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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 [5 favorites]

Do any of these fit the bill?

Independent. Self-directed. Self-motivated.
posted by DrGail at 1:09 PM on June 26, 2023 [13 favorites]

autonomous
posted by patricio at 1:10 PM on June 26, 2023 [11 favorites]

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 [2 favorites]

Soloist?
posted by kevinbelt at 1:35 PM on June 26, 2023 [4 favorites]

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 [10 favorites]

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 [1 favorite]

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 [5 favorites]

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 [2 favorites]

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 [1 favorite]

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

I would go with self-driven.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 3:27 PM on June 26, 2023 [2 favorites]

End to end owner.
posted by ellerhodes at 3:59 PM on June 26, 2023 [1 favorite]

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 [4 favorites]

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 [1 favorite]

self-directed
posted by TimHare at 9:58 PM on June 26, 2023 [1 favorite]

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