Science of Psycho-Geometrics

Sharing my notes from the workshop that I attended on this interesting subject.

So there I was, sitting next to my co-founder Mohnish in this conference room, both of us skeptical as hell. We'd signed up for this Psychogeometrics workshop by Mr. Praantik Panigrahi because, honestly? Our sales calls were bombing. We'd pitch ProfitBooks with all the passion in the world, but half the time, we'd get these blank stares or polite "we'll think about it" responses that meant absolutely nothing.

Praantik asked us to pick a shape that "felt most like us" from five simple options: circle, square, triangle, rectangle, and squiggle. Mohnish immediately grabbed the triangle. Me? I stared at that square for a solid minute before admitting it was basically my spirit animal.

"Don't share the PPT or take screenshots," Praantik said with a knowing smile. "This is about experiencing it, not documenting it." So here I am, sharing my scribbled notes and the absolute chaos of revelations that followed.

Haven't We All Bombed a Sales Call?

You know that moment when you're twenty minutes into a pitch, you've shown every feature, quoted every statistic, and the prospect looks like they'd rather be anywhere else? That was me. Every. Single. Time.

I remember this one call - I'd prepared fifteen slides of ProfitBooks features, complete with comparison charts and ROI calculations. The prospect, a CFO of a mid-sized company, kept checking his phone. When I finally paused for breath, he just said, "Okay, but what's the bottom line?"

I was crushed. Mohnish, ever the optimist, said maybe we just needed better slides. But I knew it was something deeper. We were missing something fundamental about how people make decisions.

The Workshop That Changed Everything

So basically, Praantik had us do these exercises - lots of them. Not just picking shapes, but actually embodying them. There was this one where we had to sell the same pen as different shapes. Watching Mohnish (triangle) cut straight to "This pen will make you sign deals faster" while I (square) listed the pen's specifications was... enlightening and slightly embarrassing.

But here's where it got real. Praantik made us analyze our recent failed pitches through the shape lens. Remember that CFO who kept checking his phone? Classic triangle. He didn't need my data dissertation; he needed the decision-making summary.

Then there was this HR head who'd kept us on call for ninety minutes, asking about our company culture, how we treat employees, whether ProfitBooks would make her team's life easier. We'd been frustrated by all the "irrelevant" questions. Turns out, she was a circle, and we'd completely missed what mattered to her.

Praantik had us do this exercise where we walked around the room and tried to guess each other's shapes based on quick conversations. I met this guy, Karthik, who within thirty seconds was telling me about three different projects he was juggling, his weekend paragliding plans, and a new startup idea he'd dreamed up that morning. Classic squiggle, as it turned out – creative, high-energy, sees possibilities everywhere.

Then there was Priya, who spent five minutes carefully explaining her role, making sure I understood every detail before moving on. Rectangle through and through – transitional, thorough, sometimes caught between wanting stability and craving change.

The Shapes Start Making Sense

So let me get a bit into what this whole psychogeometrics thing actually is. You know how sometimes you meet someone and within minutes you're thinking, "Why is this person so difficult?" Well, turns out it might not be them or you - it's just different operating systems trying to communicate.

Praantik explained that this isn't some new-age thing. Dr. Susan Dellinger, an American psychologist, developed this back in the 70s and 80s. She was basically trying to figure out why some teams clicked while others crashed, why some people could sell ice to Eskimos while others couldn't sell water in a desert. And she found that people's thinking patterns, their decision-making styles, even how they process stress - it all mapped to how they related to these basic geometric shapes.

I know, I know. Sounds like those "What Pizza Topping Are You?" quizzes. But here's the thing - it's based on how our brains actually process information. Some of us (squares like me) need structure and sequential thinking. Others (circles) process everything through an emotional and relational filter first. It's not pseudoscience; it's just a really simple way to understand complex psychological patterns.

Think of it like this - we all have different apps running in our mental operating system, and these shapes are just a way to identify which apps are running in the foreground.

⭕️ Circles are the people-people. They're the ones who remember your kid's birthday and ask how your mom's surgery went. In meetings, they're making sure everyone feels heard. I realized my colleague Rashmi, who I'd sometimes dismissed as "too emotional" for business decisions, was actually picking up on team dynamics I was completely missing.

🔲 Squares (like yours truly) live for organization and data. We're the ones with the spreadsheets and project timelines. But here's the humbling part – Praantik pointed out how our need for perfection can paralyze teams and stifle creativity. Ouch, but accurate.

🔺 Triangles are the decision-makers, the ones who cut through the chatter and say, "Here's what we're doing." My CEO? Total triangle. Suddenly his impatience with my detailed reports made perfect sense.

▭ Rectangles are in transition, which explains why they can seem inconsistent. They're growing, changing, figuring things out. I realized I'd been unfairly frustrated with Arun from our product team who was simply in a rectangle phase after a promotion.

〜 Squiggles are the creative dynamos who think outside every box you try to put them in. They're exhausting and exhilarating in equal measure.

