What are the 6 types of working styles? Understand yours
Ever wonder why some people thrive on group brainstorming sessions while others prefer working solo with a spreadsheet? That’s the power of different working styles at play.
Understanding how you work – your working style – isn’t just a fun personality test (although it is). Everyone brings something unique to the table at work, shaped by our strengths, experiences, and preferences. Knowing your work style can boost your productivity and help you work better with others.
In this article, we’ll decode the six main types of working styles. Learn how to identify yours, use it to your advantage, and find fulfilment in your work – so you and your team can bring your best to the table.
What are working styles?
Your working style is your natural approach to getting things done. It’s influenced by your personality, past work experiences, and even the types of roles you’ve held.
Here’s how your working style might show up in your day-to-day:
How you tackle a project or break down tasks
How you communicate: are you direct and brief, or chatty and collaborative?
How you make decisions: are you data-driven or instinctive?
How you manage your time: do you plan strictly or go-with-the-flow?
How you respond to workplace conflict
How you adapt to change and uncertainty
Knowing your way of working can be a game-changer for your performance. It helps you play to your strengths, spot your blind spots, and set yourself up for success.
The 6 types of working styles: Behaviours, strengths, and weaknesses
Here’s a look at the 6 key working styles that describe most people. Keep in mind that these are broad categories, rather than fixed labels. You may feel like you’re a mix of a few styles, or recognise one that feels most like you.
1. Logical working style
If you’re known as the problem-solver on your team, you likely have a logical working style.
Logical workers are great at tackling tasks systematically. They analyse problems using hard data, reasoning, and frameworks. You’ll often find them in technical or analytical roles like IT, engineering, or finance.
Because they’re highly methodical, they may struggle with tasks that call for creativity and intuition. Collaboration isn’t their cup of tea either – they tend to be lone wolves who don’t like to be supervised and instructed too much.
Key strengths:
Analytical and detail-oriented
Independent and self-motivated
Reliable in high-pressure situations
Potential blind spots:
May struggle in ambiguous or creative situations
Prefer solo work, which can impact collaboration
May resist emotional or subjective input
2. Cooperative working style
If “teamwork makes the dream work” sounds like your motto, you’ve got a cooperative working style.
In contrast to people with a logical work style, these folks thrive on collaboration. They get their best ideas by bouncing them off others, and they enjoy working toward shared goals. This makes them strong communicators, and they often play the role of facilitator in a team.
On the flip side, people with a cooperative working style may struggle when it’s time to work solo. For instance, they may find it hard to make decisions independently.
Key strengths:
Great at building consensus
Strong verbal communicators
Reliable and inclusive team player
Potential blind spots:
May avoid solo tasks or decision-making
Can become overly reliant on group input
May lose focus without regular interaction
3. Idea-oriented working style
Are you constantly dreaming up fresh ways to solve problems? You’re probably idea-oriented.
People with an idea-oriented work style are big-picture thinkers. They love innovation and thrive in roles that reward vision and creativity – think marketing, design, or product development. They’re often the “visionaries” on the team, helping others think outside the box and discover fresh perspectives.
Because they dream big, they may have blind spots when turning their ideas into practical action. It can be difficult for them to come up with concrete plans and focus on the details.
Key strengths:
Big-picture focused
Inspirational and future-oriented
Good at generating innovative ideas and solutions
Potential blind spots:
Can struggle with detail or follow-through
May lose interest in routine or admin tasks
Ideas may lack structure or realism
4. Detail-oriented working style
On the opposite end of the spectrum, we have the detail-oriented worker. You’re the one who notices the small errors in a report and triple-checks the numbers.
Precision and planning are watchwords for those with a detail-oriented work style. They can be counted on to bring order to a complicated project and plan every last detail ahead of time. They shine in roles like quality assurance, research, and project management.
On the other hand, you may find fast-changing environments challenging. Your perfectionism may prevent you from prioritising key details, so you risk being too caught up in every detail and missing the big picture.
Key strengths:
Meticulous planner and organiser
Strong attention to quality
Dependable in delivering consistent results
Potential blind spots:
Can get bogged down in perfectionism
Can over-prioritise small details and miss the bigger picture
Finds change or ambiguity challenging
5. Supportive working style
Are you the one whom teammates turn to when they’re having a rough day? That’s a sign of your supportive working style.
You’re empathetic, relationship-focused, and enjoy stepping in to support your teammates. Your superpower is boosting team morale and creating a harmonious work environment. Some might even call you the emotional glue holding the team together.
However, this empathy may lead to overwork and burnout for supportive team members.
These folks often tend to stretch themselves too thin to help others. While they’re great at mediating conflicts, they may struggle to make tough but necessary decisions.
Key strengths:
Excellent listener and team player
Great at resolving conflicts
Builds trust and connection easily
Potential blind spots:
May take on too much to help others and neglect their own needs
Struggles with tough decisions
May avoid necessary conflict
6. Proximity working style
Love the buzz of working side-by-side with others? You might have a proximity working style.
Proximity workers feed off real-time energy – quick conversations, in-person collaboration, or even just the presence of a team around them. They’re adaptable and dynamic, getting energised by being “in the room”.
Unlike the cooperative working style, people with a proximity working style don’t always prefer to work collaboratively. They may be comfortable doing solo work, but value the immediacy of working near colleagues.
The catch? They may struggle to work well in hybrid or remote settings. Digital tools like email are out of their comfort zone.
Key strengths:
Thrives in dynamic, real-time environments
Adaptable and quick to respond
Works well both solo and in groups
Potential blind spots:
May struggle with remote or digital communication
Can lose motivation when working in isolation
Relies on external energy sources
How to find your own working style
Now that you’ve understood the 6 different working styles, are you still unsure which box fits you best? That’s normal. There’s no one-size-fits-all style – you might find that you identify with a few, or different styles emerge depending on the task you’re working on.
