Personality types

Key personality traits of the ruler type

General characteristics of the ruler type

Most psychological systems are a bit lenient when defining personality types; they tend to avoid using straightforward descriptions that might sound offensive. These formalities are unnecessary in the theory of RISE, firstly, because the Ruler type would never consider a stronger expression to be a problem, and secondly, the name isn’t the only reason why Rulers are not the favourite of the other types. But it will be beneficial in the identification process to be able to associate this name with what we see and experience instantly. So, for the sake of efficiency, let us stick to this name instead of trying to mask representatives of this type with names like ‘dominant’ or ‘leader’, as their lives are centred around their desire to take control of situations, to rule others, and to position themselves above everyone else. And they don’t do this to achieve some ultimate goal or higher purpose, but simply for the pleasure of being in charge and furthering their personal agendas. RISE does not consider a given personality type good or bad; they are just a particular set of psychological traits that must not be judged positively or negatively. Each type has its advantages and disadvantages, and, of course, every individual has a choice of whether or not they want to promote a given psychological trait.

Rulers are confident, and, in most cases, they have excellent leadership skills. They can inspire their peers to follow them and are capable of exercising power and building up their statuses. Keep in mind that they are always focusing on power, their agenda, and how to achieve these. Rulers always have perspective; they always see the ‘big picture’. They have a vision, a tangible goal to aim for, and they can motivate others to work toward these goals. They have character. They are the kind of people who are impossible to ignore if they step into the room—they have a real presence. Most of the time they have a more aggressive nature than the other personality types, as they want to reach their goals, come hell or high water, and they are not afraid to use anyone for this. ‘Using’ people comes naturally to them. This doesn’t mean that they objectify people—although sometimes this is not too far from the truth—they tend to only care about others as long as they are useful and are willing to cooperate toward common goals. After reaching this goal, when maintaining a personal relationship with the given person has no further practical use, they tend to move on without any issues. Of course, this process might look very different in the case of a Ruler with an IQ of 100 or one with 150, but the result is still the same, only presented in a more pleasant form in the case of the latter. This is why it’s often said that a leader who wants to be successful in the long run has to possess the Ruler personality type as well as the right level of intelligence to be able to make the most of it.

A Ruler’s inherent faults are their selfishness and overly confident nature. The biggest drawback of this personality type is its superficiality, so they sometimes do not analyse things in enough depth; furthermore, they are unable to handle problems arising from this superficiality. Rulers usually cannot learn from their own mistakes and do not pay any attention to others’, and so they tend to run headfirst into the wall. They need to reach a certain level of maturity before they adopt the ‘think first’ approach. But once they develop, they have the potential to become indispensable leaders in any organisation.

Rulers believe in efficiency and results, and they want to see this in simple, practical, recordable, and presentable numbers. This makes them very reasonable business partners. They do not treasure emotions too much, as they tend to conduct their affairs on a ‘money talks’ basis. Their whole life is about proving their efficiency first to themselves, then to the world soon after. Of course, the latter is always presented a bit shinier than the reality—they can market themselves well, which enables them to rule their surroundings better. Symbols of success and displaying obvious signs of it are ever so crucial for them, and if anyone wants to make them listen and get through to them, they will have to show proper respect towards them. Vanity is generally considered to be a negative trait, and so they are not too open about it, but if we are facing a Ruler type, we have to be prepared to face a certain level of vanity.

It has to be noted that it’s almost impossible for them to maintain personal relationships in the long run, and it costs them a lot of energy to manage these. If people do not have an important role in a Ruler’s life, it’s challenging for them to act otherwise. This is why Rulers are often quick to ruin the things that they have built up in their lives so much more efficiently than any other type would have. Thus, a Ruler’s life is a continuous cycle of creation and destruction.

