Working with Different Personalities – Benefits the Company & You

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” – Maya Angelou

Working with people can be rewarding and a great learning experience, and, on the other end of the spectrum, just plain frustrating at times. An office environment provides the opportunities for myriad experiences – both personal and professional – with a diverse group of people that maybe you wouldn’t have gotten to know on a strictly social basis. Working in sync with colleagues may be a bit challenge at times, but one that can be successfully addressed with a bit of tact and finesse when applied to the behavior of others – and your own!

There are many benefits for a firm with a workforce made up of differing personalities. Diversity makes for a variety of points of view and ideas to address challenges. And in much the same way that the old adage ‘opposites attract’ pertains in relationships, a variety of temperaments “can create a stronger, more balanced environment. While employees with quieter personalities can be the stabilizing factor, those who are risk-takers provide the extra nudge needed to try new things,” according to Mary Ylisela, Demand Media, in her column, ‘What Are the Benefits of Having Different Personalities & Temperaments in the Workplace?’

A diverse mix of personalities and talents can make for a much stronger workforce as those of a specific personality type generally lean towards a career that suits them. For instance, more creative types are often designers or marketers, while more analytical people tend to lean towards finance, engineering and project management. No matter the temperament, it’s important that colleagues respect each other’s strengths and contributions to the company, and realize the importance each role plays.

Within any organization however, conflicts will arise, and colleagues need to remember that everyone is on the same team – working towards a common goal. Frequently difficult co-workers who lash out at work are going through something in their personal lives. The key for others in dealing with this is to not take the slight personally, and try to defuse the situation through calm and rational exploration of common ground – all with the goal of maintain an environment of mutual respect and civility.

Keeping in mind that you can learn something from everyone, and to try and be a good listener, goes a long way towards creating a positive work environment. The sheer variety of people that one interacts with throughout their career, creates occasions to be exposed to a great many personalities, skill sets, experience and knowledge – all with ample opportunities to learn. And who doesn’t need to continue to learn?