By Punit Renjen

I spend much of my time on the road, meeting and working with business leaders from around the world. The insights I gain—about the world, about people, even about myself— are a constant source of learning and inspiration.

Probably the most valuable insight for me thus far concerns what it takes to effectively connect with other people. And it is not what you might think.

While my experience has shown me that, as human beings, we are more alike than we are different, it has also helped me to see that similarities are not the only basis for connection. It is when we understand and effectively navigate our differences that some of the most meaningful connections are made. That is what makes Business Chemistry such an effective tool.

Consider all of the different types of people you encounter in the course of your day-to-day interactions. People who prioritize diplomacy, and others who prefer candor; people who focus on the big picture, and others who live in the details; people who like the slow play, and others who want to cut to the chase. Business Chemistry provides a framework for identifying these different types of people so that you know quickly what approach to take and when. Have you ever tried to walk through a detailed slide deck with a big-ideas person? Not fun. And more importantly, not effective.

By helping to identify people's working styles, Business Chemistry produces the kind of seamless collaboration that normally takes years of working together to develop. And it does so not by forcing us to find common ground, but by drawing on the strength of our diversity as a global business community. Proof positive that people can think differently and still come together.

I know what Business Chemistry has done for my team, a robust mix of all four identified types: Pioneers, Integrators, Guardians, and Drivers (my category, which is probably not a surprise to those who know me). I would encourage everyone to add it to their bag of tricks for building highly effective relationships—both within and outside of their organizations.

It has been said that it takes all types to make the world go round. I believe that to be true, particularly when it comes to business. We need the doers and the dreamers, the hard drivers and the relationship builders, the extroverts and the introverts. Each has a role to play, but it's not enough for them to have a seat at the table. It's their ability to work together that completes the picture.

Punit Renjen is the chief executive officer of Deloitte Global.

Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a UK private company limited by guarantee (“DTTL”), its network of member firms, and their related entities. DTTL and each of its member firms are legally separate and independent entities. DTTL (also referred to as “Deloitte Global”) does not provide services to clients. Please see www.deloitte.com/about to learn more about our global network of member firms.