BALANCE_FEBRUARY_2020 - 9

Q
2. You promise to
keep a secret. You...
A) Take it to your

grave
B) Tell your therapist
C) Might tell your
closest friend or
partner
D) Tell a couple
of people
E) Blab, immediately

4. When you meet
a new person you...
A) Are guarded
B) Ask lots of

questions
C) Chat freely and
share a bit about
yourself
D) Talk mainly about
your current situation
E) Tell them your
life story
6. How often do you
post on social media?
A) Once a month,

if that
B) Once a week
C) Every couple
of days
D) Every day
E) Every couple
of hours

8. How often do you
complain?
A) Not at all
B) Hardly ever
C) Every now

and again
D) Quite often
E) All the time!

1. What's your role
in a group?
A) The quiet one
B) The curious/

analytical one
C) The wise one
D) The loud one
E) The gossip

3. Do you always give
your opinion?
A) Never
B) Sometimes
C) Only when asked
D) Most of the time
E) Of course!

5. How often do you
put your foot in it?
A) Never
B) Very rarely
C) Every now

and again

D) Too often
E) At every

opportunity

7. Your colleagues
think you're...
A) Closed off

and quiet
B) Private but friendly
C) Sociable and
approachable
D) Talkative and open
E) Loud and disruptive

9. Do you worry
about how much
you've shared?
A) Never
B) Only occasionally
C) Sometimes
D) Yes, quite a bit
E) Every day

MANUAL
THE QUIZ

THE
R E S U LT S

ROBERT REES
As a psychotherapist and executive coach, Robert is also a co-founder and
director of The Grove Practice At Work in London. tgpatwork.com

Mostly As: Mostly Bs: Mostly Cs:
Enigma
Quizzer
Happy
chatter
You prefer to observe
rather than participate.
Even when asked, you
are reluctant to share
information about yourself.
There's nothing wrong with
being private; however, it
can make others feel
untrusted, when the reality
is probably that you don't
fully trust yourself.
Robert Rees says: "You
probably say something
important when you do
come round to sharing;
sometimes less is more.
However, you might like
to keep a check on how
you stay as silent as you
do and review it - ensure
it's really serving you in life.
If you're open to it, try
sharing with someone
you trust deeply."

You're inquisitive and
generous in your
conversations and always
ask questions. This is no
bad thing, but offering up
some information about
yourself will help you
build trust and makes for
stronger relationships, both
professional and personal.
Robert says: "You will
probably find sharing your
feelings with others helps
you to feel connected and
supported by those you
care about. Your curiosity
is to be commended, but
be aware if your questions
to new people are serving
as something to hide
behind. Sometimes words
are a great way of
protecting ourselves and
putting walls up."

You've got a good grasp
of what you're comfortable
with sharing and what you'd
rather leave private. Make
sure that you continue to
keep this balance, with an
eye on how authentic you're
truly being. Try not to curate
your conversations, let them
flow naturally.
Robert says: "Your openness
and balanced approach to
sharing will be appreciated
by friends and relatives. Be
sure to keep an eye on what
relationships are mutually
rewarding. Your level-headed
approach and wisdom can
elevate your status with
peers and can be an open
door to others to recruit you
for their own purposes."

Mostly Ds: Open book

Socially, you bounce from 'calm and controlled' to 'spilling your guts to people you've just
met'. It can be hard to know what to share, and with whom. So instead ask yourself how
long you've known the person, if you trust them and if they're also being open with you.
Robert says: "You might want to take a look at how you are in relationships, specifically
your tendency to offer your opinions freely. Be gentle with yourself and take stock of
your approach to sharing. See if you might like to try holding on to your opinions more
often and pose a question instead."

Mostly Es: Epic oversharer

It's positive that you're open and confident in speaking to others. However, you often
overshare. Try setting some boundaries for yourself. Ask yourself what level of sharing is
appropriate in different situations. At work? Rein it in a little. With close friends? Go for it.
Robert says: "Showing this level of vulnerability takes courage but often what you're looking
for isn't reciprocated. Sometimes when we repeat patterns of oversharing we struggle to
make sense of the emotional temperature of others. If this is something you struggle with,
try asking for genuine feedback from those you trust who have your best interests at heart."

BALANCE_FEBRUARY_2020

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