We all have sat through the team
personality assessments and cultural diversity seminars, right. Those that talk about how
different our personalities are, how we can work together and how to respect
everyone’s personality. Whether you
follow Myers-Briggs, DiSC, Colors, or TypeFocus, the conversation is all the
same. You take an assessment before the
seminar, during the seminar you hear everyone’s personality type, how we all
are contributors to the team, and how we all can utilize each other. OR!! You talk about cultural differences in the
workplace and how understanding everyone’s culture can bring out the best in us
all!
In theory these seminars are
great. You formally learn about
yourself, things that you don’t naturally think of. You find out why you and particular co-worker
always butt heads during projects. You
find out who is opposite of you and how to utilize their talents. You find out how people view and value
different aspects of the workplace. You
find peace, harmony, and clarity for your office.
In reality, are we really holding
our employees and teammates to this standard.
We can talk until the roosters come home about cohesiveness, but if once
we walk out the room it goes back to normal; we’ve wasted everyone’s time and
energy. How can we really grow as professionals:
1.
Be introspective!: Once you know you’re
personality type and cultural preference, think about how you are perceived in
the office. I quote Mama Lewis on this, 'Everyone’s perception is
real to them'; so if someone see’s you as a push over, or bossy, or aloof, that
is their truth. Now that does not mean
it is the whole truth. Think to
yourself, why do people view my actions this way? There must be something you’re doing to put
this vibes into the universe. Do your actions
cause people to not want to include you in team projects, avoid you, or dismiss
your ideas? If so, think on how you can
change the way you present your ideas, or you’re facial expressions, or be more
assertive. Asking co-workers their
opinion on your office actions could be a great way to find ways to improve
your presentation.
2.
Get over yourself! I don’t care how long you’ve
been with a team or cohort, unless you’re in upper management no one needs a personality
makeover to appease you. It is a two way
street, everyone should give little. Just because you have been in your role
2,5,10 years does not make you the leader of the office. It makes you the most knowledgeable about the
job duties, but if you can’t translate that into a personality that most people
want to interact with; you’re useless. On the flip side, just because you’re new to
a position doesn’t mean you have to 'be seen but not heard'. If you see something you would like to
inquire about, do so. Make sure you ASK
about the idea or problem, before barging into someone’s office telling them
how to fix the problem. You never want
to offend someone and you definitely don’t want to start talking before you
have all the information.
3.
Respect
work styles. I talked with a close friend
who works in an environment that values friendship, not workplace harmony; but
friendship. He felt as though, if you
weren’t going out, or divulging your life to, or coddling this particular
co-worker; then you weren’t going to be heard by the boss. He felt dismissed, at
times disrespected, and frustrated. The
only person in the office with that much power should be the boss. Not everyone wants to go out for drinks with
their co-workers. Some people view their position as just a job. Some people
value time over production. Just because
someone does not work in the way you do, or value similar things, or is
different; does not mean they are not a good co-worker.
4.
There’s nothing to do but to do it! Actually utilize the information given from
the cultural or personality seminars and communicate with people in the best way. Don’t harbor hurt
feelings or indifference to co-workers just because they are different. Check yourself and realize that you have
short comings as well. You’d hate it if someone made you feel ostracized or
left out. Actually listen
in the seminars and think to yourself; have I done all that I can do to be
inviting to those different than me; Have I truly identified my weaknesses and
ways I can improve; Are people’s perceptions the one I want them to
have?
These are just four points to get yourself thinking. No one wants to be stagnant in their career,
we all want to grow and evolve into the professional we envision. But that all
starts with being able to effectively communicate, learning how to get
production out of differing coworkers and foster an environment people can thrive in. Do an anonymous survey about
office perceptions towards you; maybe that will show you the impact you really have.
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