The most important thing for a Ruler is displaying their hard-fought status to the outside world via various image elements. They are prepared to make big sacrifices for this status, sometimes even going against their interests, thereby ruining their family lives and losing jobs that were once secure. Of course, their intelligence is also an important factor here, as this has a massive impact on the Ruler’s behaviour, determining what they do, when they do it, and with what momentum.

Key personality traits of the INDIVIDUAL type

General characteristics of the INDIVIDUAL type

The Individual type is in constant motion and is continually changing. They gain energy from the new, the unknown. For them, anything usual or routine-like is terrible! It doesn’t matter if the established system, idea, or anything is working and fulfils business expectations; if the Individual gets bored—and they can get bored rather quickly—it has to go. They are willing to take enormous risks for the sake of innovation. This risk-taking is not always a process that is carefully thought through but can be a rather ad-hoc, impulsive series of decisions.

Representatives of this personality type are generally considered pleasant, social people. This is the reason why their social circles tend to be larger than average. They like big parties, which could be anything from dinner with friends to a music festival attended by tens of thousands of people, depending on their age. The point is to have a crowd. There have to be a lot of acquaintances, as well as opportunities to build new connections. The Individual is an extroverted type. They communicate a lot, sometimes without end. They are the ones who will not let you get bored, as there is always something happening around them. Let’s pack a bag and get on the road, and we’ll see where it takes us, no need for a plan! Planning is their death. They hate rules carved in stone, as they are not good for anything except restricting their personalities, which is simply the worst thing that could ever happen to an Individual.

Individuals surpass all other personality types in creativity and innovation. This is a significant advantage in their work. Depending on one’s character, these innovations may be practical, but they can also be entirely farfetched. A lot of artists are representatives of this type. Whether they are actors or work in the fine arts, they are on the very top of the list when it comes to genuinely new creations. This is the reason why their presence is essential in many sectors.

Their weakness is that they are disorganised and chaotic. A certain level of chaos inherently surrounds them. This is true for their work environment as well as anything that surrounds them. This can be a serious problem for them, as sometimes important details, documents, and data go missing from under their hands. They are not the best at keeping deadlines either, as the sunshine or a rainbow in the sky is always more important than the deadline set by the boss.

They only like the bright side of life. They quickly become depressed in stressful situations. And when it happens, as they are mostly happy, it is very noticeable for others. They always react positively to unexpected situations, even when there is not a single hint at a possible positive outcome. They try to overcome the first difficulties with unwavering—sometimes naïve—optimism. Most of the time, this proves to be effective in business, as Individual-type leaders can efficiently handle if their co-workers seem to lose faith in a higher purpose. The only problem is when the given business issue poses a professional challenge, as the initial ‘let’s get over the problem with a positive attitude’ approach might fall apart when they are unable to present real, practical solutions to the problem due to lack of planning and an inadequate examination of the problem. The ‘fall’ of this type was spectacular in the 1-2 years following the start of the 2008 economic crisis. Optimism did not solve the significant decline in revenue or profits, and so Individual-type leaders soon lost their positions.

How the Individual type is generally viewed varies significantly across countries. As they put a significant emphasis on absolute individualism and expressing their personalities, they can only thrive in an environment where these traits are generally recognised. They are most appreciated in the southern regions of Europe; France, Spain, and Italy accept and love them. As we start moving northward—into the world of Experts—the attitude towards them becomes somewhat mixed.

Interestingly, 7 out of 10 times, Individual types, somehow feeling their weaknesses and experiencing the mixed attitude towards them, force themselves into the financial sector. They become vital accountants or financial directors, and in large companies too. And being a leader is important for them, as they couldn’t work as a mere accountant for long—they would soon be found out as someone who is not cut out for precise, solitary work. But as leaders, they can sell themselves very well. As they are quite persuasive, they can convince their superiors that things will only go well when they are present. Then they are cautious not to spend too much time away when others could find out that everything is working just as perfectly without them. Wearing the mask of an opposite personality type is exhausting, and this takes a toll in our private lives. Because of this, it is imperative that an Individual-type person finds the right role and area to work in, where they have some room to manoeuvre, to bring in new ideas, innovate, change, and develop. Choosing the right career goal might be the most important in the case of this personality type.

