Saboteur Quiz

Which Saboteur Is Driving Your Burnout Bus?

The Quiz: 10 Questions. Choose one response per question that feels most like how you typically operate.

1. When I face conflict at work, I tend to:

• Delay addressing it to avoid discomfort. [Avoider]

• Try to solve it quickly and perfectly to show competence. [Hyper-Achiever]

• Soften my stance to keep others happy, even if I disagree. [Pleaser]

• Take control to resolve it my way and keep things on track. [Controller]

• Focus on the facts and logic to keep emotions out of it. [Hyper-Rational]

• Worry about saying or doing the wrong thing. [Stickler]

• I try to pause, listen, and respond thoughtfully without rushing to a side. [Neutral]

2. When my clinic is understaffed or behind:

• I hesitate to ask for help or speak up. [Avoider]

• I jump in and over-function to prove I can handle it. [Hyper-Achiever]

• I take on extra tasks so others won’t feel stressed. [Pleaser]

• I micromanage or push people harder. [Controller]

• I analyze all the systems that failed. [Hyper-Rational]

• I feel anxious that standards will slip. [Stickler]

• I do what I reasonably can, while encouraging teamwork to get through it. [Neutral]

3. When I receive praise:

• I downplay it or feel uncomfortable. [Avoider]

• I feel briefly satisfied, then push for the next goal. [Hyper-Achiever]

• I hope the praise means people are happy with me. [Pleaser]

• I wonder if they really understand how I got it done. [Controller]

• I appreciate it but feel it was just logic and effort. [Hyper-Rational]

• I immediately think about what I could have done better. [Stickler]

• I appreciate it and allow myself to take it in without overthinking. [Neutral]

4. In my personal relationships:

• I tend to avoid confrontation or difficult feelings. [Avoider]

• I keep busy achieving instead of being emotionally vulnerable. [Hyper-Achiever]

• I prioritize others’ needs over my own. [Pleaser]

• I get frustrated when people don’t do things the right way. [Controller]

• I enjoy intellectual conversations more than emotional ones. [Hyper-Rational]

• I feel people don't live up to basic expectations. [Stickler]

• I aim to balance honesty, care, and mutual respect, even if it’s not perfect. [Neutral]

5. When I make a mistake:

• I try to move on quickly and not dwell on it. [Avoider]

• I judge myself and try to work harder to compensate. [Hyper-Achiever]

• I worry that I let others down. [Pleaser]

• I get angry that it happened and want to take charge. [Controller]

• I focus on breaking it down logically. [Hyper-Rational]

• I obsess over how I could have done it perfectly. [Stickler]

• I acknowledge it, learn from it, and move forward without beating myself up. [Neutral]

6. I feel valuable when:

• I keep things peaceful. [Avoider]

• I achieve more than others. [Hyper-Achiever]

• I make people feel cared for. [Pleaser]

• I get things done my way. [Controller]

• I solve complex problems. [Hyper-Rational]

• I do things correctly and ethically. [Stickler]

• I contribute meaningfully and feel aligned with my values. [Neutral]

7. When others are emotional around me:

• I feel uncomfortable and want to change the subject. [Avoider]

• I listen briefly, but redirect to solving the issue. [Hyper-Achiever]

• I empathize and try to soothe them. [Pleaser]

• I wish they would be more in control of themselves. [Controller]

• I detach and try to understand what’s really going on. [Hyper-Rational]

• I want them to express themselves more calmly and logically. [Stickler]

• I try to be present, listen, and support them without taking it on as mine. [Neutral]

8. I struggle most when:

• There’s interpersonal tension. [Avoider]

• I feel like I'm not succeeding. [Hyper-Achiever]

• I sense someone is disappointed in me. [Pleaser]

• I lose control over outcomes. [Controller]

• People act irrationally. [Hyper-Rational]

• Others are careless or sloppy. [Stickler]

• I’m out of balance or stretched too thin, regardless of the situation. [Neutral]

9. My coworkers would say I am:

• Calm and conflict-averse. [Avoider]

• Driven and always productive. [Hyper-Achiever]

• Supportive and generous. [Pleaser]

• Intense and decisive. [Controller]

• Smart and analytical. [Hyper-Rational]

• Meticulous and principled. [Stickler]

• Reliable and steady in most situations. [Neutral]

10. My default way to manage stress is:

• Distract myself or wait for it to pass. [Avoider]

• Double down and push through. [Hyper-Achiever]

• Try to help others feel better first. [Pleaser]

• Take control and fix what I can. [Controller]

• Think my way through it. [Hyper-Rational]

• Create order and structure. [Stickler]

• I try to step back, breathe, and find a balanced approach. [Neutral]

📊 SCORING

1. Count how many times you selected each Saboteur (or Neutral).

2. The one you selected most often is likely your dominant pattern.

3. If you have a tie, both may be active.

4. Don’t fear! – we all have Saboteurs (and some Neutral ones too)

   RESULT INTERPRETATION: YOUR SABOTEUR PROFILE

Your Saboteur inner voice has helped you cope and perform under pressure—but now it's often fueling stress, reactivity, and burnout. Once you name it, you can tame it.

• Avoider – “The Conflict Dodger”

  Keeps the peace at all costs but often at the expense of growth or tough conversations.

• Hyper-Achiever – “The Goal Chaser”

  Thrives on success and validation but struggles to feel satisfied for long.

• Pleaser – “The Caretaker”

  Always putting others first, sometimes forgetting their own needs in the process.

• Controller – “The Driver”

  Needs to steer the ship, which gets things done—but can also strain relationships.

• Hyper-Rational – “The Analyzer”

  Values logic and reason above all, but risks missing the emotional heartbeat of a team.

• Stickler – “The Perfectionist”

  Holds high standards and ethics, but often feels stressed when things aren’t flawless.

• Neutral = “The Centered Vet”

  Brings steadiness, perspective, and mental fitness skills that buffer against stress. Not Saboteur-free (nobody is!), but less reactive and more Sage-driven.

CALL TO ACTION

Want help understanding your results? Email me at bill@drwilliamhanson.com  I will send you more information on your top Saboteurs.

Ready to talk about how this shows up in your leadership or well-being and want to dig deeper? Book a free 30-minute session here: https://calendly.com/billhanson/dr-bill-complimentary-session