Here are some reflective questions to help you discover your unique way of working:
Which tasks excite you?
Think about what makes you feel fulfilled at work. Enjoy planning a timeline or double-checking data? You might be more detail-oriented or logical. Do you love big brainstorming sessions or open-ended challenges? That might indicate you’re idea-oriented.
On the flip side, what kinds of tasks drain you? For example, if you dislike making small talk with colleagues or working in a team, you’re probably not a cooperative or proximity style.
How does your working environment make you feel?
Your reaction to your work environment is a big clue. What do you like and dislike about your current work set-up?
If you’re a remote worker and loving the independence, you may be logical or detail-oriented. If you miss the office buzz and watercooler chats, proximity or cooperative styles may suit you better.
How do you prefer to communicate?
Do you tend to communicate straight to the point and sometimes come off as blunt? You may have a logical working style. Do you prefer visual or creative ways to express ideas? You may be more idea-oriented.
Proximity working styles love communicating face-to-face or over the phone. Like talking it out to think it through? You might fit a cooperative or supportive working style.
What’s your conflict style?
Reflect on what you do when conflict crops up in your team. Are you the peacekeeper who tries to make everyone feel heard? You’re a match for a supportive working style.
Do you try to bring in new perspectives and think outside the box for a solution? You’re idea-oriented. Do you prefer to stick to the facts and stay objective during conflict? You have a logical way of working.
Or maybe you avoid conflict altogether, which is typical of a cooperative working style.
How do your colleagues or managers describe you?
Sometimes, others see us more clearly than we see ourselves. Have you been told you’re the “go-to” for brainstorming? Or the person who keeps everyone on track?
Think about the feedback you’ve received from teammates or bosses. You can also casually ask a colleague: “How would you describe the way I work or solve problems?” Their answers might help you connect the dots.
Tips to embrace your working style
Now that you know which working style matches your personality best, let’s talk about how to make it work for you. Here are some tips for harnessing your natural working style to grow in your career:
Lean into your strengths
Every working style has its strengths – lean into yours to become an A-player on the team.
Logical: Take the lead on data analysis or independent projects.
Cooperative: Become the bridge between departments or teams.
Idea-oriented: Offer to lead brainstorming sessions or pitch new solutions.
Detail-oriented: Manage deadlines and make sure nothing falls through the cracks.
Supportive: Mentor new employees or lead team wellbeing initiatives.
Proximity: Volunteer for cross-functional projects where real-time interaction is key.
Work on your shortcomings
Think of your working style’s “blind spots” as areas for growth. By stepping out of your comfort zone, you can become a more well-rounded team player.
For example, if you're highly cooperative, push yourself to take the lead on a small solo project for a start. If you’re logical and dislike brainstorming as a team, challenge yourself to stay open to different perspectives and contribute more.
Rope in help from others too. If you're idea-oriented, for instance, try partnering with a detail-oriented teammate to bring your concepts to life.
Meet other working styles in the middle
Great teams aren’t made of clones. You’ll likely be working with people who work and think differently from you – and that’s a good thing.
What’s important is appreciating that every style brings value to the team. Be willing to adapt your communication approach when working with others, so that you can collaborate smoothly.
How to handle different working styles as a leader
If you manage a team, understanding work styles is a powerful leadership tool. While it can be tricky to manage diverse working styles, it also enables you to leverage different strengths and fill in blind spots.
Here are some best practices to get your team playing well together:
Pinpoint your team’s working styles: Observe how your team members solve problems, ask questions, manage their time, and engage with others. You can also ask them directly about their working habits. For example: “What helps you do your best work?” or “Do you prefer to talk things out or work independently?”
Match the right team player to the task: Assign your team to tasks that match their strength. A detail-oriented person might not be a great fit for conceptualising a campaign, but they’re sure to shine in the timeline planning stage. Need someone to finesse a pitch? Call on your idea-oriented teammate.
Adapt your management style: Great leaders know how to tailor their support. Logical workers may want you to give them clear expectations and space to do their best work. Meanwhile, cooperative types will respond well to regular one-on-ones to talk through their progress.
Work smarter by working your way
Understanding your working style – and the styles of those around you – can transform the way you work. It can help you find roles where you’ll thrive, build better relationships, and grow your career. If you’re in a leadership role, it also gives you a useful framework for building more collaborative, productive teams.
So, take a moment to reflect: what kind of worker are you?
FAQs
What are the 6 types of working styles?
The six working styles are:
Logical: You’re analytical, independent, and data-driven. You like solving problems in a structured, methodical way.
Cooperative: You thrive in team settings and love bouncing ideas off others. Communication and collaboration are your strengths.
Idea-oriented: You’re all about innovation and big-picture thinking. You’re energised by exploring creative, new possibilities.
Detail-oriented: You’re meticulous and organised, and bring structure and precision to everything you do.
Supportive: You’re empathetic, relationship-focused, and great at helping others thrive in the workplace.
Proximity: You feed off the energy of real-time interaction. You’re adaptable and at your best when physically around others.
Why is it important to understand my working style?
Knowing your working style helps you make the most of your strengths, improve teamwork, and find roles where you’ll excel.
Can my way of working change over time?
Absolutely. As your career evolves, you might adapt your style based on new experiences, roles, or team dynamics.
What if my working style clashes with my teammates?
Conflict is a fact of life, but don’t let it be a deal-breaker. Communicate openly with your teammates and understand each other’s working preferences. This builds empathy and trust, enabling you to meet in the middle.
What should I do if my current role doesn’t match my working style?
Talk to your manager about adapting certain tasks to suit your strengths, or seek opportunities that align better with how you work best.
