The Four Risk-Taking Styles
While not perfect, nor scientific, we’ve summarized the four natural risk-taking styles we’ve observed in our collective experience professionally and personally. Take the risk quiz to see which style might represent you best, and what you might do to become more adept at Choosing Possibility.
The Change Seeker is seemingly fearless and spontaneous, taking the plunge and trying new things every opportunity they get. This has offered them a wider array of experiences than most, but has also caused them to churn.
Strengths
With an ultra-positive mindset and high curiosity, Change Seekers are always on the go, live life to its fullest, and have many more experiences as a result. They are flexible, and don’t worry too much about planning as they tend to believe that things will naturally work themselves out. They easily help others get excited and see possibilities.
Weaknesses
The Change Seeker’s bias for action sometimes causes them to act too quickly and make mistakes that could have been anticipated. They tend to cast data analysis to the wind, which makes them overlook obvious red flags. The Change Seekers tendency to keep moving can also cause them to lose sight of a larger purpose or lack a sense of direction.
Tips for Growth
Change Seekers can benefit most from learning to how to validate their gut reactions with data and insights before making decisions. Especially for bigger moves, learning to balance their immediate excitement with holistic planning may help them more clearly focus on the larger goal, continuing to seize opportunity and take better advantage of the results.
Calculators are quick to both analyze a situation from multiple sides, but also able to make decisions efficiently. They are more comfortable with ambiguity and acting without having all the data, and continue to recalculate their choices once they are in motion.
Strengths
Pragmatism sets Calculators apart and is the key to their biggest successes. They know how to be highly analytical and look to data for validation, but are also comfortable making decisions with incomplete information. Calculators realize that they can keep adjusting their choices as they go, focusing on adapting and learning, even from failure.
Weaknesses
While Calculators are mostly known for their efficient approach to decision making, they can occasionally develop blind spots based on their successful decisions. They may occasionally come off as overly confident, act brashly, or fail to consider the opinions of others in addition to their own.
Tips for Growth
While known as proactive decision makers, Calculators can continually improve their risk-taking muscles by seeking to stay in learning mode, incorporating more data and opinions beyond their own. Continuing to examine the results of their actions and learning iteratively from their failures can make Calculators more effective decision makers.
Contemplaters are talented at visualizing opportunities and thoughtfully evaluating the pros and cons of any situation. Their comfort in seeking change comes from deep and detailed planning first, but indecisiveness can also be an issue.
Strengths
The Contemplater’s greatest strength is their ability to thoroughly analyze situations from all sides. When they seek change they first plan it out in full detail, appearing thoughtful and prepared. A Contemplater is never nonchalant, incorporating care and balance into every decision, which makes them excellent to consult with.
Weaknesses
While the Contemplater is great at analyzing all sides, analysis can also often hinder them from making a decision. This may cause them to unintentionally forfeit opportunities. Similarly, when dealing with unplanned changes, they become quickly anxious. Failure feels uncomfortable and sometimes very personal.
Tips for Growth
Contemplaters are able to plan and reach their goals through careful action, but could get there faster or more efficiently by taking more calculated risks. Contemplaters already have the analytical skills required to make smart decisions, but need to reframe their mindset to overcome their fear of failure and unlock their full potential.
The name says it all. Critics are highly analytical in nature, a trait that both allows them to fail less frequently, but can also make foster pessimism, and hold them back from seeking and realizing new opportunities to learn and grow.
Strengths
Critical thinking is by far the Critic’s strongest suit. They have the unique ability to see minor hurdles before they become major problems. The Critic’s analytical nature is a plus when it comes to evaluating any situation for potential obstacles and they generally create stable environments for themselves and others.
Weaknesses
The Critic’s first inclination when faced with a new idea is to poke holes and spend energy identifying what could go wrong. Whether its a result of fear of failure, or fear of harm, this mindset can cause critics to stick with what they already know rather than seizing new possibilities.
Tips for Growth
Since Critics are highly cause and result focused, they are unlikely to dive right in to taking big swings, but seeing benefits from small risks can set them in the right direction. A great first step for Critics is to say “yes” to minor changes. Even if they don’t all work out, they can help the Critic learn faster and minimize their fear of failure or harm.
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