Understanding the unique personalities within a team is key to creating a productive and inspiring workplace. By recognizing these differences, managers can build more effective teams, improve collaboration, and boost overall productivity. This guide explores various personality types, offering insights into how to communicate, lead, and offer a fulfilling work environment that supports everyone’s strengths.
Wanted: a roadmap for diverse teams
Every workplace is made up of a unique blend of personalities, each with distinct skills and experiences. This diversity impacts work culture, which directly influences productivity and business success.
Understanding the personalities of the employees is crucial from a management perspective since it helps create a more harmonious and dynamic workplace. Managers are able to build balanced teams by pairing complementary traits (strategic thinkers with detail-oriented individuals) to ensure diverse perspectives. By understanding the underlying motivations and perceptions of different types, leaders can maintain a positive work culture.
Employees are more likely to stay in a workplace where their personality is respected, their strengths are utilized, and their needs are met. This reduces turnover and encourages long-term loyalty. Let's take a closer look at the different personality traits.
Explore different office personalities with the Enneagram framework
Different theories help determine personality types, which influence workplace roles. We have made it easy for you - Here are 9 types from the Enneagram framework!
The Reformer
What makes the Reformer stand out? It’s not about politics or Pilates! This type of person strives for excellence and has a strong sense of justice. In school, it probably was the person sitting in the front of the class, telling the teacher that the lesson has already ended. Some would even call them perfectionists. If you want to communicate with a Reformer, our advice is to avoid criticizing them too much, since they already are quite harsh on themselves. Make sure not to put a heavy workload on the Reformer. Let them know that it is alright to delegate some of the tasks if they run out of time. A clear structure and detailed explanations are music to their ears.
The Helper
As the name suggests, this is the Florence Nightingale (yes, she was a loving nurse) of the group. This personality is driven by the need to feel appreciated and liked by other colleagues. Besides being nurturing and helpful, this person might feel the pressure to be accommodating at all times. We all need a Helper in the group to strengthen our bonds, but it’s important that Helpers receive regular recognition for their contributions.
The Achiever
If you have met a person with a cheerful demeanor, a strong handshake and get-it-done attitude, you have probably met the Achiever. They are always busy crossing off things on their to-do-list, and it looks so easy for them. The worst thing for the Achiever is to be controlled and micromanaged.
The Individualist
No man is an island, but the individualist would prefer their own peninsula. As the name suggests, they appreciate working independently. This is where they come up with their best ideas and solutions. For a manager, it can be extra tricky to influence the Individualist, but if you refrain from comparing them to others and make them a part of the team - on their own terms - you will have a valuable member of the team.
The Investigator
The Investigator is a curious individual who wants to read between the lines. They are happy to challenge the status quo and always want to go to the bottom of the matter before making any decisions. Managers need to be prepared for all their “why:s” and be open to feedback, while you steer them and the rest of the team in the right direction.
The Loyalist
No one is as loyal as this personality type, and they are ready to support and help the company succeed no matter what. On the flip side, this person might be too self-sacrificing and obsess about negative outcomes. The loyalist deserves less doom and gloom and needs to feel safe. As their confidence grows, performance will improve.
The Enthusiast
The enthusiast is always up for a challenge and happily juggles various tasks. Driven by curiosity, they take on any new challenges and inspire others along the way. Their fascination with new and exciting ideas often leads to unfinished projects, requiring close supervision to ensure completion.
The Challenger
If you have come across a fierce personality who is not afraid to defend their cause, you have most likely met the Challenger. Dealing with a strong personality can be tough for both co-workers and managers alike, but under the right circumstances, the Challenger will thrive. They could also be a good fit for a leadership role.
The Peacemaker
Every group needs a peacemaker! This type of personality is truly an asset when you need to resolve heated conflicts and form strong relationships. The Peacemaker is on the other hand not comfortable in sharing his or her opinion, if asked, too afraid to rock the boat. They are best approached in private, where their valuable feedback can be shared more comfortably.
How to lead a team with diverse personalities
As concluded above, a manager needs to deal with a great number of different personality types in the office. It requires a certain understanding and leadership style to make it work.
Tailored communication: Great leaders truly listen. Show your team you value their input by actively listening: repeat key points to reach an understanding, eliminate distractions, and ask thoughtful questions. Adapt your communication style to bring out the best in every team member. Be more specific about how to approach the fierce Challenger and humble Reformer.
