What Kind of Leader Were You in a Past Life?

By: Emily Maggrett
Estimated Completion Time
6 min
What Kind of Leader Were You in a Past Life?
Image: DianaHirsch / E+ / Getty Images

About This Quiz

Do you think that this is your first time on Planet Earth, or do you suspect that you may have had past lives? If you experience déjà vu when learning about bygone eras, are unexpectedly good at certain old-fashioned skills or find yourself truly inspired by random historical figures, the chances are that your soul has been through several fascinating incarnations.

If you find that idea intriguing and are now desperate to find out who and what you used to be, this quiz can help! We're going to ask you all kinds of questions about your leadership style, approach to difficult challenges, coping skills under pressure and current circle of friends. Each of these queries will reveal another aspect of who you are (as well as who you were). By the end of the quiz, our hyperintelligent quiz supercomputer will have figured out your past nationality, leadership role and even your personality! 💖

Ready to discover something new and exciting about yourself — or at least, the real reason why you got an A in ancient history without trying or feel très sentimental every time you pass a pâtisserie? Then roll up your sleeves, start cranking your favorite classic tune and play this quiz!

Man listening to music
Flashpop / DigitalVision / Getty Images
When you want to pump yourself up, what kind of music do you listen to?
Angry folk music
Something with hardcore percussion
Goth rock
I don't really like music that much.

Advertisement

Girl playing softball
Krista Long / Moment / Getty Images
Your school's softball team is competing against rival school's softball team. How will you play?
Fiercely, until I realize that we're losing. Then my game will get kind of half-hearted.
I'll choose a position where I know I can shine, regardless of whether we win or lose.
I'll give it everything I've got!
I won't take it too seriously. It's just a game, after all.

Advertisement

Man thinking
drbimages / E+ / Getty Images
Who inspires you?
Barack Obama
Queen Elizabeth I
Alexander the Great
The Dalai Lama

Advertisement

Leader
Richard Drury / DigitalVision / Getty Images
Can you complete this sentence? "A good leader always ..."?
Wins
Considers the big picture
Fights until the end
Puts others first

Advertisement

Jogger exhausted
Kevin Kozicki / Image Source / Getty Images
You've agreed to run a marathon for charity. Here's the problem: you're not a runner. How will you prepare?
By worrying about it but not actually training
By practicing a little every day
By training for hours each day
By deciding that I'll be walking, not running

Advertisement

Couple cooking
Arno Images / Cultura / Getty Images
If you were trying to show a love interest who you really are, what kind of date would you take them on?
I'd ask them to sail with me at night, across a moonlit bay.
I'd insist that we dress up in finery and go to the theatre.
I'd ask them to camp with me in the desert.
I'd offer to cook for them at my home.

Advertisement

Stressed girl
Roos Koole / Moment / Getty Images
Of all these situations, which one would stress you out the most?
Playing second fiddle to someone who's less bright than me
Having to publicly support an unpopular idea
Compromising on something that's really important to me
Having to take a necessary action that nonetheless hurts someone

Advertisement

Irish setter dog
Paulo Amorim / Moment / Getty Images
Which of these dogs would you adopt as your faithful companion?
A mournful but beautiful Irish setter
A handsome young Basenji
A strong, angry mastiff
A chill Chow-Chow

Advertisement

The Office
NBC
In your opinion, who was the best manager on "The Office"?
Jan
Dwight
Robert California
Michael

Advertisement

Hard decision
michaelmjc / E+ / Getty Images
How do you make hard decisions?
I consult all of my friends.
I weigh the pros and cons.
I go with my gut.
I choose the path of least harm.

Advertisement

Reading
boonchai wedmakawand / Moment / Getty Images
Who's your favorite author?
William Shakespeare
Salman Rushdie
Ovid
Amy Tan

Advertisement

Conflict
Liam Norris / Cultura / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images
Let's say your extended family has been feuding for several decades. Recently, your uncle reached out and said he wants to make peace. What do you do?
Tell him that I have too much honor to make peace with a scoundrel
Immediately agree. After all, he may become a powerful future ally.
Demand that your uncle apologize for every bad thing his side of the family has ever done
Say yes. Because life is too short for feuds.

Advertisement

Rough day
boonchai wedmakawand / Moment / Getty Images
When you're having a rough day, how do you cope?
I indulge myself.
I focus on tasks I enjoy.
I work out very hard while screaming.
I meditate and practice good self-care.

