27 Personalities

Introductory guide

How to find your type

Take time to look at underlying reasons that have recurred over a long period, rather than the most appealing description or your recent behavior.

Keep your candidates open

Rather than treating your first result as a definitive label, read about the top two or three candidates together. Look for descriptions that accurately capture patterns that feel uncomfortable but familiar.

Ask about the reasons beneath the behavior

The same achievement can come from wanting to do things correctly, prove your worth or reduce risk. Write down what you did, then ask why it mattered.

Look at both good times and difficult times

Try recording recurring patterns of attention and feelings you try to avoid, even as the context changes across work, relationships and stressful situations.

Use observation questions

Briefly noting what you were trying to gain, what you feared might happen and what you noticed first, just after an event, can help you discover the motivations beneath your behavior.

Related reading

See the type descriptions