Tuesday, January 20, 2026
Welcome to our five-part series, Shapes at Work. In this series, we will focus on each of the five Shapes that may represent you or one of your co-workers.
Here’s what you need to know about the Rectangle Co-Worker:
The #1 thing that motivates the Rectangle is when you take time to listen for understanding, before you try to get them to understand you, how you feel, think, or what you want to communicate.
How do you spot a Rectangle?
The Rectangle at work could be someone with years of job experience, but still a new employee at your company during the onboarding process. It could be a new team member, at any age, who has just moved to your city, state, or country. Experiencing a Rectangle phase in your life doesn’t mean you are new at everything, it just means you are at a new or different turning point in your life. The Rectangle could also be a recently promoted boss, co-worker, or direct report, or a co-worker who just got married, had a baby, got divorced, became an empty nester, is caring for an aging parent, or has experienced a personal injury that has caused a change in their routine, or grieving the loss of a loved one. The Rectangle can be any of these people, including you, when experiencing change.
When it's You:
Being in Rectangle mode will impact your natural communication style, and it’s best to be aware. You may not yet be able to make sense of the changes you are experiencing or fully understand how it is impacting you, but at least you know why you are feeling a little “weird.”
When it's Them:
When your team, boss, vendor, client, or someone else related to your work, is acting a little differently, you may want to consider the fact that they may be going through a Rectangle change. No one wakes up hoping to confuse the people they work with, but it happens, especially when the Rectangle isn’t even yet aware that they have shifted to the Rectangle Shape (albeit temporarily).
Moving forward, be aware of changes in your traits, behaviors, or interactions with others, AND Rectangular changes in others. This awareness will hopefully cause you to pause, consider, and recognize the possibility that you, or someone else, is experiencing change which can impact communication effectiveness. A little understanding and "grace" can go a long way in communicating effectively, especially when people are in the midst of Rectangular change.
If you want to learn more about other PsychoGeometrics resources, including our online DIY modules, upcoming certification online classes, or how we can customize a team-building workshop for your group, feel free to reach out to me directly. Our team truly loves helping people leverage their Shapes for effective and influential communication!
Susan Hite, CEO, PsychoGeometrics, The Science of Behavior - The Art of Communication