Workplace Personality Types and How To Deal With Them

Understanding workplace personality types is important to be able to mix with your co-workers in a way where you can remain respectful but at the same time express your position and your personality so that boundaries are set. After all, workplaces are competitive environments, so knowing who is who and how to deal with them matters.

When someone has a job, normally they do not wish to remain at the same level they are at. For the most part, they will try to get noticed by their boss in order to get that much wanted promotion. How can you get noticed by your superiors? How can you stand out from the crowd?

Showing your boss that you are worthy of a promotion is proving to them that you have leadership skills. To be able to be a leader, you will need to understand the various personalities in your workplace, and also how to deal with them. If you can show that getting along with all types of personalities in a non confrontational way, this will definitely give you a step up for that promotion you have been wanting.

The Fun One

The fun person in the office is an extrovert who talks a lot. These people like to be the centre of attention and make people laugh. They will normally be the one to plan social gatherings after work. These people are well liked by everyone and very forgiving. Although they get their work done quickly, they get distracted easily and tend to be less organized than others.

These people like attention, and approval. when they worked on a project that they are proud of, they want to be recognized.  Laugh at their jokes, and take a little time when possible to listen to the escapade they had on the weekend. Chances are it will be entertaining and funny, so it will also be good for you. Also, to get along well with these people it is good to show up and have fun at the after work social events they plan. They will like you more if they see you as someone who knows how to let loose and have fun once in a while.

The Peace Keeper

This personality type does not like conflict. They like everything to be in order and to keep the peace by making everyone happy. They will typically avoid confrontation by being easy going, patient, grounded and diplomatic.

It is important to respect the peace keeper, as well as show them that you have respect for others. If this person hears you talk bad about someone, they may not say anything in order to avoid confrontation, but they could see you more negatively. It is also best to avoid direct confrontation with this person. If they are doing something that is bothersome to you, approach it in a way that does not say “you did something wrong, and I am here to tell you”.  You could address the issue in a general sense, not pointing them out directly.

The Dominant

This type of person likes to be in charge, control things. They will always try to work close to the people who are high up, because they want to prove that they have power, that they are natural leaders. They are also always goal oriented and achieve these goals with hard work.

The dominants like to get credit for the work they have done, so why not give them a compliment on their work when it’s good. Because of their natural leadership skills, your superiors will normally like this person, and may even consult with them about other employees. This means that it is important to be on their good side. If you are working on a project with them, let them take the lead and show them loyalty by showing up to meetings and getting the work done.

The Meticulous

Everything they do needs to be accurately and perfectly done. They like to follow the rules. This person will actually fully read the employee handbook with attention. When something happens that is not right according to rules, they can most likely quote you the exact regulation number in the rules and regulations. Their work is very important to them, and they are known to work overtime as they are unable to leave something unless it is finished.

The meticulous person will want their workspace to be quiet and typically would rather work alone. If you are working closely with them, you will need to pay extra close attention to what you do as they will notice any mistakes you may have done. It is important to show these people that you follow guidelines and structure as they will accept nothing less.

So in the end, we all know that it can be hard to deal with different types of personalities; this is also true in social circles.  I think the most important part of getting along with every type of personalities is to  understand them and be able to identify them. Once you identify your co-worker’s you will be able to work better with them. Not only will your boss notice, but it will also make the job that much better.