Human Design — How Can It Benefit Your Career?

“Human beings are works in progress that mistakenly think they’re finished”, says Dan Gilbert, a psychologist, Harvard professor and writer. This is exciting because it means there’s always something new to discover about ourselves. The fields of personal development, psychology and human behavior provide us with resources to navigate this process —of rediscovering ourselves in a more flexible and kind way.

There’s a new self-awareness tool that’s revolutionizing personal development,  the work paradigm, the concept of productivity and the notion of success. It’s called Human Design and it’s an instrument based on archetypes that helps you make better decisions. It functions as a guide to help you move forward in your best interest, according to your energy and the particularities of the archetype you belong to.

Types of Human Design and How to Find Yours

There are four types and one subtype in HD: generators —and manifesting generators, a subtype of the former—, manifestors, projectors and reflectors. Let’s take a look at the traits and characteristics of each one:

1. Generators: They represent 36% of the population. In the workplace, they’re characterized as builders and known as the “life force” of the four types that exist. Unlike others, generators don’t take the initiative, but need external stimuli to respond. To feel satisfied, they need connection, pleasure and enjoyment. Generators feel satisfied when they are acting coherently, from their nature, while frustration is the visible symptom that they aren’t acting from their integrity. They’re people who need to invest their energy in something that truly excites them and in activities that make them happy.

• • Manifesting Generators: This is a subtype of Generators and accounts for 34% of the population. What defines them the most is their inclination to try new and different things, and allow themselves to change. Their big challenge is to stop saying “yes” to what is a “no” for them. They’re also meant to share their process with the rest of the world and encourage others, through their example, to do the same.

2. Projectors: Representing 20% of the population, projectors are here to guide and bring new ways of relating to money, rest and productivity. They have a great ability to see the potential in others, making them excellent leaders. They help transform society, as long as they are aware of how they function, respect themselves and act from their self-knowledge. Unlike generators, they aren’t designed to constantly “do” and their energy levels fluctuate. They require ample rest, solitude and withdrawal. Unlike other types in Human Design, taking initiative or forcing situations that they desire creates resistance for projectors. That’s why, before guiding others, they need an external push or recognition to ensure they’re investing their energy in the right places.

3. Reflectors: This group is the minority, representing only 1% of the population. As their name suggests, they function as a mirror of society and show us everything we collectively need to work on and improve. One of the main traits of this type is that they can feel a lot of confusion because they feel like they function very differently from the rest of the population. Another characteristic of reflectors is that they have a chameleon-like personality and can adapt to a variety of environments, although not all are suitable for them. This is why one of the great lessons they have ahead of them is to be able to become very selective with the environments they surround themselves with, because they mimic them in such a way that, if they aren’t healthy, they absorb that energy.

4. Manifestors: They represent 8% of society. Unlike other types, such as projectors, they have come to initiate. They’re known for bringing new ideas and being the spark that paves the way for others. They’re the most independent archetype of the four in Human Design, and one of the traits that best defines them is that they need to do things their way: to create, decide and lead as it naturally arises and as they feel it, without being bothered, controlled or interrupted.