Another defining trait of this personality type is the constant desire (and sometimes compulsion) to be the centre of attention. In their personal lives, they must be the life of the party and the most entertaining member of the group. If there is a gathering, even if it is just a few friends, a true Individual has to do something to get the others’ attention. The desire to be the centre of attention may be controlled only by superior intelligence, but even then, not without difficulties. Shining at events, conferences, parties, and receptions: this is their world, which is precisely the reason why other personality types have very diverse attitudes towards them. Some envy them for their openness while they make others’ skin crawl. But this is part of being an Individual, and they just love it!

The main ideology of the Individual type may be summarised easily: I want to be unique and special, or at least I want to appear to be! This principle accompanies the entirety of the various identification methods, and fundamentally defines the life of the Individual type. The strength of their character enables them to realise this individualism. But if an Individual doesn’t have any remarkable features, their life will not be happy, as they will never get the attention they seek.

Key personality traits of the SUPPORTER type

General characteristics of the SUPPORTER type

This is the most controversial character that is sometimes the hardest to identify, and which, in certain periods of history, has been misunderstood, looked down upon, or underappreciated. Supporters are the worst at articulating their interests, and so they tend to wear a mask to avoid being oppressed. This is the root of Supporter type’s biggest issues: their inferiority complex and lack of self-esteem. Even though they have absolutely no reason for these!

It is safe to say that this type is not cut out to be a leader or company owner in a dynamic economy in the long run, as leaders have to be able to be confident in asserting their will and getting what they want, and Supporters, unfortunately, do not excel at these. So, we have to bring the attention to a fifth personality type—even though there are only 4 fundamental types—during the assessment and identification of personality types, which has developed from the Supporter type due to the fast-paced business environment characteristic to the last couple of decades. This fifth type is the ‘Supporter-turned-Ruler’.

Masks provide safety, and Supporters make use of masks the most. They can master the art of masks at such a high level that it might take years for an unsuspecting business partner or spouse to recognise their true nature. Their desire to meet outside requirements is so strong, especially if they have to act tough in their jobs all day long, that eventually, they lose their own personalities. They might regard some personality traits as inherent to them, which they actually just copied from others and try to utilise now. Wearing a mask in the short run causes stress and discomfort in the Supporter’s life. But in the long run, it may lead to a higher-level distortion of their personality, making them lose their ability to self-evaluate. The 5th personality type mentioned above mostly develops in the case of Supporters in leadership positions, as they are the ones who have to constantly engage in this ‘role-playing’ to survive.

By the way, the social stereotypes surrounding this personality type are absolutely untrue. Looking at some large international corporations that grew out of family businesses, we will see that many of them have Supporter-type owners. We have to keep in mind that—although Supporters tend to respond slower to external influences and cannot impose their will on others as well as the other personality types—Supporters have something that nobody else does: they can keep people together! I guess I don’t need to explain why this ability is essential in the case of a company with a long-term vision.

Supporter types are fundamentally introverted because they respond to external influences slowly and after careful deliberation. As the name itself suggests, they reach their goals by helping others, through people, and with people. But do not mistake this for ‘humaneness’, as it depends on the specific character of the Supporter to what degree they are actually ‘humane’. They are empathetic, very sensitive socially, and they can relate to others well. This helps them to stay well-informed, so they deliver the most important news with routine.

Their main motto: ‘don’t let anything change, everything is good as it is because we are used to it!’ They follow this principle to the end. They see a terrible threat in innovation, in the unknown. They have difficulty adjusting to new things, be it a new environment, a new car, or anything else. But once they have made something their own, they want to hold onto it forever. Even when it becomes a burden, or it has lost its functionality, they will fix it, so they do not have to throw it away. Daily routines make them feel safe. If something is working, then perfect, no need to look for new solutions! This is what makes them indispensable in the stabilisation of a company, but also what makes them the biggest enemy of development.

