Workplaces contain a diverse group of people with different backgrounds, experiences and personalities. We are all unique and although we all have our own way of expressing ourselves, there are four main personality types that most people come under. Knowing the different personality types can benefit you and your management role in many ways.
There are many benefits to this, not only in the world of work but also outside it. Understanding different people’s motivations will help you build and strengthen relationships in all areas of your life. Here are some of the other benefits.
- Improve Your Decision-Making Abilities – If you know your ‘type’ you can become more self-aware. if you tend to use your “gut” feeling, trying to make a decision based solely on logic will be difficult or if you use reasoning, making a decision on feeling alone may be unreliable.
- Improve Your Conflict Resolution Skills – Every personality also has both positive and negative traits and these determine how people react to being challenged. Being able to understand the perspectives and personality styles of other team members and knowing your own traits helps you to approach any conflict from an alternative perspective.
- Appreciate Diversity – By understanding your own personality type better, you start to understand others better as well. You become aware of what personality traits your colleagues are operating with and gives you a different viewpoint. It also shows you how approaching things with different reactions or with a different mindset can benefit the team and the challenge at hand.
- Determine Your Career Path – Different roles require different personality characteristics. Knowing your own personality type will help you to focus on the career that best suits your skills and personality.
As an employer or manager, it is important to know which personality types are the best cultural fit for your team and your company so you can make the right hiring decisions. It also will help you to know how best to support, promote and motivate your team.
The Four Personality Types in the Workplace
There are many different tools that help you assess your personality type. However, many fall into the following four categories (or a similar version of them). Each type approaches their job from a different perspective. They resolve challenges, seek recognition and communicate and interact with colleagues and customers in alternative ways. Most people can recognise their personality type after reading the following descriptions. However, some may fall under one or more categories. Once you’ve worked out which type you are, you can try the same exercise with your team.
The Analytical
The Analytical person is normally neat and precise and approaches situations with a clear and concise plan. They are often perfectionists, introverted and prefer to work alone. They can appear moody, judgmental and struggle to make decisions. They struggle with over-analysing and are afraid of making a mistake. To manage and Analytical person they respond best if you keep your voice calm and ask, rather than tell them, what you want. Don’t be impatient as they need time to process before they give their answer.
The Driver
The Driver likes to be the boss! They are the natural leaders and are happiest when they are taking charge of a situation. They are task oriented and like to get things done. They are energetic, positive and the visionary and they don’t like giving up without a fight. The driver can often appear uncaring and prone to sarcasm and their manner can appear harsh to more sensitive people in the workplace. To manage a Driver you need to be willing to get to work and at a pace. Be willing to acknowledge their strengths and ability and avoid making excuses for why a task hasn’t been completed.
The Amiable
The Amiable person is the most popular person in the office. They avoid conflict and always look to encourage others, with a kind word or gesture. These are the company peacemakers who’s mission in life is to ensure everyone “just gets along”. However, they can be stubbornness when things aren’t going their way and are most likely to be passive-aggressive when angry. To manage an Amiable person, be kind and stop them from being overwhelmed. Be patient and encourage them to take chances.
The Expressive
The Expressive person is loud, outgoing and often the company clown. They love to have fun and want everyone around them to be part of it. They have boundless enthusiasm for a project, convince investors that a project will be successful and are genuinely interested in being team players. However, they are not very organised. They are not completer finishers – they are great ideas people and fantastic at getting others involved but don’t know how to execute their ideas effectively. To manage an Expressive, be willing to laugh at a joke, get excited about their ideas and make them feel part of the team.
People are a company’s biggest asset and potential liability. Unless you live under a rock or or work in a role that requires zero human interaction such as a lighthouse keeper, you have to deal with people. Understanding the different personality types gives you a head start in leading and managing a team and choosing the right hires in the first place.
