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The workplace provides one of the best showcases of different personalities. Each individual has some unique characteristic that sets them apart from the others. There’s that Energizer Bunny with a contagious and uplifting energy level. Then there’s the Brainiac, a constant source of knowledge who has no problem sharing everything they know. What about the social butterfly who easily makes friends or people-pleasers who never know when to say no? And, of course, those strong personalities who, more often than not, tend to rub people the wrong way. 

The most difficult task for a leader is managing the different workplace personalities. That will help create an environment that is conducive to achieving productivity. And it all starts with understanding why you need different personality traits.  

Different Personalities in the Workplace Can Enhance Team Collaboration 

The best collaboration comes when people can freely express themselves without fear of others putting them down. A leader who successfully manages different personalities in the workplace will leverage diversity. 

Imagine a combination of:-

  • Creatives to generate ideas
  • Problem solvers see potential issues and come up with solutions
  • Innovators who aren’t afraid to test the waters
  • The analyst who undertakes a meticulous analysis of the project to identify errors
  • The influencer or energizer bunny for that never-ending positivity and energy to keep up the team’s spirits. 
  • The supporter or people-person to calm tense situations when the team members face communication challenges.
  • The driver takes charge of the project and leads others to a successful conclusion.

Building upon each personality trait makes it possible to create synergy and collaboration within the workplace.  

Better Employee Motivation by Managing Different Personality Traits

Managing different personalities in the workplace can lead to better employee motivation. Better motivation has the direct impact of reduced turnover, which employers know can be quite expensive. Research shows that hiring a new employee costs about $4,700. But a deeper exploration shows that the cost would be significantly higher. Filling a role that pays $60,000 could cost the company $180,000 due to associated hard and soft costs. 

One significant way to increase motivation is to assign jobs based on the individual’s personality traits. Creatives, for example, will not thrive in jobs requiring constant interaction with other people. They would rather have their own space to come up with ideas. Giving them that space will make them enjoy their work more. 

Putting an influencer or energetic, bubbly personality in a paper-pushing job may not work. Yet, they would do very well in areas like customer service, where they interact with others. 

Better Employee Management 

Leaders quickly realize there is no one-fits-all way of communicating with different personalities. For instance, people with very strong personalities may have no problem with direct and constructive feedback. Those with more sensitive personalities will require a softer approach. 

Employees with dominant personalities can be especially challenging. It is often their way, or things go south. Most would rather avoid dealing with such individuals altogether, including the bosses. Colleagues may keep away because they are tired of the conflict or feel like they don’t matter when the dominant personality takes over. 

The leader must learn how to bring the dominant individual under control without stifling them altogether. And the same applies to teaching others how to hold their ground to ensure they are always heard. The ability to create that perfect balance will lead to happier, more productive employees.   

Better Problem Solving and Conflict Resolution 

Problem-solving and conflict resolution would be difficult without skills in managing different personalities in the workplace. The trick lies in leveraging each person’s different perspectives, approaches, and skills. 

Each individual has unique problem-solving styles. There are the more direct and assertive ones who address conflict head-on. Others would rather take a more compromising or diplomatic approach. Having the two personalities work together can result in a more comprehensive exploration of different solutions and outcomes.

Different personalities have different communication styles. There are empathetic, active listeners, while others are candid or more direct. The ability for one to express openly while the other listens and ruminates on the information before responding can ease tense situations. 

Personalities with higher empathy and emotional intelligence can help create an environment of better understanding. People will naturally trust them and seek them out to help during conflict. Maximizing such traits can be an effective way to solve problems before they get out of hand.  

Manage Different Workplace Personalities for a More Conducive Work Environment

Any environment, including the workplace, which brings together people, must consider the different personalities within. And that, in itself, is a good thing, as we have shared in the article. 

The trick to creating a conducive and productive workplace is to learn how to manage the different personalities. With these skills, employers can leverage each trait for the company’s good.