How to Collaborate with Different Personalities
No matter the size of your project team, you’re bound to run into personality clashes. Each team member has his or her own needs, experiences and goals that affect the project outcome and the path taken to get there. Without a strategy in place that recognizes and respects these differences, a project may struggle or ultimately run off course. Project managers need to prioritize the human aspect by focusing on two key areas: acknowledging differences and preparing in advance.
Acknowledge that different personalities exist on the team
The first step is to acknowledge the differences and encourage all team members to do the same. Depending on the company, roles and structure, you may come across several types of personalities, and people may be any number of combinations of types:
Direct vs. laid back
Extroverted vs. introverted
Confrontational vs. avoidant
Formal vs. informal
Anxious vs. levelheaded
Outspoken vs. passive
Charismatic vs. shy
Understanding the different personality types — and how they might conflict — will help you guide your team in choosing preferred methods of communication. Some people prefer verbal communications, while others respond better to email or internal messages. Some are very visual and like to see diagrams and models, while others prefer written documentation and instructions. Tailoring communication to your team’s personalities can help facilitate collaboration.
Identify your own personality type
Project managers can lead by example and explore how their own personality type affects their preferences. First, consider how you respond to different challenges and what you need from others in those situations. How do you prefer to receive information? Next, reflect on how you can adapt your own style to meet the needs of those on the other end of the spectrum. For example, if you’re a verbal communicator but your team is more visual, prepare for a meeting by creating a diagram to represent your main point. You can deliver your message verbally, using the visual piece to ensure that each member understands your key message.
Prepare for meetings and conversations in advance
Once you have an understanding of the personalities of your team members, set goals in advance of meeting. Acknowledging team members’ differences gives insight into conflicts and why they happen; preparation gives the tools to head off those conflicts before they occur. Plans should include information gathering in advance and any items or documents needed to ensure that meetings run smoothly.
Review the topics for discussion and note where differences of opinion may already exist.
Consider how your planned delivery of information may be received by different personalities and adjust as needed.
Focus on addressing the concerns of others on the team before your own. For example, if you are presenting an idea for a new process and your boss is always concerned about the bottom line, begin your discussion by showing that your idea won’t affect the profits. Starting by connecting on your boss’ major concern shows that you pay attention and are in tune with his or her needs and creates a comfortable space for your boss to consider your ideas.
When a conflict arises in the meeting, take a moment to step back and “translate” what’s happening, mentally or verbally, with the team. Consider the other person’s perspective and how your personality is affecting your perception. For example, let’s say you’re an introvert but your coworker Jane is more direct and passionate. To you, Jane can seem blunt, harsh or overpowering. Looking at it from the other perspective, however, you may realize that Jane does her thinking out loud; when she disagrees or doesn’t understand, she rejects the idea immediately but then follows up with questions or concerns to better understand. By recognizing these differences, you can realize that instead of getting defensive due to the denial/rejection, you need to give her a few minutes to talk it through and come around to a place where she can communicate.
Left unchecked, differences in personalities can spell disaster for project teams and results. When managers and leaders step up to nurture team members based on their unique needs and create an environment that encourages listening and understanding, the team will be more collaborative and successful. And that, of course, will translate to on-time project delivery, happy executives and a stronger bottom line.