The 3 Types of Employees Test: Team Players, Solo Players, Efficiency Experts

A healthy team is the foundation of a successful business. One of the most important characteristics of a strong team is diversity. Each member brings their own skills and abilities, and some tasks are more suitable for certain personality types and working styles than others.

For the purpose of this test, employees are divided into three broad categories based on their approach to work and relationships with other team members:

• Solo Players
• Team Players
• Efficiency Experts

These aren’t official psychological or workplace classifications. They simply describe three different ways people may approach work.

So, are you a Team Player, a Solo Player, or an Efficiency Expert? We will describe each of the three types below, but first let’s take the test!

Career-wise, my goal is
Working toward the same goal with people I like
Leadership and/or financial success
Doing what I love

I prefer leaders who
Allow their subordinates to grow and advance
Are direct and effective
Encourage good relationships and communication

My ideal workplace is one that
Provides the greatest amount of autonomy
Provides opportunities for career and financial growth
Includes me in decision-making

I can be described as
Supportive
Competitive
Independent

My greatest professional satisfaction comes from
Knowing that I did the job exceptionally well
Achieving an important personal goal
Accomplishing something together with my team

When I have a difficult task, I prefer
Figuring out the most effective way to solve it
Taking responsibility and making the key decisions myself
Discussing it and solving it together with other people

I am interested in connecting with
Ambitious people who have big ideas and plans
Friendly and caring people
Intelligent and hard-working people

I would not want
A dead-end job
An isolated job
A job that requires too much communication

My motivation comes from
Proving myself to others
Being held accountable by other team members
Being genuinely interested in what I do

I get upset
During times of conflict
When somebody criticizes me
When I can’t accomplish what I planned

Important: The test calculates your score for each type on a scale of 0 to 10. Your main type is the one where you score the highest. If two types have the same score, you probably share characteristics of both.

RESULTS

THE SOLO PLAYER: One of the main characteristics of Solo Players is their competitiveness and ambition. They tend to have a strong internal drive for success and may be motivated by personal rewards, such as money, power, recognition, or career advancement. They aren’t necessarily indifferent to the company or the team, but their own goals are very important to them.

Solo Players may be interested in leadership positions and may eventually decide to build companies of their own.

From an employer’s perspective, Solo Players can be a great catch. However, there may be some downsides as well:

• Solo Players may be more willing to switch jobs if they receive a much better offer.
• They may sometimes appear bossy or overly competitive.
• They may be less willing to sacrifice their own goals for the sake of the company or the team.

On the positive side, if you have an open leadership position, a Solo Player may be a good choice. Positions with good pay, opportunities for advancement, autonomy, and/or power are likely to appeal to this type.

THE TEAM PLAYER: Team Players tend to be enthusiastic, supportive, flexible, and reliable. They enjoy being part of a group and like the idea of sharing the same goals with other members and working toward them together.

Team Players can be very effective employees because working with other people may motivate them and give them a sense of accountability.

Unlike Solo Players, Team Players tend to value the social aspect of working. While money may be important to them, relationships with co-workers and feeling that they belong to the group may matter just as much.

If they like their team, they may become very loyal to the company.

On the negative side, some Team Players may spend too much time socializing, take long lunch breaks, or become too involved in workplace relationship drama. If group dynamics become unpleasant, they may also begin looking for a friendlier environment.

THE EFFICIENCY EXPERT: Efficiency Experts are less focused on status or workplace relationships and more interested in the task itself.

The Efficiency Expert is an independent thinker who doesn’t hesitate to express their point of view even when the rest of the group disagrees. Their greatest professional satisfaction comes from knowing that the job has been done right.

They may prefer working without unnecessary interruptions, meetings, or socializing. Instead, they focus on finding effective ways to complete their work and reach their targets.

Efficiency Experts may be naturally introverted, or they may simply prefer to keep their work and personal lives separate. Because they don’t always share much about themselves, they may sometimes come across as withdrawn or unfriendly.

They are also less likely to change their opinion simply because the rest of the group thinks differently. When they do socialize at work, they may prefer people who share their interests or working style.