The American network TV show “The Office” was such a great hit because it accurately portrayed the personality types that you find in many workplaces. There was the sarcastic slacker in love with the secretary, the guy who kissed up to the boss any chance he had, and of course, the manager who was blissfully unaware of it all.
While it made for great television, working with numerous personalities in an actual office can sometimes be frustrating, especially when employees bump heads.
Here’s some advice to help you manage common office personalities to their fullest potential.
Visual Learners
With nearly 65% of the population falling into the category of visual learners, it’s quite likely you have a couple of them on your team. Using graphs, charts, and pictures can lead to better retention and understanding for just about everyone, and visual learners find it absolutely necessary when learning a new concept.
As the brain processes pictures thousands of times faster than text, visual learners would much rather sit through a presentation than read a long guidebook.
Do your best to explain projects, goals, and business concepts with as many visual tools as possible to tap into the potential of these employees.
Team Players
Any manager knows that making some employees work together on projects can be like pulling teeth. However, there are a few who thrive when they can partner up with the right people. Nurturing a culture of teamwork is monumental to the overall success of your company, and it can help keep your employees motivated and engaged.
In order for team players to thrive, they need to be able to correspond effectively with their group. Poor communication is one of the leading causes for project failure, right along with poor management and unforeseen obstacles. Implementing an easy-to-use software program can solve this problem and lead to better results for everyone in the workplace. For this purpose, businesses are wise to implement collaborative solutions designed to simplify processes to meet their preferred project management styles. The end goal should be to find a user-friendly, time-tested control and communication tool that streamlines member assignments, time tracking, accounting, and much more. Agile programs like Nutcache have mastered this concept to a tee.
In the modern workplace, a team is only as good as the system it has in place. Effective software for project execution is a key ingredient for business growth and development.
Power Houses
These are the steamrollers in the office, the people that don’t let anyone or anything stop them from getting to the next level. While their ambition is admirable, they can sometimes be a little aggressive and uncaring towards their co-workers.
Tapping into their potential may require some firm coaching to help them turn into more of a collaborative player. According to a report from Chronus Corporation, there are direct links between business mentorship and employee morale and productivity. It may take some firm coaxing, but helping these power players learn what’s best for the team, rather than just themselves, will help everyone succeed.
One way to get power houses to engage is by setting large goals that require teamwork to accomplish. This is a concept found in the final test for US marines.
Power houses enjoy leadership opportunities and jump at any chance to get ahead, so they may need to take a step back to learn how to play well with others. Just like a team built of MVPs, these members need to put their egos aside and learn to work together to accomplish common goals.
Introverts
While the word seems almost synonymous with socially-awkward cat lovers, introverts in the workplace typically have high emotional intelligence, making them excellent leaders. While they may keep to themselves more than team players or power houses, introverted employees may just need a little reassurance that they are capable of taking on leadership roles.
Tapping into the potential of your introverted employees may take some effort from you as a manager. Avoid public recognition or putting them on the spot during large meetings, which make many introverts uncomfortable. Be considerate of their personalities and occasional need for space, but always be there to reassure them to share their thoughts and opinions, too.
Introverts tend to be naturally analytical, and they enjoy planning things out ahead of time. Try to avoid springing things on them last minute, and allow them to process the changes. They may need a little push to take on management and leadership roles in the office, so encourage them to take initiative on projects when available.
Over to You
You may need to switch up your leadership style for different workers if you want to help them improve and succeed. Be aware that this doesn’t mean that some should get special treatment over the other. Some may need more one-on-one coaching, while others benefit from more independence. Take the time to get to know your co-workers on a personal level to figure out which leadership tactics work best for them.
Implementing a performance review system that lets both employees and managers speak freely about strengths and weaknesses can help to open up avenues for communication. Using a feedback software gives you a virtual platform for employee recognition that encourages a healthy company culture.