You are leading a big diverse team and you find yourself in the middle of a team meeting. Then the show begins! Joe always has something to add, Nick is working silently on his laptop, and Caroline is enthusiastic about her new project. You are in the middle and feel like you are trying to juggle all the balls with one hand. After the meeting, you feel frustrated and worried about what happened.

Your situation is that you have a diverse team with various personalities and traits that need different communication approaches. Each person brings a unique personality to the table. Your role as a leader is to find an effective way to communicate with each personality in the group. It sounds easy, but in practice is much more complicated. First, you must know how to communicate and lead each personality type to improve your leadership skills.  You have to “listen” and “feel” what they need.

Leadership is about understanding your team members, motivations, skills, and what makes them tick. This is like solving a puzzle with price a well-functioning, dynamic, and motivated team. So you must learn to navigate yourself as a leader in such situations.

This article will teach you about the different personality types, their characteristics, and what motivates them. Equipped with such awareness, we give you practical tips on how to engage with each personality type. Are you ready to improve your leadership skills?

The most crucial aspect of effective communication as a leader is to be able to recognize each personality type within your team. Most people can be broadly categorized into four personality types: driver, analytical, amiable, and expressive. Of course, there is overlap, and people share characteristics of more than one type.  But in general, they have a dominant personality type that characterizes them.

Leaders knowing the various characteristics of each type can work on developing an approach to better connect with each person and how to motivate them.

The Driver: Actions and Results-Oriented

Drivers are assertive, very decisive, and goal-oriented. They prosper in a competitive environment and they take charge of the situation. You find them as a kind of teammate, who is always running with a focus on goals and outcomes. Drivers are showing ownership and ambition to achieve results. Therefore they value efficiency, progress, and action.

Drivers are motivated by achievement, and value autonomy and the rush of a challenge. They need to know that their hard work leads to success and results. They are often the most engaged when they lead projects and other people.  The driver needs to have always control and overcome challenges.  

Micromanagement and the sense of lack of control frustrate the drivers. They dislike bureaucracy, lost in details, and time wasted by never-ending meetings. They are losing interest when they lose direction and with lack of vision. Also, drivers are frustrated when feeling micromanaged.  

The Analytical: Logical and Detail-Oriented

Analytical personality types are detail-oriented and systematic. They are logical and methodical. They enjoy solving complex problems and tend to approach problems with data. These are the people who live in spreadsheets, making data analysis, and well-thought-out plans. Analytical people prefer working in structured environments with a lot of data.

The analytical is driven by data, precision, and the ability to solve complex problems. Having the time and the flexibility to dive deep into the details of a project makes them happy. This is because they collect data and feel a sense of control through them. Correcting data and results will usually make them very satisfied. They need clear guidelines and expectations setting.

Quick decisions and lack of structure can stress an analytical. They don’t appreciate being pushed to hurry up. An analytical type is not happy when is pushed into decisions without enough data or time to analyze. Without this analysis, they can become emotional or make irrational arguments.

The Amiable: People-Connectors and Supportive

Amiables are cooperative, supportive, and team-oriented, and enjoy relationships with others. They tend to keep workplace harmony and often act as the glue that holds a team together. Amiables ensure that everyone participates in meetings and they work hard to create a positive, collaborative environment. They are empathetic and supportive to others.

They are motivated by connection, collaboration, and a feeling of belonging to a team. They work very well in teamwork and appreciate a creative and positive environment. They tend to build strong relationships and thrive in stable and predictable environments.

Conflict and very competitive environments are negative for the amiable. Amiables also get frustrated when they find that their efforts to bring harmony to the group are not recognized or valued. They are feeling isolated and not included in the group.  They may respond with quick and unpredictable

The Expressive: The Enthusiastic Idea Generators

The Expressive is enthusiastic, outgoing, and highly creative. They are people with new ideas, who give energy and innovative thinking into a team. If you met someone who turned a simple idea into a creativity session, you met an expressive personality.  The expressive enjoys social interaction and connection with others.

Expressives are motivated by recognition and creative independence. They appreciate the opportunity to share their ideas and express their creativity. Expressives require dynamic work environments that offer collaboration and variability in tasks.  They need this excitement of new ideas and projects.

Expressives are stressed by routine and lack of recognition. They may suffocate in an environment with strict rules.  They may feel disengaged if their creativity is limited or ignored.  If they don’t get feedback about their contribution to the team, then they look frustrated.  The expressive is hating excessive rules and constraints.

You are now familiar with the characteristics and traits of the four personality types. To connect with each of them, it is important to communicate differently. Therefore a leader must tailor her communication and leadership styles for engaging each personality type differently.  

