How do you manage different personalities?
11 Dec 2014
Both professionally and personally, no two people are the same. Unlocking a deeper understanding of those you meet is a key social skill which can see you blossom into a real people person – if you can get it right.
When managing employees, knowing exactly how each individual member of your team is likely to react under different circumstances will give you a better idea of what it will take to effectively guide them. Here are some key personality types to look out for, and the tips you need to successfully engage with them:
Extroverts and outgoing people
Dealing with someone who is very outgoing and likes to voice their opinion can be a fine balancing act. If you let them have it all their own way, they may believe that you’re a push-over. However, if you choose to be overly confrontational then you could isolate them and reduce their effectiveness at work.
The simplest solution to dealing with an extrovert is to be generous with praise when they get things right, but take on a no-nonsense approach with them if and when they don’t.
Introverts and sensitive-types
Managing a person effectively when you know they may take any feedback personally can be difficult. Generally people who are perhaps a little meek will do as they’re told and not want to make too many decisions.
Keeping them happy can be relatively easy if you provide them with appropriate praise and aren’t too direct or aggressive in your dealings with them.
Ultimately, you should try and engage those that are quiet and withdrawn as much as those who are outspoken. This is particularly important as you may find the former have great ideas for business but they’re afraid to bring them up in fear of getting shot down.
Understanding your staff is one of the most critical aspects of effective management. If you would like to improve your interpersonal and people skills in the work place, consider the Coaching for Managers course on offer from ICML.