A harmonious private life is critical for the Supporter type. They cherish and appreciate a secure home. For a Supporter, work can never get in the way of family life, and family will always be more important than their career. Supporters will definitely ask for or even demand a day off at the time of school commencement ceremonies, or when their mother is sick, and if their employer doesn’t grant these, the battle might lead to a letter of resignation.

Supporters are slow. This is also true in the case of processing information, which means they tend to work slower than average, often driving their non-Supporter-type superiors and co-workers crazy. They are loyal. Short-term loyalty can be a feature of several personality types, but only a Supporter will stay with their employers to the end, ‘in times of plenty and in times of want’. This is why Supporters tend to have a long-term perspective in every area of their lives. They choose their partners for life, they don’t replace their cars every 5 years, and once they have found their place at a company, it is tough to make them leave.

Money matters the least to them. When a Supporter makes a purchase, high prices and exclusivity are not influencing factors. They only need money to ensure a comfortable, happy life with their families and loved ones. But keep in mind that no one is greedier or more motivated than Supporters working to provide a good education for their children. Although Supporter types may not stand up for their own goals, they will gather and invest all their energy reserves into providing a better future for their loved ones. And employers often take advantage of this.

So, the Supporter personality type is a balanced character that is absolutely indispensable in the business world. This is why it is unfortunate when they try to go into directions that are unsuitable for them, and they try to develop certain traits to do so. Wearing a mask always leads to drastic psychological consequences. They ruin their private lives, and without its security, sooner or later they will also be unable to perform adequately at work.

Supporters are ‘followers’ without question. They care a lot about other people’s opinion on things. It is only natural that they follow the controlling Ruler type in their everyday lives. And it is not surprising that the mask they force themselves to wear tries to convey the features of a Ruler, as Supporters think that they are the example to be followed. Being a follower also encompasses a level of impressionability. Supporters are the easiest to influence or manipulate of all personality types. With a strong attitude, they can be moved into another direction, even if they do not agree with the new path after considering it carefully, as Supporters always do. They tend to follow Ruler types blindly, at least for a little while. Then they review and analyse the results. But, as emotions govern this type, often even the hardest facts cannot convince them that it is time for a change.

Supporter types are inclined to be pessimistic. They have doubts about everything, especially if it has something new in store for them. Security is of the utmost importance to them, and if they feel that it is threatened, they become more and more aggressive. This reaction is often mistaken for the determination of a Ruler type in the business world. When negotiating with a ‘threatened’ Supporter, we may perceive some details in the communication that would point to a Ruler type. But with some experience, the difference between the two becomes obvious.

Key personality traits of the EXPERT type

General characteristics of the EXPERT type

We have arrived at the last of the four personality types, which is the rarest, according to our analyses. In the case of the Expert type, we usually have to use superlatives when talking about either its positive or negative traits.

Experts strive for perfection and precision throughout their lives. Their fundamental life goal is to have everything extremely organised. This focus on perfection will easily upset everyone around them, as they are just as much subject to these expectations as the Experts themselves. If the Experts discover an imperfection—either within themselves, or in others—they will be sure to announce it, and in a spiteful, grotesque, and teasing way. This is why they are not the most popular characters. Who needs these constant mildly, or depending on the person, sharply sarcastic comments? They are the ones who will be sure to correct every minor grammatical mistake, even when talking with a friend. They question everything that is not based on facts or logical conclusions. And they dismiss emotions; they regard them as useless garnishing that clouds people’s judgment.

