Understanding and appreciating different personality styles can greatly enhance our ability to build rapport and engage with others effectively and then improve work life balance. I would often wonder and frankly be a little perplexed as to how some of my peers and colleagues could "get away" with things in the workplace.
In one role I had my boss was interested in detail so every time we would have a work related topic I knew to give him facts, figures, supporting evidence and DETAIL. Most of the meetings would go well, and there were others like him in that working culture. It was a fast moving business so I guess, looking back, there was need for action quickly. Take the facts and move. When I moved to a different industry, it was quite an experience for me to go to my first high-level meeting and take the same, tried and trusted approach. I didn't get the outcome I wanted for the business. I had done the same level of research and analysis before the meeting and presented my information clearly but I tripped up early on. What happened? What happened was I hadn't taken the time to adjust. This new boss has a different style (though I hadn't been aware of that at the time); he wanted a chat, to settle in and to have a conversation. I wanted to present.....
I watched another colleague make a presentation later on and I thought he was unprepared, so I braced for more challenging moments. I knew he hadn't done much data gathering. What he had done though was he had focussed on engaging in the meeting. He took a conversational approach, he gave descriptions and talked about the market environment. He shared anecdotes. He flavoured his contribution with humour. In other words, he made the key decision makers comfortable and gave them time to get a feel for the challenge that needed to be taken on. Here are some further tips and useful hints to keep in mind.
No judgment: Recognize that there is no inherent superiority or inferiority associated with different personality styles. Each style brings unique strengths and preferences to the table.
Academic qualifications and technical expertise: While academic qualifications and technical expertise are important, they are not the sole determinants of success. Strengthening rapport with others is crucial for holistic engagement and can benefit both individuals and organizations.
The power of storytelling: Some individuals, like my former colleague, excel at building rapport through storytelling and creativity. They can engage others through describing people, problems, and potential solutions. Understanding and appreciating this approach can help you see the value in different communication styles.
Facts and figures: On the other hand, some individuals, like myself, rely on data, facts, figures, and analysis to influence others. Appreciate the importance of your analytical approach and the value it brings to those who prefer a more detail-oriented style.
Balancing approaches: In a high-performing environment, it's important to recognize and balance different communication and decision-making styles. By understanding the preferences and strengths of each style, you can tailor your approach to effectively engage with decision makers and stakeholders.
So what did I do? I have my own personality style, just like we all do. I adjusted to the environment. I did my analysis, and my forensics but I learned to slow down, to alter my pace and instead of potentially overwhelming folks with data I learned to segue information into discussions, so that I could bring people with me.
Awareness and adaptability: Developing an awareness of your colleagues' personality styles can help you adjust your communication style accordingly. This doesn't mean surrendering your own style, but rather finding a common ground that fosters collaboration and builds trust.
Respect for differences: Remember that having a different personality style than your colleagues does not make them better or worse. Embrace the diversity of styles and recognize that each one contributes to a well-rounded team.
By incorporating these tips and hints into your interactions, you can foster better relationships, collaborate more effectively, and ultimately achieve success both individually and collectively.
So, the expressive style works well with
Regular engagement and follow up (as they mull ideas over)
Ideas, thoughts, perspectives
Vision and adventure
A wide lens view
Looking into the future
Having fun
They’re not so fond of
Data overloads
Frostiness or formality
Being harried and rushed
Being unenthusiastic
Impatience
Quite interesting😁