The strapline “Discover Your Unique Imprint for Work that Makes You Come Alive” covers what the aim of the book. Does it manage it’s goal? But first a quiz.

This cropped up on a podcast and sounded interesting. The first step is an online multiple choice type quiz with the goal of identifying your so called sparketype. Now I’ve done a few of these personality type tests in some form another. They generally offer some thoughtful points but often it’s a case of ‘sort-of’ describing, but with many parts not matching me at all.

I don’t know if it’s because the sparketype idea is trying to tightly focus on work or not but this did seem to capture me quite accurately. Apparently I’m a Maven/Scientist meaning I tend to thrive on understanding and knowing simply for it’s own sake. These wellness industry things do like to attach flowery titles. They also need to sell you things so while the test is free, the details are from buying a book.

Having identified your sparketype there is some consideration given as to how that might express itself and prove a source of friction in workplaces and within yourself. If your work doesn’t scratch your basic motivations then it’s going to feel frustrating. Recognising sparketypes in your self and career seeks to give a framework for processing and improving your circumstances.

At least that’s the idea. I’m not too sure in practice, I guess you have to get the consultants in. My thought is that applying these sparketypes requires a certain amount of having done things, of self awareness and reflection - but this all seems of most value in setting direction in a career ie often before such things. Perhaps it’s more of a mid-career tool when you’ve spent 15 years spinning your wheels. I’d also suggest people are less fixed and probably contain elements from other parts of the sparketype spectrum.

This isn’t to suggest I’m negative to the sparketype concept nor damming with faint praise. It’s definitely one of the better frameworks for understanding your relationship with work and the thoughts and ideas it gets going are very worthwhile. It managed to describe me in a nutshell and thus in turn explain why I can see some repeating patterns in life - namely how I enjoy the discovery and preparation phase, but need to dig in to get projects done.

It would make for an excellent team retreat exercise for early/mid career which is where I guess it and the consultants would happily fit.