When a Lime Drives You Looney and other Fruity clashes

Yes, I know, why pick on the Limes?? Cos it’s fun. Bear with me and we’ll get to the rest of you, because when you know your Fruit, you’ll understand that we’re all irritating to someone.

So you’re away on a weekend with a group of friends. You’ve rented a big old house and bought a bunch of food. The fireplace is roaring and the designated cooks (of which you are one) for the night are in the kitchen.  You watch as Loulou prepares the onions, carefully peeling off each layer of skin and then thoughtfully slicing them into conforming regular slices. Just when you are about to crush that can of Kombucha, she stops. Oh sweet relief.

But then she starts on peeling the ginger.

Nope can’t cope.

Why is it that when people do something slowly and methodically it’s like sticking needles in your eyes?

Know Your Fruit 🍎 🥭 🍋‍🟩 🍌

Each Fruit personality type sees life through their own lense, propelled by their own drivers.

Limes value accuracy, safety and order.

Mangoes love flexibility, freedom and adventure.

Bananas want nothing more than harmony, kindness and connection.

Apples care about results.

So when two Fruit collide, it’s rarely about being wrong. It’s about clashing with opposite wiring.

🍋 Mango vs Lime: The Wildcard & The Rulebook

A Mango bursts into a meeting 10 minutes late, talking loudly and throwing ideas around, heedless of other conversations already taking place.
Meanwhile, the Lime has colour-coded notes and a small internal meltdown.

The Mango isn’t trying to be rude—they’re energised by momentum.
The Lime isn’t uptight—they find comfort in structure.

What’s happening though?  Secretly Mango thinks Lime is boring. Lime thinks Mango is reckless.

I’m always banging on about reframing and I reckon I use it myself every single day. Mangoes bring enthusiastic energy. Limes bring thoughtful detail and precision.

A workplace needs both.

🍌 Apple vs Banana: The Bulldozer & The Peacemaker

An Apple tells it like it is: “This plan is a waste of time.”
The Banana quietly folds up inside, feeling disrespected.

Never one to sugar coat, Apple values efficiency and truth. Banana values harmony and kindness.

Apple sees Banana as too soft. Banana sees Apple as rude and hurtful.

Reframe: Apple is really good at clarity. Banana brings emotional intelligence. A win-win for the business.

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I’m often fascinated with why something triggers me. Why does it drive me crazy.? It’s worth asking yourself these questions. It’s not always deep psychological stuff but it can be.

It might bring up an old wound (like loud and boisterous means unsafe)

Perhaps it’s highlighting a skill you lack or suppress (you know you really should be better at detail and accuracy but…)

Or it may just clash with a personal value – you see honesty as integral to every conversation and the other person may feel some white lies are acceptable to avoid inflicting hurt.

You will always hear me say you don’t have to love everyone you work with. You don’t have to have them for play dates and sleepovers. But when you take the time to understand why their traits trigger you, you have the chance to gain clarity and dare I say it Apples? Compassion.

So the next time Manic Mandy, Aggro Alfie, Beaming Betty or Law Abiding Leon starts to get up your nose, just stop and ask yourself –

Ok – I don’t expect miracles. Just think on it.

Which Fruit are you? Do the taster quiz to find out.