If we had to pick one word to represent what the Guardian values, it would be STABILITY. A Guardian knows it's essential to forge a solid foundation before building anything skyward. And when it comes to how the Guardian does things, many aspects of their working style serve to establish and maintain such stability. They're methodical, careful, disciplined, meticulous, and exacting. (How else to ensure a foundation is sound?) Guardians believe it's important to follow a structured process when completing a task, and they like a bit of structure in their work environments and meetings too.

Spontaneity? New environments? Ambiguity? A Guardian will likely say no thanks, because spontaneity, newness, and ambiguity all threaten stability.

When they simply must embark on something new, Guardians seek to first understand as much as possible. They don't jump in feet first, but conduct their due diligence and hatch a plan for moving forward. In fact, they say they actually enjoy planning. Guardians like to get cozy with the details, digging in to see what's what. And they're not going to trust anyone else to worry about those details for them—they'll do the worrying themselves, thank you very much.

Planning a big brainstorming session? That's not really the Guardian's thing. In their opinion, learning from past approaches is better than trying something new. Why not take advantage of all that we already know and use tactics that have worked in the past? And don't expect a Guardian to give you points for being original or imaginative while you brainstorm. They're an unapologetically practical type. If it ain't broke, why brainstorm creative ways to fix it? Guardians also tend to see things as absolutes—more black and white than gray. Sometimes that black and white approach means they get frustrated when others don't do things the right way. And to a Guardian, right is synonymous with the way things have always been done.

Guardians are most comfortable when the waters are calm and no big waves are rocking their boat. And they themselves often serve as anchors. Depending on who you ask, they're anchors that thwart progress, or anchors that prevent aimless drifting or even being lost at sea. Guardians don't always see a big risk as the path to great things, but they also don't reject risk entirely. They only want to thoroughly consider the possible implications before taking a risk. Likewise, they take their time when making decisions and they're not sorry about it. To a Guardian, their decision-making pace is just right to ensure that they come to the correct decision. On occasions when they take a risk that doesn't pay off or make a decision that backfires, they tend to beat themselves up about it. A Guardian will turn a mistake over and over in their mind to try and figure out what they missed or should have done differently; all the better to avoid making a similar mistake next time.

Guardians tend to be introverted and reserved, both socially and emotionally. You won't usually find a Guardian at the center of a large group of colleagues and they don't need to be in charge. Instead, they often contribute in other, less out-front and obvious ways. Of course they work on teams—who doesn't these days?—but they're also quite comfortable working alone. And Guardians tend to be particularly quiet around new people. (Who are those strangers?) In groups they may be uncomfortable expressing their emotions, or sometimes even their opinions. They're unlikely to fight for the floor and they generally prefer to avoid any kind of confrontation. If you want to know what a Guardian thinks, you'll often have to inquire.

When asked which type they'd least want to be, people tend to say Guardian. While this doesn't seem like a great compliment, the same people characterize Guardians as the most underappreciated type. And they further suggest that this lack of appreciation is because the Guardian's work, while critical, is often conducted behind the scenes. So it makes a lot of sense that people might not wish to be Guardians—who wants to be underappreciated? But people also grumble about some specific characteristics of their Guardian colleagues.

Which brings us to…

The Gifts of Guardians

Given all those complaints, why on earth would anyone want to work with a Guardian? Because, of course, Guardians have a lot of value to offer, even if it's not always appreciated in the moment. In fact, they're indispensable.

Walk the Talk

When people do express their appreciation, they report that they value the Guardian's commitment to follow-through. They know they can count on a Guardian to do what they say they're going to do and to be accountable. People describe Guardians as dependable, responsible, persistent, and loyal. Guardians value loyalty because knowing who they can trust provides the predictability they crave. And they pay back loyalty by being loyal in return, so you know you can count on a Guardian (as long as they know they can count on you).

