Slack, the leading workplace productivity platform, today unveiled the results of its new global research, shedding light on the diverse workplace personas in India and their influence on technology and artificial intelligence (AI) adoption.
The YouGov survey of over 15,000 desk workers across nine markets – including 2000 in India – offers unique insights into the preferences and behaviour of Indian desk workers. With a diverse range of workplace personas, India stands at the forefront of AI adoption, driven by Problem Solvers and Expressionists.
Problem Solvers and Expressionists lead the way in AI adoption in India
The research found that The Problem Solver workplace persona was the most common in India, comprising a significant 23% of the workforce. Problem Solvers are characterised by their mastery of tech and automation, with an unmatched enthusiasm for AI and streamlining work processes. A remarkable 92% of them identify as early tech adopters, and 77% express excitement about AI. The Problem Solver’s passion for incorporating AI into their work is evident, with 43% eager to leverage AI to enhance productivity. This persona actively seeks external tech training, contributing to India’s highest AI usage rate – as unveiled in the research – at 54%, followed closely by Singapore at 34%.
The Expressionist, known for their strong visual communication style, make up 21% of India’s workforce. They prioritise less formal and more engaging workplace interactions by using emojis, GIFs and memes. Globally, 72% of Expressionists employ these visual tools to enhance communication, compared to 29% of all desk workers. They believe that workplace communication should be fun and lighthearted, leveraging these visual elements to create virtual connections and ensuring their messages are received as intended. Expressionists are also prominent in South Korea (15%) and Singapore (12%).
Detectives and Road Warriors less prevalent in India
On the other hand, India has fewer Detectives, the investigative workplace persona known for their relentless curiosity and knowledge-sharing tendencies. Detectives pride themselves on being organised, with 93% preferring to solve problems independently. Although Detectives are most prominent in France (38%), the U.K. (34%), the U.S. (33%), and Germany (33%), India has a smaller share in its workforce at 16%. The research suggests India’s comparatively younger workforce is a factor here, with Detectives found to be most common amongst older workforces.
Road Warriors, who thrive on flexibility and remote connections, are most common in Japan (28%) and Singapore (26%), yet they make up just 18% of the Indian workforce. They are outgoing, adaptable, and prioritise working from various locations according to their schedules. They are more likely to work on geographically distributed teams, with 17% collaborating in groups without any physical presence, and put a high value on flexibility in how and where they work.
Derek Laney, Slack Technology Evangelist, APAC, Salesforce, commented on the research:
“As India’s various work models continue to evolve, our research has found that every workplace, whether it has five or 5,000 employees, comprises a diverse ecosystem of personalities, skills, and approaches. In India, Problem Solvers and Expressionists are helping to drive technological transformation at work with their enthusiasm for AI and innovative communication styles.
While Detectives and Road Warriors may be less common in India than in other markets, fostering diverse teams is pivotal for productivity. Having a range of workplace personas not only makes our work days more interesting but allows for different strengths to come together. No two employees are alike and businesses need a platform that enables a range of different work styles to be successful.”
For more information on this research, please refer to the:
- Breakdown of personas appended below
- Full report
- Infographics
- Global fact sheet
Background and methodology of the Slack Global Research
The Workplace Personas Research was commissioned by Slack and conducted by YouGov. The survey spanned 15,492 desk workers across nine markets – the US, the UK, France, Germany, India, Japan, Australia, Singapore and South Korea. Respondents were evaluated on their approaches and personalities in the workplace and categorised into “personas” that fit them best. The research was also designed to understand the evolving relationship between desk workers, their workplace and new technologies, such as AI – and the variance in those views based on the “personas”.
Types of workplace personas, and their prevalence globally
| Persona | Description | Global prevalence | IN prevalence (global rank out of 9 markets) |
| The Problem Solver | Aversion to repetitive tasks; has a work hack for everything; early tech adopter; master of automation – obsessed with saving time and being more productive; most likely to go all-in on AI | 16% | 23% (#1) |
| The Expressionist | Strong preference for visual, less formal communication to express themselves and provide clarity – loves using emoji, giphy, memes; fun, witty, clever and social; don’t take themselves too seriously | 10% | 21% (#1) |
| The Networker | Goes all in on connection and communication; social; highly collaborative and engaged – extroverted; loves to connect in-person; takes notes and shares them widely, making sure everyone has the info they need | 22% | 22% (#5) |
| The Detective | Innate drive towards searching for and finding solutions, answers, information; and sharing with others – naturally curious and outcomes-driven; a self-starter; always and reliably in the know | 30% | 16% (#9) |
| The Road Warrior | Always working from different locations at different times; skilled at developing connections remotely and virtually – outgoing and affable; adaptable and flexible; eager to use modern workplace tools | 22% | 18% (#9) |
So do let us know in the comments section, what do you make out of this Slack Global research?