Three Types of Work Personalities

While engaging in yet another IM conversation yesterday, I commented on how most people in the workforce can be classified in three basic ways that loosely correspond to three characters on the original Star Trek show.

These classifications are based on the individual's personality and natural tendencies, not necessarily in the job they actually perform. I elaborated by saying that work dissatisfaction comes when one's actual job does not match one's natural inclinations.

The three categories are:

• Kirk types -- Leaders

Kirk types are those who are good at inspiring others, supervising,
overall responsibility, organizing, and the like. They know when to
delegate and when to take charge.

• Spock types -- Followers

Spock types make up the bulk of the work force. Unlike Kirk types,
who approach work with a broad, big picture perspective, Spock
types are the detail people of the work world; they're the ones
who actually get it done. They tend to be generalists, who can
flexibly work in a wide of variety of job classifications, usually
working in groups.

• Scotty types -- Independents

Scotty types are typically found among the support staff in
any organization. They work best alone, without close supervision.
They often work on their own timetables, independent of that of
the Spock types. Their work is usually specialized and
emphasis is placed more on quality, rather than quantity.

As for myself, I'm a Scotty type who has been obliged to work in Spock type jobs for my entire work life. Pimme, whom I suspect is a Kirk type, was also miserable working in Spock type jobs, and has become happily self employed and has suggested I might be happier that way, too.

I understand the sentiment and desire, but I don't think I'd carry it off as well as she has. Though Scotty types are independent, they prefer to let others take care of nuts and bolts matters, so they are free to focus all their attention on the work itself. Scotty types lack the organizational skills the Kirk types excel in.

In other words, I lack the inclination and the discipline to properly attend to the go-getter aspects of self-employment and the mundane details of taking care of my own taxes, arranging my own insurance, and the like. A better solution for me would be to find a flexible position in a loosely structured work environment, in a job where I could use my natural talents.

Which of the three categories do you think you fall into and why?