Better Safe Than Sorry

People also appreciate Guardians for keeping them out of trouble. Because they're less likely to embrace risk, Guardians will often insist that proper due diligence be conducted when other types might skip it. Likewise, Guardians make decisions deliberately, considering various options, thinking through details, and identifying potential consequences. It's as if Guardians spend more time than others engaging in System 2 thinking—the deliberate kind of conscious thinking we use when we analyze something.¹ Since many errors are due to snap judgments we make when using System 1, or more automatic thinking, it can be helpful to have someone around who spends a bit more time in System 2.

Eagle Eyes

There's also something to be said for the Guardian's organizational skills and their attention to detail. And seriously, someone has to be paying attention to these things! Guardians have a way of spotting subtle inconsistencies, imagining potential implications, conceptualizing how a process could unfold, and understanding how and why little things matter. Sometimes people say they're thankful for these strengths because Guardians do the work that others can't or don't want to do. If you're not a methodical person but you need quality control, where will you look for help? Probably to a Guardian. If you have little patience for thinking through the details and possible implications of a plan, where would you go? Again, to a Guardian.

A Dose of Reality

Let's say you're really good at coming up with outlandish ideas—no one is more creative than you! But if your success depends on making those ideas a reality, a Guardian can help. Guardians are known for their realism and practicality, which can be a great balance for creativity. They're terrific at envisioning just what it would take to implement an idea, and then putting in place the structure and plan to make it happen. To harness the power of this Guardian strength, ask, “How can we make this happen?” instead of framing your question around whether an idea is good or realistic. (Chances are, a Guardian will point to a few reasons why it's not.)

Guardians are…

• Practical, reserved, and loyal
• Detail - and process-oriented thinkers who focus on the how
• Deliberate decision-makers apt to stick with the status quo

© 2018. Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited

“Great events make me quiet and calm; it is only trifles that irritate my nerves.”

Queen Victoria

British Monarch

In 1851, Queen Victoria's foreign secretary, Lord Palmerston, sent a telegram to Napoleon III. Lord Palmerston had the approval of England's prime minister, so he saw no reason to clear the telegram with the Queen before sending it. She signed the thousands of dispatches that went out in her name every year, but he couldn't imagine she read all of them. But that is exactly what she did. Queen Victoria read everything. And she didn't appreciate someone skirting her authority. Soon enough, Lord Palmerston was sacked.

Having taken the throne at only 18 years of age, this young queen set out to do her job right, to understand her obligations, and to fulfill every detail of them meticulously and dutifully, to a T.

This approach is characteristic of the GUARDIAN.

It was important to Queen Victoria that she know every detail of what was going on in her empire. She cared about order, tradition, and getting each particular just right. She also had the patience and fortitude to make that happen. She paid close attention, deliberately assessing each issue and weighing in when she deemed her royal opinion to be warranted. The issue might be big or small—whether to send forces into war, or whether sailors should be permitted to grow beards—but she kept a pulse on everything, and often expressed a strong and well-reasoned opinion.

Queen Victoria's remarkable diligence could be seen across all aspects of her life. When she was 13, her mother gave her a journal, and from that day on, she wrote a diary entry almost every day until a week before her death at age 81. As a meticulous planner, she left no detail up to chance, even when it came to her death. In her will, she outlined every aspect of her funeral, from the steps in the procession to the color of the casket.

She was calm, controlled, and dignified; she didn't need to be flamboyant or charismatic to demand complete respect from those around her. And as it turned out, Queen Victoria was no firebrand. She would never be the one to launch the ship of state on a reckless adventure. But, despite her calm demeanor, anyone who expected her to be a wallflower was in for a surprise.

She was the most powerful person in any room she walked into. At a time when women the world over could not vote, Queen Victoria was the ruler of the world's greatest empire. And for six decades she maintained firm and principled oversight, successfully shepherding her nation through a time of previously unparalled social and technological change, as well as global and economic expansion.

Queen Victoria was one of the longest-reigning British monarchs in history, and the second longest-reigning female monarch anywhere. Talk about tried and true–there was an entire era named after her! With her steady, disciplined, and meticulous style, the Grandmother of Europe is a great example of a Guardian.