What does the Influence Style Test measure?

Everyone influences other people every day: convincing a friend to try a new place, steering a family decision, winning support for an idea at work. But people do it in very different ways. This test does not give you a score for how ‘strong’ your personality is. Instead, it describes your influence style across three dimensions, and every style can be powerful in the right situation.

The three dimensions

Persuasion – Reason (R) or Emotion (E): do you win people over mainly with facts, evidence and structure, or with stories, feelings and connection? This echoes the classic modes of persuasion described by Aristotle: logos (logic), pathos (emotion) and ethos (the credibility of the speaker).
Presence – Bold (B) or Quiet (Q): does your influence show in energy, confidence and speaking to a room, or in calm, careful listening and one-to-one conversations?
Leadership – Directing (D) or Coaching (C): do you set the direction, decide and give clear instructions, or do you ask questions and let others own the decision? This contrast appears in well-known leadership models such as Daniel Goleman's leadership styles and Hersey and Blanchard's situational leadership, both of which suggest that effective leaders move between telling and empowering depending on the situation.

How it works

The test has 24 statements about everyday situations such as meetings, family decisions and group projects, and takes about 7 minutes. Rate how much you agree with each one, answering as you usually behave rather than as you think you should.

What you get

You receive one of eight influence profiles, with your strengths, likely blind spots, how others experience you at work and at home, and practical tips to widen your range. The results also draw on familiar ideas such as Robert Cialdini's principles of influence, including reciprocity and social proof.

An honest note: this is a tool for self-reflection, not a psychological diagnosis. Everyone uses all of these styles to some degree, and your style can shift with the situation.