Take a look around – who do you get feel in sync with? Do you get along better with people that are just like you or that are completely opposite?

On a recent trampoline retreat, a few of us were tasked to come up with some team-building ideas to enhance our retreat experience and help everyone get to know each other a little better. Years ago, I read a book called Personality Plus by Florence Littauer that I found to be intriguing and enlightening. It delves into four personality categories with such strange names as Sanguine and Choleric, some being extroverts and some introverts. After completing the quiz, I must say I had an “aha” moment as I thought the person who wrote the book must have been following me around and writing notes just about me. Would my fellow co-workers feel the same way? How well do we really know each other after spending 40 hours a week honing ideas and creating solutions for our clients’ problems?

We decided to have everyone complete the quiz in secret with only myself privy to everyone’s true identity. On the day of the retreat, I posted four posters on the wall with a detailed description of each personality – both the positives and the negatives. We were divided into four groups and had to decide which category our fellow co-workers fell into. With the help of little headshots of each of us, we proceeded to “pin the employee on the poster”. It was an interesting scenario to watch people discuss others’ traits – some people being “easy” to figure out and some leaving them scratching their heads. When all was said and done and the true results were revealed, we found that our agency had a very healthy balance between the four personalities (maybe leaning a little on the creative side, naturally). We all seemed to get along well and were able to get the job done at the end of the day. It was interesting to see the difference between how we interpret ourselves and how others see us.

I guess we’re not always as crystal clear as we think we are.

After earning her Applied Arts Diploma from the Illustration program at Sheridan College in Toronto, Jodie plied her trade at a number of different design studios and agencies in Toronto. Another one who saw the light and moved to Nova Scotia, she happily settled in Halifax for it’s small-town feel. Equally adept with pen and ink or point and click, her talent is evident in all facets of her work. Some of Jodie’s clients have included Eastlink, Saint Mary’s University and Pierceys. She’s recently started working one-on-one with some of her clients, giving her the opportunity to relate directly to their needs. In her spare time — though she’s not sure any of her time could be considered spare — Jodie is kept busy with her two young daughters and husband. Except when she plays in her dart league once a week — that’s mommy’s night out.