Let Me Be Frank About My Dad

This is where it gets personal. My dad and I have had this ongoing thing where I'd constantly tell him how to do things.

"Dad, you should take your medicines after breakfast, not before,"
"Dad, that's not how you use the new smart TV,"
"Dad, you need to exercise more."
And every single time, he'd get this look - you know the one - like I was treating him like a child or something.

During the workshop, while learning about triangles, I literally had to stop taking notes. It was like Praantik was describing my father. Triangles need to be in control, they express love through grand gestures (Dad's constantly buying expensive gadgets for the house we don't need), and they absolutely hate being told what to do.

Now? I present options.
"Dad, I was reading about managing blood pressure. Some people prefer morning walks, others do yoga in the evening. What works better for your schedule?" Or "For the doctor's appointment, we could book the 10 AM slot or the 4 PM one. Which timing suits you?" Or even "Mom mentioned we need a new water purifier. Should we go with the RO system or the UV one? UV is better but you decide."

The change was immediate. Last week, he actually called ME to ask about which colour would look good on the walls of the room he is renovating. Twenty years of friction, solved by understanding a simple shape.

Similarly, I realised why my wife is so obsessive about keeping things in order :-)

But I Was Wrong About Something Important

I'd initially thought this was about putting people in boxes (ironic for a square, right?). But Praantik dropped this truth bomb: "You're not just one shape. You're a primary shape with secondary influences, and you can develop skills from other shapes."

He shared how he'd been a hardcore triangle in his twenties – driven, focused, climbing the corporate ladder with laser precision. But after burning out and losing key relationships, he consciously developed his circle qualities. "I had to learn that being right wasn't always as important as being connected," he said, and I felt that in my soul.

We did this exercise where we had to communicate the same message as different shapes would. Watching myself try to be a squiggle was... let's just say it was like watching a robot attempt interpretive dance. But it opened my eyes to how differently the same information could be packaged.

Identifying Shapes in the Wild (Your New Superpower)

Okay, so you're probably thinking, "This sounds great, but how do I actually spot these shapes?" Let me share what I learned from obsessively practicing this after the workshop.

Spotting a Circle:

• They'll ask how you are and actually wait for the answer

• They remember personal details you mentioned weeks ago

• In meetings, they'll say things like "How does everyone feel about this?"

• They take forever to get to the point because relationship-building IS the point

• Their workspace has photos, plants, personal touches everywhere

• They'll unconsciously mirror your body language

• They avoid taking important decisions (So, look for a triangle and square in their team)

• They don’t have a track of time, they can spend hours talking on phone :-)

I remember this one sales call with Anjali from a textile company. She spent thirty minutes talking about her team's morale issues. Old me would've been internally screaming "GET TO THE BUSINESS PART." New me recognized a circle and leaned in. We closed that deal, and she still sends Diwali greetings.

Spotting a Square:

• They'll ask for data, proof, case studies

• They take notes. Lots of notes

• They'll want things in writing - "Can you email me that?"

• Their questions are specific and detailed

• They're uncomfortable with vague promises or generalizations

• Their workspace is organized, often with systems visible

• They are well dressed, clean shaved, properly groomed

During ProfitBooks demos now, when someone like Rajesh from accounts starts asking about data security protocols and backup systems, I know I've got a square. I pull out the documentation we've prepared specifically for them. Their relief is visible.

Spotting a Triangle:

• They interrupt (not rudely, just efficiently)

• They ask "What's the bottom line?" or "Just tell me the ROI"

• They make quick decisions and get impatient with indecision

• They'll often check time or mention their next meeting

• They sit in power positions - head of table, facing the door

• They speak in absolutes and directives

Mohnish is brilliant with triangles now. Like when we met Vikram, a startup founder - he cuts straight to results, gives them control options, and never, ever wastes their time with fluff. Triangle are literally opposite to circles, in fact they can’t stand circles :-)

Spotting a Rectangle:

• They seem inconsistent - confident one moment, uncertain the next

• They ask lots of "what if" questions

• They're often going through visible life or career changes

• They might contradict themselves without realizing

• They're genuinely exploring, not just being difficult

• They need more reassurance than others

• They are mostly indecisive

We had a prospect, Sneha, who kept changing requirements. Instead of frustration, we recognized a rectangle in transition (new role, new company). We became her stability anchor, and she became our biggest advocate.

Spotting a Squiggle:

• They'll jump topics rapidly

• They get excited about possibilities and potential

• They might doodle during meetings or fidget constantly

• They'll ask creative "Have you thought about...?" questions

• Their workspace is organized chaos

• They light up when talking about new ideas

• Their dressing style is quite colourful

Our marketing agency contact, Amit? Pure squiggle. Now we start meetings with "What crazy idea are you excited about this week?" before getting to business. The energy shift is incredible.

