In today's dynamic working world, more and more people identify themselves as scanner personalities. But what is a scanner personality?
The term «scanner personality» was popularised by author Barbara Sher and describes people who have diverse interests and skills. Instead of delving deeply into a single subject area, scanners tend to be enthusiastic about many different areas. They are curious, quickly bored by routine work and constantly on the lookout for new challenges.
Advantages of the scanner personality in a work context
- Diverse skills: Scanner personalities bring a wide range of skills to the table. This versatility enables them to participate in different projects and switch quickly between topics. This can be particularly advantageous in start-ups or small companies where flexibility is required.
- Creativity and innovation: Thanks to their openness and curiosity, scanners often develop innovative ideas and solutions. They are able to combine knowledge from different disciplines and thus develop creative approaches that can be of great value to companies.
- Adaptability: People with a scanner personality are often very adaptable. In a constantly changing work environment, they can quickly learn new technologies or processes and adapt to requirements. This flexibility is a major advantage in today's fast-paced world of work.
Disadvantages of the scanner personality in a work context
- Loss of focus: A major disadvantage of the scanner personality is the tendency to lose focus. Due to their many interests, scanners may find it difficult to concentrate on a project for a long period of time. This can lead to tasks not being completed or to constantly switching between projects.
- Inconsistency in career development: People with scanner personalities tend to change jobs or fields more frequently. In traditional career paths based on specialised expertise, this can be perceived as inconsistent and have a negative impact on career development.
- Potential overload: With the urge to always learn something new, there is a risk of overload. Scanners can throw themselves into too many projects and end up overworked, which can lead to stress or burnout.
How scanners work best
Whether a scanner personality is more of an advantage or a disadvantage in a work context depends heavily on the environment. In creative, flexible work settings, they can provide valuable input. However, they may encounter challenges in traditional, highly structured organisations.
Employers can make the most of scanners' potential by offering them projects that provide both variety and the opportunity to delve deeper into different areas, combined with a supportive framework in which they can express their versatility.
These professions are a good fit for scanners
Scanner personalities feel at home in professions that allow them to pursue their diverse interests and constantly take on new challenges. This includes consulting, project management or a position in the communications and marketing industry.
These professions leverage the strengths of the scanner personality by offering varied, creative and challenging tasks that allow them to constantly develop new skills and pursue different interests.
Do I have a scanner personality?
You will find various tests on the internet, some more reliable than others. Typical characteristics of this personality type include creativity, especially when it comes to problem solving, a tendency to get bored quickly and a high level of cur
