The Cactus and Snowflake at Work: How the Logical and Sensitive Can Thrive Side by Side

Feelers (those who lead with their hearts) and Thinkers (those who lead with their heads) can combine their strengths and work together if they follow the sage advice in this playful but practical guide. This book shows how people who "melt" (snowflakes) and people who retain their heat (cacti) when the temperatures rise at work can meet in the middle and combine their strengths in the workplace. We're all familiar with the introvert/extrovert divide, but there is another dichotomy that is just as significant. From the famed Myers-Briggs personality scale, Feelers put more weight on personal concerns and the people involved, and Thinkers are guided by objective principles and impersonal facts. This simple distinction lays the groundwork for the profoundly different ways that individuals make sense of and engage in both the workplace and the world. Devora Zack, herself a proud snowflake, says we can directly control only three things: what we say, what we think, and what we do. Zack makes a strong case that the best use of our energy is to focus on our own reactions and perceptions rather than trying to fix or change others. The book includes an assessment that readers can take to learn their placement on the Thinker/Feeler spectrum before exploring different modes of communication and motivation based on personality type. Zack guides her readers to channel their emotions and successfully connect with those on the other side, both inside and outside of the workplace.