing these growth edges and actively working on them, you can enhance your abilities as an influential catalyst, expanding your reach, and making a more profound difference in the lives of others.Your best partner: The thorough thinkerYou rely on charm, charisma, and humor. This is very effective because you are excellent at building interpersonal relationships. However, when it comes to implementing large scale change or selling big price tag items, there are many decision-makers who want to see the data, the spreadsheets, the business plan. This is where the thorough thinker and you can be an unstoppable team. If they can prepare all of the data, lay it out clearly, and anticipate the arguments that you will get, you will be able to sell anything to anyone. They appeal to the rational side (the process people or the rider), you appeal to the emotional side (the people people or the elephant), and you will be able to get anything through. 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, leading innovation, 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, 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 learn about you, and recommend ideal options to develop the leaders in your organization through training and coaching. Book A Free 30 Minute ConsultationPlus Expect to See Us in Your Inbox Soon With Leadership Resources :)
• 4.
  Your Style is... Innovator

  Image Source

  Preface: 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 differently You’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. The InnovatorYou are a big ideas person. You connect the dots between things that most people can’t – space ships and alcohol brands? Obviously an intergalactic line of liquor consumed upon Jeff Bezos’s space ship, sponsored by SpaceX. You observe the intricacies of human behavior and are fascinated by people, products, and ideas. You are an early adopter of new technologies, concepts, and frameworks, and aren’t afraid to try new things. You can have infectious energy around your ideas, bringing people along to this new vision of the future. Growth EdgesMost people don’t like change – particularly the thorough thinkers. Humans like what is familiar to them, because humans want to feel safe, and safety comes from familiarity- whether it is the same person, the same restaurant, or the same software. Your big visions can be exciting and motivating and cool and awesome and also – TERRIFYING, for a large segment of the population. You cannot rely on people to ride along with your idea without being seriously inspirational, seriously motivating, and making a strong, data driven case for it. This is where you can bring along your friends The Thorough Thinkers and ask them to conduct the research to support the case you’d like to make.Make sure you include others in the process. Your Best partner: ExecutorsExecutors are masters at getting things done. They can take your all over the place ideas and put them into a step-by-step plan of action, and not get distracted as they fire through it or delegate others to do it. They are great at countering your “spaghetti brain” as one innovator who took our Women’s Leadership Challenge referred to it  by making sure that your ideas don’t just stay in fairy tale land but actually end up becoming reality. It’s important to understand that you might be sitting here thinking, well what do you mean, I can execute! I can get stuff done! But my question to you is, does executing tasks make your heart sing? Does it bring you joy? Do you get excited about putting stamps on envelopes, labeling them, writing down the addresses from the spreadsheet, taking them to the post office, filling out the forms at the post office, then categorizing each in a spread sheet as you file your receipts into quickbooks? Yea, I didn’t think so. Your superpower is not in the details – it’s in the big picture - to envision, to spot future trends, to go on walks as you dream of a better future and new products and solutions. Lean on your executor to carry things to fruition.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, leading innovation, 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, 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 and my team.We’ll show you our 21st century leadership accelerator, Women's Leadership Accelerator, and listen to 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 Your Free Discovery CallPlus Expect to See Us in Your Inbox Soon With Leadership Resources :)✌️
• 5.
  Your Style is...The Thorough Thinker

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  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 differently You’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 of the options before getting to a solution, which means that yes, your solution can typically be much more thought through than the other thinker types. You are reliable and detail oriented and a huge value to the team because they know that you will come through with a thorough and detailed recommendation, even if it takes you a little bit longer. You are realistic about what is and isn’t possible, and are committed, loyal, and a true team member. You tend to dislike conflict and can be the voice of reason in a sea of irrational dreamers. You excel at mining through details and coming to conclusions, which is a huge value to your innovator colleagues who are terrified of anything detail oriented. You tend to be punctual and people can expect you to show up when you say you’re going to show up, which is an absolutely beautiful thing when it comes to both work and personal relationships. 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: The InnovatorThe Innovator will likely drive you crazy. They may be disorganized, all over the place, and can’t seem to get anything done. However, they will also push you out of your comfort zone to dream big, lift yourself out of the details, and see the big picture. They will push you to take action and put your products out into the world even if you think they are imperfect. While thorough thinkers tend to be more skeptical, and easily imagine worst-case scenarios, innovators are naturally idealists. They will bring some optimism and best-case scenarios into your thought process.The Relationship BuildersNetworking bores you - it seems trite, superficial, and meaningless. However, social capital is a necessity for spreading ideas and selling products. Leverage your relationship-building colleagues to establish those relationships while you are putting together the master plan, then give them the bullet points of what they need to know (don’t tell them everything, they will get bored), and let them run with it. You may want to go with them to a networking event and watch how they interact, how they introduce you, and how they put various people at ease. Try to think about networking as an opportunity to get to know cool people, learn new things, and make new friends. The Executors:The Executors are masters at getting things done. They can help you break through your analysis paralysis and get whatever you are working on to the finish line. When you are dealing with executors, make sure you get right to the point and don’t take them into every detail. 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 :)