Advertisement

Leadership
Klaus Vedfelt / DigitalVision / Getty Images
Can you complete this sentence? "The best leaders are ..."?
Talented geniuses
Masterful strategists
Powerful warriors
Calm and detached

Advertisement

Bad song
Carmen Martínez Torrón / Moment / Getty Images
Let's say you're in a band. The lead singer just wrote a spectacularly bad song that he wants you all to learn for an upcoming gig. You're afraid you'll be booed off the stage. What do you do?
Nothing (except gossip about it with your bandmates later)
Smile and nod while thinking about how you'll quit
Loudly tell the singer that it's the worst song you've ever heard
Resolve to do your best, regardless of whether the song is bad or actually good

Advertisement

Writing with a quill
Cimmerian / E+ / Getty Images
Which of these old-timey hobbies sounds like the most fun to you?
Writing with a quill
Making my own perfume
Writing epic poetry
Gardening in a bonsai style

Advertisement

Rich man
John M Lund Photography Inc / DigitalVision / Getty Images
If you were rich and famous, what's the first thing you'd do?
Buy a castle
Take an international trip
Start surfing
Quit my job

Advertisement

Politician
Robert Daly / OJO Images / Getty Images
Let's say there's a mayoral election in your town or city. Which of these candidates would you vote for?
A charismatic career politician who gives brilliant speeches
A scientist-turned-politician with a vital political agenda
An ex-teacher or union worker who wants to help the underdog
A religious person who wants to create a kinder, gentler society

Advertisement

Watching movie
Klaus Vedfelt / DigitalVision / Getty Images
You love watching movies that are set in ...?
Medieval times
Prehistoric era
Ancient world
19th century

Advertisement

Violence
CP Photo Art / DigitalVision / Getty Images
Do you believe that it's okay to use violence to achieve a positive outcome?
Yes ... if the positive outcome is truly important.
Of course
Yes, if the people you're using violence against are truly evil.
No, never!

Advertisement

Frightened
Francesco Carta fotografo / Moment / Getty Images
Are you inexplicably frightened by any modern inventions?
No, not really
Yes. For some reason, cars seem really dangerous to me.
Yes. Bizarrely enough, airplanes strike me as being almost magical.
No. But I do love making things by hand, such as my own bread.

Advertisement

Choosing mentor
jayk7 / Moment / Getty Images
If you could be mentored by anyone in the world, who would you choose to be mentored by?
Sir Richard Branson
Kamala Harris
The Rock
Keanu Reeves

Advertisement

Homeless
South_agency / E+ / Getty Images
How would you cope if you suddenly found yourself homeless?
I'd camp out in the woods.
I'd ask for help from my friends and family.
I'd pound the streets, looking for work.
I'd go to a church.

Advertisement

Jealous girl
Image Source / DigitalVision / Getty Images
What's the most extreme revenge you would consider taking on an ex?
Dating their best friend
Spreading savage gossip about them
Puncturing their tires
Revenge is stupid.

Advertisement

Annoyed in class
skynesher / E+ / Getty Images
In every class, there are always a few annoying kids. Which one of these obnoxious classmate types do you do you find the most irritating?
The Know-It-All
The Person Who Monologues All Their Answers
The Lazy Lab Partner
The One with a Million Excuses for Not Doing Their Homework

Advertisement

Group of friends
Flashpop / DigitalVision / Getty Images
Consider your friends. What kind of people do you surround yourself with?
Smart, hip people
Ambitious, well-dressed strivers
Tough weekend warriors
I have all kinds of friends. What they have in common is that they're chill.

Advertisement

Girl shopping
GSPictures / E+ / Getty Images
In your opinion, what's the best thing about being an adult?
Not having to answer to anyone else
Splurging on fancy luxuries
Getting to have secrets
Nothing. I think being a kid is better!

Advertisement

No
Jennifer A Smith / Moment / Getty Images
When you need to tell someone else "no," how do you do it?
By avoiding them until they guess how I feel
By delivering it in a compliment sandwich
By telling them all my reasons in detail
I just say "no." Why complicate it?

Advertisement

Five stars
Paula Daniëlse / Moment / Getty Images
Be honest, not humble, and tell us: What makes you exceptional?
My ideas
My ability to think on my feet
My bravery
My ability to stay centered under great stress

Advertisement

Leadership quotes
twomeows / Moment / Getty Images
Which of these quotes about leadership do you relate to the most?
"To be a king and wear a crown is a thing more glorious to them that see it than it is pleasant to them that bear it."
"Conformity is deformity."
"It is easier to find men who will volunteer to die, than to find those who are willing to endure pain with patience."
"It does not matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop."

Advertisement

You Got: