2. IN ORDER TO LEARN HOW TO WORK BETTER WITH OTHERS©1980
The following is how I often use the long time existing and used
4 SHAPES QUIZ/TEXT/EXERCISE Many trainers, speakers, consultants, professors, ministers, counselors use it or have. I use it as a lead into the use of my own M.I.N.D. Design© 1980 to help
people learn a little about their own thinking/learning/communicating/problem solving
styles and how to quicly GUESS the styles of other people. FIRST UNDERSTAND YOURSELF,
IN ORDER TO LEARN HOW TO WORK BETTER WITH OTHERS©1980

3. Here are four shapes. Choose which one you like out of the 4.
Then choose the one you like second
then third
then fourth
for example I might choose them in this order.

4. Second Phase/Step
Ask people to go stand in the corner that represents
their chosen shape
then ask them to talk with those people about why each of them chose that shape

5. Third Phase/Step
Ask people to go stand in the corner that represents
the shape they didn’t like or chose last
then ask them to talk with those people about why each of them dislike that shape

6. created it. The original version I found used a Z
The following material can be found on this page
along with much more that one Leadership consultant,
Nancy Hardaway , uses in her work with clients. I became aware of the SHAPES Quiz/Test/Exercise over 40 years ago and have still not found out who
created it. The original version I found used a Z
instead of a squiggle. I changed it to a squiggle in 1980 and so have many, many, many other speakers, trainers
consultants, professors since or before. This is a simple and fun way to help people learn about
the importance and impact of knowing our and others’
thinking/learning/communicating/problem solving skills.

7. Details & Data & Systems People Characteristics:
SQUARE:

Details & Data & Systems People .
Characteristics:
Hardest workers; task oriented
Loyal
Structured; organized
Think sequentially, logically
May be stubborn
Value details and data; analytical
Know policies & rules
Not fond of change, prefer a stable environment
Prefer to working alone to teamwork
May see fun as unnecessary or a luxury
Trouble saying “I’ve got enough information”
Conservative, regular, orderly
Meeting behavior:  well prepared, lots of notes, gets right down to work
Motto: “Give me a job and a deadline and I’ll get it done”

8. TRIANGLE:  Results People
Characteristics:
Bottom line; focused on goals
Driven to succeed; motivated by results
Take charge and move fast
Big picture – Don’t need all the research or details
Need to know WHY
Confident
Competitive
Outspoken – Love to debate and argue
No nonsense
Decisive; cut to the chase; move on
Impatient
Likes recognition – may put stock in status symbols
Meeting behavior:  Hate meetings. Get to the bottom line and move on
Motto:  “So what’s your point???”

9. CIRCLE: People People
Characteristics:
Most empathy and perception for others
Fun-loving; laugh the most
Listen and communicate well
Easily swayed by opinions of others
Caregivers/helpers
Like people, committees, teams
Peacemakers – hate conflict or making unpopular decisions
Good sports
Over commit; take on more than you can handle
Too nice; can’t say no
Better at caring for others than yourself
Don’t particularly like hierarchy
Meeting behavior:  Social, create harmony, love the food,
Motto:  “I’ll do it – somebody has to!”

10. SQUIGGLE:  Idea People
Characteristics:
Often visionaries –lots of ideas
Creative
Lots of energy and enthusiasm
Like to try new and different things
Can appear a little flaky because their mind moves so fast
Difficulty with completion; start a task and move on to the next great idea
Can be frustrating to work with
Try to be more organized, but tend to lose their lists
Easily bored
Flexible – spontaneous
Make cognitive leaps, from A straight to F
Prefer less structured environments
Meeting behavior:  Already thinking of the next step
Motto:  “I just got this great idea!”

12. If we arrange the 4 shapes in this order
or pattern we can compare them and
the results or descriptions to many
other more detail questionnaires and
tests such as: HBDI, NBI, KAI, SOLAT,
Myers-Briggs Temperament Instrument,
and hundreds of others, including my own
M.I.N.D. Design© And many RIGHT BRAIN/LEFT BRAIN
teaching, learning style instruments: Gregorc, Kolb, Dunn & Dunn. They are all useful and helpful but none are specifically highly accurate. There are researchers who discredit or disagree
with the existence of specific Learning styles.
My 33 years of using them with groups classes or audiences tells me otherwise.

13. This is a fun and a simple way to help people learn to better work with other people
sales people to work better with their customers or clients.
and for teachers and students to work better
together to increase learning.

14. If you do a Google search
for
squiggle square circle triangle you might receive 120,000 hits
like I did on September 20th, 2013.
It is very popular and used by many
professionals and amateurs to
help people better understand
themselves.