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June 26, 2023 1:07 PM

What is a neutral or benignly complimentary term for someone who thrives when they are working alone? I am trying to avoid terms that suggest ruggedness, avoidance, or group incompatibility such as lone wolf, cowboy, maverick or non-conforming. Individual contributor isn't specific enough since it could mean a team member, but HR-speak for such a person would be fine.
posted by michaelh to Human Relations (24 answers total)

Independent?
posted by cakelite at 1:07 PM on June 26, 2023

Do any of these fit the bill?

Independent. Self-directed. Self-motivated.
posted by DrGail at 1:09 PM on June 26, 2023

autonomous
posted by patricio at 1:10 PM on June 26, 2023

I'm assuming your headline was a subtle joke about working on your own. I thought "independent" but thought I'd poke around and see what else there was to see.

https://www.thesaurus.com/browse/independent has a zillion words you can peruse to see if any capture the flavor of what you have in mind.

I went looking through some job postings too. "work independently or as part of a team" shows up frequently enough that I think it counts as HR-speak. This site https://webguru.sites.northeastern.edu/working-independently has a few other words like "ownership," "initiative," and "self-regulation" that might be in your neighborhood too.
posted by adekllny at 1:30 PM on June 26, 2023

Soloist?
posted by kevinbelt at 1:35 PM on June 26, 2023

I find there is more to "self-starter" than the start; it implies continuing forward motion without needing push.
posted by BobTheScientist at 2:19 PM on June 26, 2023

Terms my org has used for this kind of person: "Team of one," "solo operator," or (rather than a noun) just saying "They work best independently." We also use the term "cowboy" but, as you note, that's putting the spotlight more on their incompatibility with group work, in a context where we find the individual's preference frustrating or inconvenient.
posted by Tomorrowful at 2:25 PM on June 26, 2023

HR speak: Works with a great degree of independent discretion and judgment. Uses their own initiative to attain objectives.
posted by lapis at 2:27 PM on June 26, 2023

I’d lean toward autonomous. Maybe it is just me but “independent” feels like it might come with some unintended negative connotations that (to me) autonomous does not.
posted by synecdoche at 2:29 PM on June 26, 2023

One-person band
posted by staggernation at 2:52 PM on June 26, 2023

"Entrepreneurial" is a term that I've used in past organizations.
posted by brookeb at 2:52 PM on June 26, 2023

Individual contributor.
posted by Artifice_Eternity at 2:56 PM on June 26, 2023

I would go with self-driven.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 3:27 PM on June 26, 2023

End to end owner.
posted by ellerhodes at 3:59 PM on June 26, 2023

Autonomous seems accurate but using it to describe a human is somehow weird to me. I would say something like "operates (or can operate) with a high degree of autonomy" instead.
posted by btfreek at 4:08 PM on June 26, 2023

Solitaire
posted by Peach at 4:17 PM on June 26, 2023

Internally motivated
posted by Knowyournuts at 4:42 PM on June 26, 2023

"takes ownership of the task through to completion"
posted by Barbara Spitzer at 5:30 PM on June 26, 2023

I came here to say 'soloist' as well.
posted by brainwane at 6:29 PM on June 26, 2023

self-directed
posted by TimHare at 9:58 PM on June 26, 2023

A term used in cycling for a person who races without team support is "privateer".
posted by cthlsgnd at 5:12 AM on June 27, 2023

I've seen things along the lines of "working with minimal supervision" in job descriptions.
posted by Nec_variat_lux_fracta_colorem at 5:18 AM on June 27, 2023

self-taught or self-directed
posted by carnival_night_zone at 6:07 AM on June 27, 2023

A self starter.
posted by The_imp_inimpossible at 7:29 AM on June 27, 2023