Helix™ names reflect an individual’s inherent work preference.

Fixers make up a little less than a quarter of the population at 22 percent. They are driven by team and chaos.

As their name suggests, Fixers tend to fix things; to take care of problems. Fixers are de facto problem solvers. They interpret roadblocks and curveballs as opportunities to brainstorm a solution. That isn’t to say that other Helix Culture Types™ can’t solve problems, but Fixers innately and automatically begin solving issues before they even arise. They are masters of “what-ifs” and contingency plans.

Fixers are interested in people—who they are, what their story is, and how they are impacted by change. We don’t mean to suggest that all Fixers are bleeding hearts and caregivers—what we mean is that Fixers are aware of how their actions and the actions of others impact each other and the work. Often, but not always, this awareness manifests in a desire to focus on a common good, to help others, and to offer support. Fixers are generally quick to lend a helping hand—they hate to be seen as lazy or ineffectual. A Fixer rarely stands on the sideline.

Independents orient toward chaos and self, and account for 18 percent of the population. Like Fixers, they prefer a chaotic environment, and like Organizers, they aren’t particularly concerned with teams and tend to work best alone.

From the view of order-tolerant Types, Independents are always going against the grain, causing problems, and undermining authority. They can appear unreliable and irresponsible. Actually, Independents just like to ask questions that challenge ideas, systems, and people. Independents live for disruption. They make upending tradition and routine a hobby. If they appear fickle, it’s because they struggle in what they might describe as the confines of rigid (what order-tolerant Types might call traditional) structures.

When an Independent starts a company, they probably won’t stick around to oversee the actual implementation—that is someone else’s specialty. Independent entrepreneurs are often called “serial entrepreneurs” for that very reason. They love the phase that includes big ideas and the opportunity to create something from nothing. Instead of ushering that organization to a multi-year success, they tend to hand it off to a CEO and are off and running with the next big idea.

By “Organizer,” we don’t necessarily mean “organized,” in that they always have an organized desk (although they often do) or a tidy house (although that is often the case). Instead, we mean to say that Organizers tend to categorize, assign, and classify information.

These individuals hold logic and reason above all else. It is their weapon against a chaotic world. They use data, trends, graphs, figures, and numbers to create meaning. Organizers want to understand the role or significance of each component in a system. How does it function? How does it relate to the whole? What are the mechanics behind it?

Organizers are our rarest Helix Culture Type™, comprising 17 percent of the population. They are order-tolerant and self-driven. When we refer to self-driven Types, we do not mean to imply they are selfish. Nor do we intend to suggest that they are narcissists, introverts, or anti-social weirdos (although if you self-identify as such, we support you!). Instead, we mean that they aren’t very concerned with team dynamics (unless they are studying them!), and do not mind operating outside of a social structure to some degree.

Stabilizers are driven by team and order.

They are deeply interested in others and prefer structure in their environment. They make up about 43 percent of the population, making them by far the most common Helix Culture Type™. Stabilizers are the foundation of an organization, not only because they are the majority, but because they act as an anchor. Stabilizers are solid—unwavering, steady, reliable. If put in the right position, they will show up every single day, on time, and do an incredible job within their realm of expertise. Stabilizers both seek and create security and certainty.