Let's Talk About the Business Applications

This is where things got really practical. Praantik had us map out our current teams by shapes, and suddenly SO MUCH made sense. Our marketing team? Mostly squiggles and circles, which explained their creative campaigns and strong culture. Finance? Squares and triangles, which explained their no-nonsense efficiency but also why they struggled with the "softer" aspects of change management.

I remember this moment when he asked, "How many of you have hired people just like yourselves?" Almost every hand went up. "And how's that working for you?" Nervous laughter filled the room.

He showed us how balanced teams – with intentional shape diversity – consistently outperformed homogeneous ones. A triangle might drive the vision, but they need circles to keep the team cohesive, squares to handle the details, rectangles to adapt to changes, and squiggles to innovate.

The Sales Revolution (And Some Humble Pie)

After the workshop, I was so fired up that I immediately made our entire sales team go through the same training with Praantik. I'm not gonna lie - there was resistance. "Shapes? Really? We need better leads, not geometry lessons."

But then something beautiful happened. Remember how I mentioned square-shaped people need detailed written information? We created what we called "Square Sheets" - comprehensive PDFs with every possible ProfitBooks specification, security certificate, and comparison chart.

For circles, we developed case studies that focused on team transformation and employee satisfaction. For triangles, we made one-page executive summaries with clear ROI metrics. For squiggles, we prepared vision documents about future possibilities with ProfitBooks.

The results? Our close rate jumped 40% in three months. But more importantly, our calls became conversations instead of presentations.

The Uncomfortable Mirror

Here's where I need to get vulnerable with you. I realized I'd been a terrible square boss. I'd been suffocating my squiggle designers with processes, frustrating my circle account managers with my emotional blindness, and boring my triangle colleagues with excessive detail.

There was this exercise where we had to role-play difficult conversations using different shape approaches. I had to deliver critical feedback as a circle instead of a square. Instead of my usual "Here are the five things you did wrong with supporting data," I tried, "I noticed you seemed stressed during the project. How are you feeling about everything?"

Meera, who I was practicing with – a real-life circle – actually teared up. "That's the first time feedback has felt like someone cared about me, not just the work," she said. I'm not gonna lie, that hit me hard.

Applying This in Real Life (Where It Gets Messy)

So I went back to work determined to apply this stuff. First attempt? Disaster. I tried to be all circle-y in a meeting with my square CTO, and he literally interrupted me: "Just tell me the numbers." Lesson learned – you can't force your newfound shape awareness on everyone.

But here's what did work:

Email styles should be adapted based on the recipient's shape. For squiggle creative directors, emails should begin with the big picture and exciting possibilities. For square analysts, data and structured bullet points should lead the communication. For circle HR managers, the human impact should be acknowledged first before diving into business matters.

The change was almost immediate for me. People started responding faster, with more enthusiasm. One colleague even asked, "Did you get a communication coach or something?"

Remember, We're All Works in Progress

I think the biggest revelation for me was understanding that shape flexibility is a skill you can develop. I'm still a square at heart – I wrote this post with an outline, obviously – but I'm learning to access my inner circle when my team needs empathy, channel my triangle when decisions need to be made quickly, and even tap into my squiggle when brainstorming (though that's still a work in progress).

Praantik shared something that stuck with me: "The goal isn't to change who you are. It's to understand who you are and develop the flexibility to connect with who others are."

But Let Me Be Frank...

This isn't a magic bullet. I've seen people showing different shapes in different situations. Mostly businessmen who deal with variety of people, adopt to all the shapes and can change as per the person sitting next to them.

Want to experience this? Go to any popular shop run by Marwari people. They speak fluent Marathi, Hindi and even working Tamil in some cases depending on the customer. That sales person from Saree shop will speak differently with a bored husband and differently with the enthusiastic lady :-)

This comes naturally to people who’ve been dealing with a lot of people as part of their job or business.

So, What's Your Shape Story?

As you're reading this, you're probably already identifying yourself and others. Your micromanaging boss? Probably a square gone wrong. Your brilliant but chaotic colleague? Squiggle energy off the charts. Your partner who takes forever to make dinner plans? Classic circle, building consensus with themselves.

Here's my challenge to you: Don't just identify shapes. Start experimenting with speaking different shape languages. If you're a triangle, try asking how people feel about a decision before making it. If you're a circle, practice making a decision without checking in with everyone first. If you're a square like me, try – just try – starting with the big picture instead of the details.

The beautiful thing about psychogeometrics is its simplicity. Five shapes. That's it. But within that simplicity lies profound insight into how we connect, communicate, and collaborate.

I left Praantik's workshop with a notebook full of insights and a slightly bruised ego (turns out I wasn't as self-aware as I thought). But mostly, I left with hope. Hope that the communication breakdowns I'd been experiencing weren't insurmountable personality clashes – they were just different shapes trying to connect without a common language.

We're all just shapes trying to fit together into something bigger. And once you start seeing the shapes, you can't unsee them. Trust me on that one.

What shape speaks to you? And more importantly, what shape do you need to develop to connect with the people who matter most in your work and life?

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