We come across them every day at work: different personality types in the office. We get on better with some than with others. Of course, you can’t always choose the right colleague for a project, and sometimes you have to find a way to work with someone you don’t particularly like. It can certainly help to take a closer look at the different types of office personalities. If you have a clearer idea of why a colleague reacts in a certain way, you can adapt better and defuse critical situations before they arise. This makes working together easier and ultimately improves the outcome. However, you shouldn’t overstretch your own willingness to compromise or your ability to adapt. Stay true to your own personality – after all, you’re an ‘office type’ too.
The Big Boss
This personality type in the office is usually not your immediate line manager, but a colleague of equal standing. Yet in projects, they immediately seize control. The Big Boss also has a master plan up their sleeve right from the start, which everyone is expected to follow. They often won’t allow any discussion and nip all arguments in the bud. If anyone tries to position themselves as a rival to the Big Boss, things can get rather uncomfortable. The Big Boss knows how to defend their position and has no qualms about playing hardball when necessary. After such situations, the tension within the team is even greater and the outcome of the project work could suffer as a result.
The best way to deal with the big boss is to treat him as the equal colleague that he, after all, is. However, you shouldn’t belittle him either. Show him that he doesn’t have to coordinate everything on his own, but that you work as a team. Bear in mind that it can always be a good thing for one person to be in charge of the project. This leads to a structured – and therefore more relaxed – way of working. If the big boss feels respected, he is a very caring figure in the office and helps to keep the team together.
The Dramatist
Everyone knows that one person who has to make a mountain out of a molehill. Was the train five minutes late? Not for the Dramatist. In his version of events, he had to wait over two hours for the train before venturing on foot to the office, as he’d also left his wallet at home. This type of colleague can sometimes be very entertaining and captivating, but also very exhausting in the long run. They like to take centre stage and enjoy the general attention. This can hinder the flow of a project, as the Dramatist is always causing a distraction.
The best approach is not to validate the ‘dramatist’ in what they say. A ‘Goodness me, you poor thing’ shows the ‘dramatist’ that they’ve found the right audience and prompts them to reel off one story after another. It is better to bring this type of colleague down from his cloud in a friendly but firm manner. As a rule, the Dramatist is also a very committed colleague who can contribute effectively to a topic.
The Vigilant One
At first glance, this type of office colleague seems very reserved. They remain quiet in meetings and rarely voice an opinion. To outsiders, this may come across as cool and aloof, and at times even unpredictable. Extroverted colleagues find it hard to gauge the Vigilant and tend to be very cautious in their presence. But in reality, this personality type is only reserved in the office so as not to leave themselves open to criticism. They observe closely and consciously decide within what context to speak. These colleagues often have very good ideas that are well thought out and can significantly drive the project forward.
It’s best to keep trying to involve the ‘Watchful’ type in discussions. Value their suggestions and use them to build a foundation of trust. Then the ‘Watchful’ type will gradually open up and become more involved in the project. However, do not try to outwit this type of colleague. If you do, they will withdraw further and stop sharing their ideas with anyone.
The passive-aggressive personality type in the office
You should be wary of this colleague. Outwardly, they come across as very approachable and friendly, but they do not really support the projects or even the company as a whole. They do not say this outright, however, but act in a passive-aggressive manner. An example: This type of colleague tells you that they’ll have the sub-project finished by Friday. You then hear nothing more from them, and on the day of the presentation they’re suddenly absent, and the sub-project is also full of gaps. With this sort of behaviour, this type of colleague can throw entire schedules into disarray.
This type of colleague has an issue with authority figures, which is why you should treat them as an equal. This way, they’ll feel more valued and be more motivated to carry out their tasks. Work together to set a precise timetable and ask for progress reports at regular intervals. Criticism should be expressed objectively, and don’t be stingy with praise. That’s how you’ll get this type of colleague under control.
With the help of the tips above, you can improve how you work with the different personality types in the office. If the physical environment of the office is also suitable, nothing will stand in the way of productive project work. COLLECTION Business Centre offers co-working spaces in central locations with exclusive facilities. This gives you a fixed meeting place for your project team, even if you normally work in different locations. In the productive atmosphere of the COLLECTION Business Centre, you can come together and exchange ideas as and when required.
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