How to drive the Driver?

To be an effective communicator with a driver, you must be direct and to the point. You must focus on results and outcomes, and avoid any extended and “unnecessary” small talk.  They are all about results and need direct feedback for their performance.  They need practical direction and a specific action plan.  

But you have to be careful not to restrict their independence and sense of control.  You have to provide them with options and let them decide how to implement solutions. Therefore drivers respect leaders who are willing to delegate responsibility.  You have to respect their time and keep your meetings with them short, efficient, and to the point.  In the meeting, the leader must say “Let’s set the targets and identify the project’s next steps”.

To lead a driver you need to think of yourself as their co-pilot.  They want to feel that they are in the pilot’s seat, but they would appreciate your support and navigation.  You need to set clear goals and expectations from the beginning. They need to have a challenge ahead of them and to allow them to achieve success.  You need to be direct with your feedback, as they appreciate it.  The key is to respect their freedom to make decisions and give them authority. 

How to analyze the Analytical?

When you communicate with an analytical personality, always be prepared to have a lot of information and data to support your side. They will respect your analysis and the time you took to be prepared.  They also need clear instructions and specific goals, but you do have not to be so quick to ask for outcomes.  Give them time and space to digest the information and let them show progress.

Therefore you need to be patient with their need for time and space.  They need to collect their data and make their conclusions.  They respond better to logical arguments and avoid any emotional responses.  In the meeting the leader would rather say “Please prepare a report for tomorrow, using the data from the last quarter”.

To lead an Analytical personality, you have to be like a detective’s assistant.  You have to collect data and make assumptions that they need to accept or reject based on data analysis.  They need to dive deep into the problem, so give them the opportunity.  You have to provide detailed information, be patient, and respect their need for details and accuracy.  Restrict yourself to logical arguments and do not try to share opinions or rumors.  

How to Harmonize with the Amiable?

To communicate with an Amiable personality you have to build personal connections.  Take time to show appreciation for their personality, their well-being, and their effort.  They value an inclusive, supportive, and collaborative environment.  If you provide it they will be engaged in the plans and decisions.

They need reassurance about their engagement and positive feedback. You have to frame your feedback in a way to show them their strengths and positively bring them.  To keep them motivated, avoid bringing them to the spotlight in front of others. They appreciate being harmonized with the group setting.  So you have to tell them “I noticed your hard work and teamwork over the last period.  How can we improve your strengths to make the team stronger?”.

To lead an Amiable, you have to think as a gardener.  You have to continuously care about the relationship with them and care about them. You have to cultivate a nurturing environment and help them bloom in the team. Prove stability and let them know in advance of any bigger changes.  You have to help them with conflicts showing empathy for the situation and diplomacy with others.

How to Brainstorm with the Expressive?

The Expressive personality needs enthusiasm and creativity to perform.  They need an engaging mode of communication that is interesting with new ideas and brainstorming. Therefore you have to allow them time to share and explain their ideas.  They crave public recognition, therefore you have to allow them to express their talents and acknowledge of their contributions.

As a leader, you have to respect their needs and they appreciate any creative input.  Therefore, do not be afraid to think out of the box with an Expressive. You need to be enthusiastic and energetic in your interactions, to give them energy.  Give them practical guidance, without restricting their creativity.  You have to say to them “Let’s meet next week for a brainstorming meeting for this challenge”.

To lead an expressive, you have to be like a conductor in an orchestra.  Your role as a leader is to guide their creativity in the right direction to get productive and practical outcomes.  You have to propose brainstorming sessions and workshops for solving problems and challenges. In these meetings, you need to praise their ideas and contributions in front of others.  So you have to keep your interaction with them dynamic and engaging. 

Adapting and tailoring your communication and leadership approach to each personality type is a must for balancing and empowering a diverse team.  Recognize each personality type’s strengths and traits, and you can better navigate any personality challenges. You can foster trust, build collaboration, and bring the best performance to each of them. By bringing awareness of the challenges and the personality traits, you reduce also your frustration level. 

Communication is improved within the team, as you “speak” the language of each personality type. Your message is more likely to be understood and appreciated. You will also boost team motivation.  This is because you can trigger the intrinsic motivation of each team member.  A motivated team member can offer better performance and problem-solving.  The problem-solving skills in the group are also enhanced, as you can better exploit the strengths of each personality type.  

As an outcome comes a stronger team.  People feel understood and valued in the team and are willing to go the extra mile.  They show improved collaboration and support for each other.  This will lead to improved productivity and a positive environment.

Remember that great leaders can be developed.  You need continuous learning and adaptation.  Adapting your communication and leadership skills to each personality type can unlock your team’s full performance potential.

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