Activists are open-minded and involve themselves fully in new experiences. They are not noted for their caution, nor for their tolerance of boredom. They love short-term crises, fire-fighting and finding solutions. They are weaker on implementation, consolidation and sustained effort.

Reflectors are thoughtful and cautious, preferring to consider all possible angles and collect as much data as possible before coming to a decision. They prefer to observe others and will adopt a low profile in discussions, adding their own points only when the drift of the discussion is clear.

Theorists approach problems logically and integrate their observations into complex but coherent theories. They like to analyse and synthesise, and to establish theories and models. They are often dedicated to rational objectivity. They hate subjectivity, lateral thinking and a flippant approach.

Pragmatists thrive on new ideas provided they can put them into practice. They like to get on with things and are confident about applying new ideas. They find open-ended discussions highly frustrating. They see problems and opportunities as a challenge.