Their lives are all about gathering, organising, and analysing information. They choose a narrow field for themselves to specialise in and invest an incredible amount of energy into becoming ‘a master of one trade’. They are by no means polymaths, and they do not agree with the concept anyway. For them, it is critical that people should have a thorough knowledge of their professional area. More importantly, they only share their ideas on topics over which they have a comprehensive outlook, so most of the time, they only express their opinions within their own profession. They take it poorly if others do not behave in the same way, and, at least based on the proportion of personality types, others usually don’t work like this. Situations like this might lead to cut-throat conflicts in their private and professional lives.

For them, hierarchic, ‘trumped-up’ positions mean nothing at all. In their case, the ‘the best professional is king’ principle applies. Because of this, they can be cruelly bold and sincere even with their superiors or families, which, let’s admit, is hard to tolerate.

They live in a world of numbers and facts. Their statements are always based on logically built facts, and they cannot accept any other approach from others, either. They are usually good with numbers. Not surprisingly, they are most often ‘found’ in the IT and financial sectors. They don’t try to climb the corporate ladder; for them, career advancement means advancement in professional knowledge.

Expert types can be irritating in their private lives as well as in the business world. Experts will lose a lot of connections due to their constant remarks, researching and investigating everything others say, and revealing everyone’s weaknesses and mistakes. It is not an accident that they don’t have many friends or colleagues that they can stay on good terms with, but this feels just right to them. But it is also true that Expert-type relationships are much deeper than the contacts of any other personality type.

Expert types have an introverted lifestyle. They are quite happy to spend their free time alone. They usually have solitary hobbies that are often closely related to their work. They don’t separate their private lives from their professions, as they enjoy their work very much; after all, this is why they chose it as their life goal. They can spend hours or even days processing and analysing a new piece of information.

As they aim for a perfectly constructed world, novelty, a new relationship, a new service, or anything unknown means a new, rather robust task for them. They don’t reject it, as a Supporter would do, but they don’t like it either, and if it were only their decision, they would never upset the perfect system they have developed with such great effort. Experts have routines that they follow rigidly. If a grocery store worked for them once, they would continue to go to the same place. If a brand works for them, they will stick to it. Expert types are the ones who buy 10 perfectly identical shirts of the same colour. If something has proved to be perfect once, changing it would be sinful.

Experts continuously train and inform themselves, but they are never satisfied. Unlike the other personality types, an Expert will never state that they know everything about a given topic. This creates a certain everlasting discontent, and if they are unable to handle it, their lives can become miserable.

Their most important feature, which is of course much appreciated in the business world, is that they gained such a professional knowledge that makes them indispensable in certain situations. The 2008 financial crisis exposed the crucial importance of this personality type, as there was no choice but to accept these unpleasant, emotionless people, as they were the ones to show the way out of the crisis. Their professional knowledge was able to help the given company to move on, and to successfully compete for new market positions in the newly rearranged markets.

Experts are cognisant. If they take an interest in something or someone, they will keep asking questions, collect information, analyse it, and give feedback on anomalies. This makes it difficult for them to build new connections. They are fundamentally mistrustful types, and they are unable to accept new things until they are empirically proven to be true. This attitude can be a severe problem in the business world, as it makes it rather difficult to sell anything to them.

Representatives of this personality type tend to be rigid, stern-faced, and their appearance is usually more serious than that of other personality types. They don’t like the ‘everybody should be happy’ attitude. They have a pessimistic tendency; they don’t try to stay on the bright side of life all the time. They are perfectly fine with the well-known, factual, and overcast environment. As they have a logical mind, they don’t tolerate it well when others don’t understand something. In these situations, they start by judging the other harshly, and then move on dismissively, offending the other party to the core. But this doesn’t discourage them at all, as they have no intention of building or maintaining any connection with uncomprehending people.

Punctuality is sacred to them. And they expect the same from others, in all circumstances. Being more than five minutes late for a meeting with a friend—and even five minutes is stretching it—is a sign of utter disrespect. And they usually do express this, and not in the friendliest way. Sometimes, of course, they themselves also make the same mistake, due to unpredictable external circumstances, but if an Expert-type leader is late for a meeting, there will be a serious reason for it.