If humans were computers, our dominant traits would be the operating system that is embedded and hard-coded in our minds. These deeply ingrained behaviors run on autopilot, driving our every action without conscious thought. Like breathing or blinking, we can actively choose to control our actions with enough concentration. However, most of the time, our recurring behaviors seem to be driven by our subconscious, functioning effortlessly and instinctively.

Instinct is a marvelous thing. It can
neither be explained nor ignored.

Agatha Christie

Dominant traits are often mistaken as strengths in most other personality systems. But here in Personality Ninja, we hold a different view. To us, traits are just traits, shaped by the wiring of our cognitive functions. Whether a trait is good or bad largely depends on the way it is used. As such, these traits can either be the source of one's greatest strengths, or the cause of their biggest downfall.

Naturally, we will hone our dominant traits, refining them into our super strengths. However, if we are not careful, there is a chance that we may push our dominant traits into overdrive, manifesting them in very unhealthy ways. In the end, our dominant traits are our natural tendencies and nothing more. The key to harnessing them effectively lies in knowing when, where, and how to use them.

Pioneers have a remarkable ability to coordinate others to achieve great results. They are practical and versatile with their management style, allowing them to think on their feet and handle any problem with ease. As the situation changes, Pioneers are quick to adapt, adjusting their resources based on the situation at hand. Thus, work can always be done effectively, come what may.

However, the way Pioneers manage their team might come across as too demanding for some. Not everyone in the group shares the same drive to achieve bigger and better all the time. Hence, when Pioneers push too hard, they might not realize that they are pushing others away at the same time. Neglecting interpersonal relationships just for the sake of efficiency may cost Pioneers in the long run.

Taken to the extreme, Pioneers may even resort to belittling those who do not meet their expectations. Providing harsh criticism instead of encouragement, this behavior often causes others to burn out quickly. Soon, people close to them will begin to distance themselves, and Pioneers will find themselves increasingly isolated. In the end, what good is leading, when there is no one left to lead?

To others, success may be limited by their resources at hand, but to Pioneers, the only limitation is people’s resourcefulness. As adaptive thinkers, Pioneers can devise solutions based on the needs of the situation, never having to rely on pre-existing plans. They can easily turn the obstacles in front of them to their advantage. As such, Pioneers never falter in the face of sudden adversity, as they can always come up with effective solutions to overcome it.

Yet, some problems cannot and should not be solved so quickly. Fast and easy solutions turn into hasty and shallow ones when the problems get more complex. Just like that, the blessing of Pioneers becomes their curse. In those moments, their go-to methods are just not enough to get the job done. Worse yet, it might even create more problems.

At their worst, Pioneers can be a mess of contradictions. They give scores of reasons to substantiate their decisions, but have no regard for the consistency of their reasoning. When thoroughly scrutinized, their logic could be at risk of coming apart at the seams. This diminishes the quality of their thinking, and is not a good look for Pioneers who deal mainly in terms of reasons and logic.

Pioneers are driven by the desire to exceed boundaries, set new records, and beat the highest scores. This complements perfectly with their resourceful nature, as it helps them overcome any obstacle with ease. Not only do they thrive in the excitement of competition, but they will also set new heights for others to achieve. For this reason, Pioneers prefer working with people who are highly competitive too, pushing each other to achieve more.

Despite their determination, Pioneers risk measuring their self-worth against their achievements. That is a dangerous thing, because there will always be a higher mountain to conquer, causing them to never truly be fulfilled. They may even get so occupied with work that they neglect their family and friends. Often, Pioneers feel unproductive if they see no progress being made, or when nothing is solved.

However, success requires sacrifice, and Pioneers may sometimes forgo too much just to win. Results can matter so much that they are willing to abandon everything, even going as far as compromising their values. Pioneers who go to this extreme may turn a blind eye to unethical actions such as bribery or exploitation, potentially causing harm to both themselves and others.

When Pioneers are in the field, things are bound to be refreshing. Being highly driven and interactive, they rally up the people around them to accomplish great feats together. Their active engagement with others often creates energetic environments, ones which encourage their teams to accomplish more. Thus, one can always expect activities to be kicked up a notch when Pioneers are around.

But sometimes, Pioneers may get too enthusiastic and overlook certain precautions. As the stakes get higher, what started off as a daring challenge could take a turn for the worse. Pioneers might recklessly put the people around them in danger when they push everyone beyond certain limits. If Pioneers are not careful, their desire to climb higher may cause others to fall harder.

In truth, only a handful of people prefer to be in such a fast-paced environment, but Pioneers may not always accept that. Their strong desire for excitement may lead them to challenge others, even when it is unnecessary. This garners them a reputation of being intrusive instead. Pioneers who aren’t careful may end up obnoxious and annoying, causing trouble to everyone around them.

To wrap it up, dominant traits are neither our strengths nor are they our weaknesses. They are simply traits we tend to exhibit naturally in our daily lives without much realization.

The biggest reminder here is this: a trait is a trait. It is a unique characteristic of an archetype, each carrying its own pros and cons. With that understanding, let us now venture into the next set of traits that we do more consciously—our supportive traits.

Read next section →
Supportive Traits [Pioneer]