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Staff Retreat - Sept 2022
This activity allows us to better understand our own work preferences and styles
in a group setting (as opposed to individual personality tests like MBTI) – as well as helping
us to understand the work styles of our colleagues. This increased understanding will help
us approach group work more effectively.
1. The room is set up with 4 signs on chart paper, one on each wall – North, South, East and West (arranged in the correct relationship to each other).
2. Participants take the two personality “quick tests” on pages 2 & 3 to determine their
own alignment on the work style personality compass. (7 mins)
3. After tallying results of the "quick tests", participants move to stand near their dominant choice – aware that no one is fully any one choice.
4. Each group answers small group discussion questions on chart paper. When complete, they report back to the whole group.
- Complete Quick Tests Part 1 and Part 2
- For each set of words, circle the word that describes you more often than the other one
(even though you may have both characteristics at times)
- Part 1: Tally the total number of A's and B's circled and identify if you are more North or South
- Part 2: Tally the total number of C's and D's circled and idenitfy if you are more East or West
- Your highest answer type is your Dominant Type
- Your second highest answer type is your Subdominant Type
Use the next 7 mins to complete your Quick Tests, Part 1 and 2.
Once finished, move to stand near your dominant choice.
North: You take charge. • You run the daily operation. • You have lists of things to do and
you need to get started and get them done. • You don’t have to ask questions to begin your
work or assignment. • You teach our children a complete curriculum. • You will stitch the
mosaic together and do the work.
East: You have the big picture. • You need to see the final product and will work with the
end in mind. • You believe in working backwards, understanding by design. • You don’t get
a project started until you are clear about the final product. • You teach our children the big
concepts. • You know what the mosaic looks like in the end.
West: You ask the hard questions. • You live by inquiry. • You challenge us to identify the
details. • You don’t start a project until you are clear about the details. • You make our
picture more complete. • You engage in thoughtful discourse. • You make us think and
teach detailed concepts to our children. • You fill in the details of the mosaic.
South: You slow us down, and make sure everyone has voice and is heard. • You bring up
our affective domain. • You make sure the emotional side of our work is heard. • You teach
our children with strong relationships and care. • You add beauty to the mosaic, make sure
everyone participates in the creation, and keep us all comfortable
Once everyone has chosen a dominant compass point to join, spend 7 minutes answering the following questions as a group.
- What are the strengths of your style? (4 adjectives)
- What are the limitations of your style? (4 adjectives)
- What do people from the other directions or styles need to know about you so you can work together effectively?
One person from each group share your responses from the small group discussion questions.
Participants may now arrange themselves in a circle – nearest to their dominant type, but on the side closest to their “subdominant” type.
Example: If your dominant type is North and your subdominant type is West, move to stand in between those two points.
Note: Even two people who are both primarily NORTH, can still be very different if they have
opposite subdominant types: WEST versus EAST.
Does your combined type seem to even more closely describe you than just your Dominant
type?