Figure out who I am: Why you feel misunderstood at work

Most of us spend our twenties and thirties trying to ‘fix’ the parts of ourselves that others find inconvenient. We try to organise our chaotic creativity or soften our logical edges. But the truth is, you aren’t broken. You don’t need a transformation or a ‘new you’ for 2026. You need to understand the mechanics of your own personality so you can stop apologising for it.

When you start to figure out who I am, you realise that the traits people criticised are actually your greatest assets when used correctly. At Hey Compono, we believe that self-awareness isn’t about changing who you are; it’s about learning how to manage your light so it shines where it matters most.

The struggle of feeling like a round peg in a square hole

The feeling of being misunderstood usually starts with feedback. It sounds like: ‘Can you just focus on one thing?’ or ‘Why do you have to question everything?’ Over time, these comments settle in your mind. You start to believe that your natural way of thinking is a flaw you need to overcome. You look at colleagues who seem to navigate the office with ease and wonder what they know that you don’t.

This internal conflict leads to burnout faster than any workload ever could. When you are constantly monitoring your behaviour, trying to suppress your natural instincts, you lose access to your intuition. You become hesitant. You stop contributing the very things that make you valuable because you’re afraid they’ll be labelled as ‘too much’ again. To truly figure out who I am, you have to look back at that feedback and see it for what it really is: a description of your high-intensity traits.

If you’ve been told you’re ‘too forceful,’ you might actually be an Evaluator who prioritises logic and results above all else. If you’re told you’re ‘distracted,’ you might be a Pioneer whose brain is wired to find the next big innovation. Recognising these patterns is the first step toward self-mastery.

Why your ‘flaws’ are actually your superpowers

The parts of your personality that feel like obstacles are usually just strengths that haven’t been calibrated yet. Think of it like a high-powered torch. If you shine it directly in someone’s eyes, it’s blinding and annoying. But if you use it to light a dark path, it’s essential. To figure out who I am is to understand how to aim that torch.

Take the Auditor personality type. In a fast-paced team, an Auditor might be criticised for being ‘too slow’ or ‘bogged down in details.’ But without that attention to detail, the team would make expensive mistakes. The Auditor isn’t slow; they are thorough. Their ‘flaw’ is actually the safety net that catches everyone else’s oversights. Once you stop trying to be fast and start being intentionally thorough, your confidence shifts.

Hey Compono uses decades of organisational psychology research from Compono to help you identify which of the eight work personalities you align with. Instead of generic advice, Hey Compono provides coaching that adapts to your specific personality, helping you navigate these natural tendencies without feeling like you have to extinguish them.

Stop fixing yourself and start understanding your wiring

The self-improvement industry is worth billions because it tells you that you’re a project that needs finishing. It promises that if you just follow this ten-step plan, you’ll finally be ‘optimised.’ This is a lie. You are not a piece of software that needs an update. You are a biological system with a specific set of preferences and behaviours.

When you try to ‘fix’ your personality, you’re essentially trying to change your height or your eye colour. You might be able to hide it for a while, but it’s not sustainable. True growth comes from understanding the ‘why’ behind your actions. Why do you avoid conflict? Why do you feel the need to take charge in every meeting? Why does a messy desk make you feel anxious?

When you understand your wiring, you can create environments where you thrive. A Helper who understands they value harmony will stop feeling ‘weak’ for caring about team morale and start seeing themselves as the glue that holds the department together. They learn to set boundaries because they know their empathy is a limited resource that needs protecting.

The eight ways we show up at work

At Compono, research has identified eight distinct work personalities. Each has a unique set of contributions and a specific way they experience stress. As you try to figure out who I am, see if any of these resonate with the labels you’ve been given in the past:

• The Pioneer: Often told they are ‘unfocused,’ but they are the ones who find creative, out-of-the-box solutions.
• The Coordinator: Often labelled ‘controlling,’ but they are the masters of structure and efficient workflows.
• The Evaluator: Criticised for being ‘too blunt,’ but they provide the clear, logical analysis needed for tough decisions.
• The Helper: Told they are ‘too soft,’ but they understand the emotional dynamics that make or break a team.
• The Doer: Labelled as ‘rushed,’ but they are the reliable engine that hits every deadline with precision.
• The Auditor: Called ‘too slow,’ but they ensure accuracy and completeness in everything they touch.
• The Advisor: Told they ‘overthink,’ but they investigate problems deeply to ensure everyone is heard.
• The Campaigner: Criticised for being ‘all talk,’ but they motivate and persuade with unmatched energy.

Recognising yourself in these descriptions is a revelation. It moves the conversation from ‘What is wrong with me?’ to ‘How does this type of person best contribute?’ This shift is at the heart of the Hey Compono experience. The AI coach doesn’t give you a generic script; it talks to you based on your specific personality-adaptive profile.

How to master your natural behaviour in 2026

Once you have a baseline of self-awareness, the work of mastery begins. Mastery is the ability to choose your response rather than reacting on autopilot. If you know that under stress you tend to become rigid (like a Coordinator might), you can catch yourself in the moment. You can say, ‘I’m feeling the urge to micromanage right now because I’m stressed about the deadline. I’m going to take a breath and trust the process instead.’

This isn’t about changing your personality; it’s about managing it. It’s about knowing when to dial up your natural enthusiasm and when to dial it down to let someone else speak. It’s about knowing that your need for data is a strength, but in a crisis, you might need to make a decision with only 70% of the information.

Hey Compono helps you with this daily calibration. By checking in with your AI coach, you can process the events of your day through the lens of your personality. It helps you see the patterns you might miss and gives you actionable steps to handle difficult conversations or high-pressure situations in a way that feels authentic to you.

Key Takeaways

• Stop trying to ‘fix’ your personality; it is your fundamental wiring, not a flaw.
• The feedback you’ve received about being ‘too much’ usually points toward your greatest natural strengths.
• Self-awareness is the foundation of confidence and career mastery.
• Understanding which of the 8 Work Personalities you are helps you communicate better with your team.
• Hey Compono provides personality-adaptive coaching to help you understand your ‘why’ and manage your behaviour without shame.

Ready to understand yourself better?

• Get started: Start with 10 minutes free – no credit card required
• See how it works: Learn about personality-adaptive coaching