Create a positive environment: Empathy isn’t a weakness, but a strength that drives positive outcomes. Show genuine care to establish trust and build stronger connections. Different personalities can complement each other, and the Helper can collaborate with the anxious Loyalist or support a Reformer.
Increased collaboration: Build a culture of collaboration with regular check-ins, team celebrations, and shared goals. Strong teamwork leads to stronger results.
Designing a workplace for everyone
In addition to considering personality traits, creating a workspace that caters to different types can enhance productivity and job satisfaction. The Big Five personality traits offer a broader perspective on how individuals function in the workplace:
- Openness to Experience. Curiosity, imagination, creativity, and openness to new ideas and experiences. High scorers enjoy exploring new concepts, cultures, and activities, and low scorers prefer routine, familiarity, and practical solutions.
- Conscientiousness. Organization, responsibility, self-discipline, and dependability. High scorers are hardworking, detail-oriented, and goal-driven. Low scorers are spontaneous, less structured, and may struggle with deadlines.
- Extraversion. Sociability, energy, assertiveness, and enthusiasm. High scorers thrive in social settings, enjoy group activities, and are outgoing. Low scorers prefer solitude or smaller groups and value quiet environments.
- Agreeableness. Compassion, cooperation, trust, and kindness. High scorers are friendly, empathetic, and focused on maintaining harmony. Low scorers are competitive, skeptical, or more self-focused.
- Neuroticism. Emotional instability, anxiety, and moodiness. High scorers are prone to stress, worry, and emotional swings. Low scorers are calm, resilient, and emotionally stable.
The flexible office unlocks more potential
Taking everything mentioned above into account, handling different personalities in the office requires a holistic approach that goes beyond leadership. Enter office design and flexible schedules!
A flexible office gives employees the freedom to choose when, where, and how they work to achieve their goals. By offering a combination of open, closed and social office spaces, everyone on the team can pick their favorite for the day. A social space can be a lounge and an open space can be an office room for four. Elevate the workplace experience by creating an activity-based office by considering the following.
Introverts are naturally more sensitive to external stimuli, which can make large, open workspaces draining. To create a more inclusive environment, consider adding private meeting rooms or designated workstations. Soundproof panels or fabrics can be used to reduce distracting noises.
By offering a variety of spaces, you’ll give introverted employees the possibility to recharge and focus in private when needed. Alternatively, the Achiever will not be bothered in this type of work setting and probably will work relentlessly.
Extroverted employees thrive on social interaction throughout the workday, making social areas and mingle-friendly staff rooms a must-have in any workplace. They also excel at shared workstations, where they can collaborate with teammates and exchange exciting ideas.
For those with an agreeable personality type, who enjoy connecting with colleagues, open workspaces are a great option. Casual meeting areas, and dedicated spaces for brainstorming sessions with inspiration boards, could encourage creativity and collaboration. This is simply a haven for the Peacemaker or the Helper!
Conscientious individuals tend to value their personal space more than others and often require a dedicated, semi-private workspace to stay productive. When tasks demand uninterrupted focus, workplace dividers or privacy-focused furniture can help minimize distractions and support their need for concentration. A perfect pick for the Individualist!
For employees who are open to new experiences, it’s important to offer spaces that spark creativity and visual thinking. A dedicated workshop area or brainstorming zone equipped with whiteboards, mood boards, projectors and creative tools can help bring their ideas to life. The curious Investigator will most likely enjoy this type of environment.
Flowscape supports the flexible office
An essential component of the activity based office is flexible desk booking. Being able to smoothly change between different workspaces is a must for both in-office and hybrid workers.
Depending on their task or mood for the day, employees are able to find the perfect desk and book it in advance. This option is favorable for hybrid workers who divide their time between the calm and cozy home office and classical dynamic office.
By reserving their desk or booking a meeting room in advance in our user-friendly app, employees remove all distractions associated with scouting for a workplace or having to search for other team members throughout the day. Flowplanner provides a useful overview of room occupancy to avoid crowded areas during certain times of the day.
The flexibility combined with structure will appeal to anyone on the Big Five personalities. Depending on their personality type and work assignment, there are plenty of possibilities to work on your own terms. Win-win.
Invest in the flexible solutions and achieve long-time success
Creating a workplace that suits diverse personalities is essential for long-term success. By tailoring communication and designing flexible workspaces according to individual preferences, companies can unlock the full potential of their teams.
Leaders who understand and value the different personality types in their organization are better equipped to inspire loyalty, reduce turnover, and boost performance.