Everyone is different. This is especially true for workplace personality. As a business owner, it is especially important to understand that everyone has different motivations, comforts and discomforts regarding work. In order to be a strong leader in the workplace, one should make themselves aware of the different common personality types in the workplace and how to facilitate each of them appropriately.
Understanding workplace personality types is essential in maintaining a strong employee well-being. Thus, through understanding personality, business owners can ensure a healthy and inclusive work environment.
This article will guide you through four common workplace personality types and how employers can facilitate each for maximum productivity. Each of which were previously identified as part of research carried out by Aviva.
The Four Common Workplace Personality Types
The Resilient Completers
These disciplined and organised individuals are often the most confident among work-forces. They experience the most comfort in high pressure situations. Resilient completers require little support but prefere clearly laid out tasks. They often dislike unpredictability that removes a sense of control over their work.
Such individuals work best in high pressure work environments. In these high stress environments, self discipline and control are essential. Thus resilient completers are a best fit.
However, everyone has their weaknesses, even amongst the most confident and competent. Resilient completers often struggle in rapidly changing work environments. In addition, where work is fluid and ambiguous, this workplace personality type may struggle.
Employers can best facilitate these types of people by putting them in positions that minimise the risk of complacency and overconfidence. The organisation and discipline of resilient completers can make them essential to any business and so to ensure they are being challenged will help company retention. This is as they will not feel the need to move onto another role elsewhere to create a greater challenge for themselves.
Impulsive Worriers
These individuals are often less resilient and organised than that of a resilient completer. However, they often make up for this with a high level of motivation.
Impulsive Worriers work best in flexible and free-flowing work environments. They also find most productivity and comfort in positions where they can receive emotional support when needed. They often struggle in situations where supervision is minimal and where others heavily rely on them for their output.
Employer’s can best facilitate these individuals by reassuring them often in order to lessen feelings of anxiety. Additionally by implementing regular catch ups, employer’s can ensure that these individuals receive the emotional support needed whilst keeping them organised and on task.
For further information on how to manage employee engagement, read this article.
Apprehensive Achievers
This type of workplace personality often has considerable determination and discipline. However, unlike the Resilient Completer, these individuals often struggle when under pressure.
Apprehensive Achievers often thrive in situations that allow for extensive preparation and foreseeing of possible problems. Similar to the Resilient Completer, these individuals may, however, struggle in ambiguous work settings. Furthermore, situations where goals and objectives are not clear may cause these individuals a considerable amount of discomfort.
From an employer’s perspective, they can facilitate these people by providing encouragement. These types of people are often very vigilant to potential pitfalls and threats, so providing assistance with planning and support can help them to tackle these issues effectively. Employers should create a community of growth in the workplace where workers receive support and guidance when they make mistakes. This will ultimately help in high stress situations by relieving the pressure on workers of not making mistakes in fear of the consequences that follow.
Spontaneous Survivors
These workplace personality types work extremely well under pressure. They move fast which is both a strength and a weakness as they often complete work quickly but lack attention to detail.
Spontaneous Survivors often prefer a more informal working environment. They are very competent under pressure but are better fit in scenarios where planning and attention to detail are not prioritised. That being said, a Spontaneous Survivor may struggle where a high degree of self- organisation and motivation are essential.
An employer can facilitate these individuals by considering their motivations. Spontaneous Survivors may not value long term goals and planning as much as other people so giving them more immediately gratifying, quick-win type tasks may suit them better. Furthermore, by getting peers to monitor each other’s work, you can reduce mistakes that arise from a lack of attention to detail.
For more information regarding employee management or further HR support, contact us.
- Unveiling the Purpose of Exit Interviews: A Comprehensive Guide for Businesses
- Essential Factors affecting Employee Retention for Small Businesses
- Career Planning: How it Can Benefit Small Businesses
- Boost Your Small Business with Employee Training and Development
- Revolutionize Your Hiring Process: The Power of Psychometric Testing
