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A quick way to get started on creating a character is to use People Styles at Work” by Robert Bolton and Dorothy Grover Bolton. The book was written to help people communicate with and relate better to others in the workplace, but it is a great shortcut for writers.

The Boltons have divided people into one of four categories based on the person’s responsiveness and assertiveness – Analytical, Amiable, Driver, Expressive.

People Styles Diagram

For writers, here is what you need to know:

Analytical

  • Personality – Focused on facts and data, systematic and well-organized , craves knowledge, punctual, conservative, would rather be safe than sorry, likes to be alone or with just a few people, perfectionist, set high standards, can be hard on themselves
  • Appearance – show little emotion (though they feel deeply), other people find Analyticals hard to read, body language is low-key, walk slowly, few hand gestures, little eye contact, dress conservatively
  • Speech – volume is low and pace is slow. Tend to talk less than other styles unless they’re speaking on a topic of interest and then they can go into great detail. Frequent hesitations when they speak because they are searching for precise words. Breaks conversation into points “(First…, second…”)

Amiable

  • Personality – Focused on people, team player, likes working/being with others, known for quiet friendliness, helpful, very sensitive to other people’s feelings, patient with people, well connected to the grapevine, withholds feelings of anger and critical judgments of others, can seem calm on the outside while a storm rages within
  • Appearance – body language is low key, gestures are subdued, clothing is appropriate and casual
  • Speech – voice is warm and volume is low, good with small talk, conversation is focused on people

Driver

  • Personality – Focused on achieving goals and getting results, get-it-done person, decisive and practical
  • Appearance – Body language suggests purposefulness, seems to lean into everything she does, walks and moves faster than other people, gestures can be very forceful, facial expression tends to be serious
  • Speech – very fast-paced, blunt about stating opinions or making requests, direct and to the point

Expressive

  • Personality – Focused on having fun, flamboyant, loves being the center of attention, high energy, prefers to be with people always, natural networker, bold and imaginative, impulsive, live on an emotional rollercoaster, playful and fun-loving
  • Appearance – Rarely stands or sits still, always moving feet or legs, uses flowing gestures that are big and forceful
  • Speech – Talks more than he listens, talks loudly and rapidly, tend to think out loud, natural storyteller with jokes and examples rather than facts, very open with his observations or criticisms

Keep in mind that there are degrees to each style. A Driver is not the same as every other Driver. While all Drivers are assertive, Driver Dave might be extremely assertive, while Driver Doug is less assertive. Driver Doug, however, is still more assertive than any Analytical.

There’s more to each of these styles than listed here, but for creating a character, selecting one of the People Styles is a good way to start.

Tomorrow, we’ll look at a second way to Pick a Personality for your character.

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