Business Chemistry audiobook cover - Practical Magic for Crafting Powerful Work Relationships

Business Chemistry

Practical Magic for Crafting Powerful Work Relationships

Kim Christfort and Suzanne Vickberg

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Key Takeaways from Business Chemistry

Learning Tools

Reinforce what you learned from Business Chemistry

Mind Map

Business Chemistry
Core Premise+
The Pioneer+
The Guardian+
The Driver+
The Integrator+
Team Strategy+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 10
What is the core premise of 'Business Chemistry' regarding workplace rapport?
  • A. It relies entirely on finding people with the exact same personality type to ensure harmony.
  • B. It is a mysterious, unexplainable phenomenon similar to romantic chemistry.
  • C. It is rooted in psychology and grounded in our perceptions, preferences, and motivations.
  • D. It is based primarily on an individual's technical skills and years of experience.
Question 2 of 10
Which historical figure is used to illustrate the energetic, big-picture, and detail-averse nature of the Pioneer working style?
  • A. Queen Victoria
  • B. Ernest Shackleton
  • C. Theodore Roosevelt
  • D. Abraham Lincoln
Question 3 of 10
What is the most effective way to respond to a Pioneer who suggests a poorly-thought-out, enthusiastic idea?
  • A. Immediately say 'no' to prevent them from wasting the team's time.
  • B. Demand a detailed, step-by-step structural plan before discussing it further.
  • C. Express interest and gently encourage them to expand on how it would work in practice.
  • D. Assign the idea to a Guardian to figure out the implementation details.
Question 4 of 10
What are the three essential elements a Guardian needs to thrive in the workplace?
  • A. Time, space, and clarity
  • B. Spontaneity, autonomy, and ambiguity
  • C. Competition, clear targets, and data
  • D. Social interaction, consensus, and teamwork
Question 5 of 10
How does the book suggest Guardians should handle unavoidable spontaneous meetings and shifting expectations?
  • A. Refuse to attend meetings without a 24-hour advance agenda.
  • B. Delegate ambiguous tasks to a Pioneer or Driver.
  • C. Relabel their physical sensations of stress as excitement.
  • D. Demand that their boss provide a highly structured project plan.
Question 6 of 10
Why might a Driver feel frustrated by a new reporting system that lacks key performance indicators (KPIs)?
  • A. They prefer systems that emphasize team consensus and harmony.
  • B. They thrive on clear goals and the ability to measure their performance against others.
  • C. They need extensive time and space to process new information before adopting it.
  • D. They dislike data analysis and prefer to rely on intuition and creativity.
Question 7 of 10
What piece of advice is given to Drivers to help them achieve their goals more easily?
  • A. Focus exclusively on the data and ignore office politics.
  • B. Break their tasks into smaller chunks to maintain their energy levels.
  • C. Soften their blunt communication style and make an effort to be kind.
  • D. Build a diverse team to handle the social aspects of their projects.
Question 8 of 10
What is a potential downside of having an Integrator in a leadership position?
  • A. They may alienate their team with cold, blunt communication.
  • B. They might opt for watered-down solutions to avoid conflict and please everyone.
  • C. They tend to jump from one spontaneous idea to the next, causing exhaustion.
  • D. They are overly rigid and refuse to deviate from the status quo.
Question 9 of 10
What challenge do Integrators often face during annual performance reviews?
  • A. They struggle to accept constructive criticism from their superiors.
  • B. They have difficulty articulating the value of their behind-the-scenes mentoring and teamwork.
  • C. They lack the concrete data needed to prove they hit their competitive targets.
  • D. They are often penalized for taking too many risks and ignoring standard procedures.
Question 10 of 10
When putting together a team for an upcoming project, what does the book recommend regarding working styles?
  • A. Flood the team with Integrators if the project involves office politics.
  • B. Select only the personality type that best matches the specific nature of the job.
  • C. Mix different working styles because diverse teams make better decisions.
  • D. Avoid pairing Drivers and Pioneers together as their styles clash too severely.

Business Chemistry — Full Chapter Overview

Business Chemistry Summary & Overview

Business Chemistry (2018) examines the tensions and pitfalls involved in our working relationships. Packed with tips and tricks for clicking with even the most challenging coworkers, these blinks are your essential guide to making meaningful workplace connections. 

Who Should Listen to Business Chemistry?

  • Stressed-out workers struggling with their boss
  • Team leaders seeking fresh insights
  • Psychology buffs looking for a new perspective

About the Author: Kim Christfort and Suzanne Vickberg

Kim Christfort holds an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business and has over eighteen years of management consulting experience. She currently leads the Deloitte Greenhouse team, a group that specializes in enhancing teams and accelerating progress. 

Suzanne Vickberg is a psychologist and researcher who holds both a PhD in social-personality psychology and an MBA from the Stern School of Business at NYU.

 

© Kim Christfort & Suzanne Vickberg: Business Chemistry copyright 2018, John Wiley & Sons Inc. Used by permission of John Wiley & Sons Inc. and shall not be made available to any unauthorized third parties.

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