鈥淲e all bring our lives to the workplace,鈥� said Kathy Barnes, the associate director
and operations manager of USF鈥檚 Office of Corporate Training and Professional Education.
Understanding employees as individuals 鈥� each with unique personalities, strengths,
and life experiences 鈥� is an essential leadership skill. Let鈥檚 take a closer look
at how leaders can take steps toward understanding personality types and communicating effectively in the workplace.
Use Personality and Strengths Assessments
One way to understand your team members鈥� personalities is to use assessment tools such as the Birkman Method, DiSC, or CliftonStrengths. For example, USF鈥檚 Corporate Leadership Program uses the Birkman Method to assess an individual鈥檚 interests, needs, and stress behavior.
When you understand your employees鈥� personalities, you can place them in roles that emphasize their strengths, Barnes said. If an employee is struggling in their position, assessments can help you reframe a difficult conversation in a positive light. Instead of blaming an employee for underperforming, focus on how you can maximize their strengths and give them what they need to thrive. You can even consider placing them in a new role that better fits their personality. 鈥淚f a person鈥檚 not doing well, maybe they can really shine in another area,鈥� Barnes said. 鈥淎nd as a leader, you need to be able to identify that and not be afraid to make that move.鈥�
Whenever you discuss the results of an assessment, make sure you aren鈥檛 stereotyping employees. Instead, use assessments as an opportunity to let employees tell you more about themselves. Do they truly consider themselves big-picture thinkers? Are their interests more artistic or scientific? How do these factors contribute to their ideal work environment or communication preferences?
As this explains, personality assessments are really conversation starters: 鈥淚t鈥檚 about acknowledging
differences 鈥� even those that might drive others nuts 鈥� and working out how to give
each other feedback in a way that鈥檚 respectful, plus learning to appreciate complementary
differences and how best to use them in a workplace setting.鈥�
Avoid Personality Test Pitfalls
Remember, there are no right answers to these tests, no passing or failing. They鈥檙e used to identify personality types, and the best teams include a variety of personalities.
Make sure you do not discriminate against employees based on their tests. Some workers have reported being 鈥渟taffed on less desirable projects or denied leadership opportunities because of their personality types,鈥� according to this New York Times . That obviously is not the kind of work culture you want to create.
Personality tests should not decide whether you hire an applicant, either. Always
review results within the context of the applicant鈥檚 鈥渆xperience, education, references
and conduct during the interview,鈥� says this . SHRM also recommends that you choose your personality assessments carefully: 鈥淎sk
vendors for the technical documentation that shows what the test was designed to measure,
what group it was tested with and what workplace behaviors it can predict.鈥�
Encourage Social Interaction
Don鈥檛 rely solely on tests to get to know your colleagues. Sometimes the best way to understand your employees鈥� personalities is to engage with them in events outside work.
During the coronavirus crisis, consider hosting virtual events (book clubs, happy hours, game nights, even dance parties). Every Wednesday afternoon, Barnes and her colleagues hold an online office coffee chat that鈥檚 all about social bonding: 鈥淵ou cannot say a word about any work at all. It鈥檚 just strictly catching up and checking to see how everyone鈥檚 doing.鈥�
Possible for your virtual chat: What have you been watching on Netflix? What recipes have
you enjoyed lately? What鈥檚 your favorite book?
Understand Employees鈥� Life Challenges
The more you understand the lives of your employees, the more equipped you鈥檒l be to meet their needs. Foster a safe, supportive environment where team members feel comfortable sharing important life events. Barnes tells her team members that her door is always open, even if they just need to 鈥渉ave a good cry.鈥�
To encourage employees to be honest about their lives, lead by example, Barnes said. Although you don鈥檛 want to overshare or complain, be real with employees about your challenges. Barnes gave the example of saying, 鈥淚鈥檓 sorry, I鈥檓 having a really rough day today. You know, my child鈥檚 not doing well in school.鈥�
When you display authentic vulnerability, it can lead to stronger emotional connections
with your colleagues. 鈥淎nd it has to be genuine because people can see through stuff.
Trust me, if you鈥檙e just trying to put on an act, they will definitely see through
that,鈥� Barnes said.
Follow Communication Best Practices
All employees, regardless of personality types, want a leader who knows how to communicate effectively. Here are three tips to enhance your communication skills:
- Listen. When you actively listen, you demonstrate compassion and open-mindedness. You also learn more about your employees鈥� true needs.
- Use . With five generations in the workforce, you need to reach both the millennial who likes instant messaging and the baby boomer who prefers a face-to-face meeting or a phone call.
- Say 鈥渨hy.鈥� During a crisis such as the current pandemic, employees need to understand why they
are asked to take on a project or engage in a new initiative, explains this article.
Advance Your Leadership Skills
If you鈥檙e interested in advancing your leadership abilities, consider USF鈥檚 Corporate
Leadership Program. You鈥檒l learn how to create an engaged team, understand how to
communicate through change, and develop your emotional intelligence.