How to Manage Different Personality Types in Your TeamEmbrace diversity and get the most of our your team

Working with a diverse team full of different personality types can be simultaneously rewarding and challenging.

Each person will bring their own unique set of characteristics, talents, strengths, and weaknesses to the table.

Knowing how to manage a team with different personalities is critical.

As a manager, you need to be able to recognise and understand such characteristics and encourage your team to work together.

Once you know how to deal with the different personality types, your team will be able to achieve their goals, work constructively and collaboratively, and create a positive company culture. Here is how to manage those differing personality types.

Embrace differences with positivity

A huge 76% of employees and job seekers said that a diverse workforce was important when evaluating companies and job offers. It’s therefore important to embrace all differences with positivity in order to improve the overall attitude of your team and attract new talent.

Additionally, diverse personalities within a team can be hugely beneficial as different perspectives can prevent teams from having blind spots on projects. Different personality types can therefore extend our own ways of thinking and can boost the potential of your business.

Get to know each personality

The more you get to know and understand each of your employees, the more efficient your team will be. Taking time to build high-quality relationships and learning about what motivates each employee is key when managing a team.

Remember not to assume things about your staff. It can be easy to pair similar individuals together, when in fact, they’re too similar to work effectively. Getting to know your staff through group events, meetings, or one-on-ones can unlock alternative viewpoints and different ways of working.

By getting to know everyone’s personality, you will be able to strategically manage your team with ease and efficiency.

Play to each person’s strengths

Once you’ve taken the time to get to know your staff, you can begin to play to each person’s individual strengths and weaknesses. By simply being aware of who is better at what, you will be able to delegate and assign tasks to the best people for the job—something that can vastly improve your business.

It’s also prudent not to highlight someone’s shortcomings. Instead of stating that Ben isn’t very good with Excel, comment that Ben’s creativity will make him useful on another task. Framing talents in such a positive light will result in a motivated and positive workforce who respect each other’s differences.

Diffuse friction and create a positive environment

Friction is inevitable within any workplace. However, when managing lots of types of personalities, the likelihood of conflict arising is at a significant increase. In fact, 50% of managers, supervisors, and executives highlighted personality clashes as one of the main causes of conflict.

If conflict is to arise, don’t be afraid to handle it directly. Be tactful and confident that the issue can be resolved and make it clear that any disrespect won’t be tolerated.

By diffusing friction as soon as it arises, you will begin to create a culture of respect. This will result in a positive environment that reflects your company’s values and promotes a healthier way or working together.

Shared team goals

One way to unify your team is with shared goals. Even if all members of your team have vastly different personalities, embarking on a group project will help them to put their differences aside in order to successfully achieve their goal.

Whilst still maintaining a managerial oversight to ensure the team is respectful, you can leave them to sort it out amongst themselves. Not only will working as team players promote friendship amongst your team, but it will also boost morale and productivity.

Coach and mentor those who struggle to fit in

Occasionally, there will be team members who simply don’t work well within the team. Perhaps they’re confrontational or aggressive, or perhaps they’re the opposite and too shy and submissive.

Such individuals can lower the morale of a team and cause stress and anxiety to others and to themselves—ultimately affecting work output. It’s therefore important to identify these individuals and work with them in order to improve their interpersonal skills.

By coaching and mentoring your staff—possibly giving them certain tasks to look after or sending them on training courses—you can mould your team into a more positive and collaborative workforce.

Different personalities can transform your business

Successfully managing different roles, personalities and working styles is without doubt a challenge. However, when managed well, diverse personalities can transform your business for the better.

Make us of these strategies and you will be rewarded with a successful, positive, productive, and diverse team who can tackle anything you throw their way.


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