3 Personalities That Can Make Or Break A Team

Teams are made of people, and people have personalities. Sometimes, those personalities mesh well together – and other times, they clash. But as a leader, it’s your job to manage the personalities on your team so that productivity – and morale – stay high. Sometimes, however, that’s easier said than done. Below, we’ll take a look at three personalities that can either make or break a team – and how you can manage them to keep your team running smoothly.

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1. Quiet Quincy

Like most introverts, Quiet Quincy keeps to himself. He doesn’t go out of his way to start conversations, and he’s not usually the one lingering by the water cooler to catch up after the weekend. At the office, Quiet Quincy often has excellent ideas that could help his team grow – however, they often go unheard, because he’s hesitant to speak up. If you want to benefit from Quiet Quincy’s insights, you’ll need to earn his trust and make him feel comfortable expressing himself. And while you could just ask for his opinion in meetings, you’ll likely have better luck starting out slow. Try swinging by his desk to ask his opinion on something, or setting up a one-on-one meeting to get his input. It may take time to draw Quincy out of his shell, but once he does, he’ll find it easier to share his ideas, even in public settings.

2. Outgoing Olive

Outgoing Olive loves being around and talking to people. In the office, she knows what everyone is up to, and she’s involved in every conversation – so much so that people wonder how she gets any work done. However, Outgoing Olive’s socialization might not actually be interfering with her performance. In fact, it might be helping it. After all, extroverts are stimulated by social interaction. As a manager, be careful not to stifle Olive’s social nature too much – otherwise, you may risk draining her productivity and energy. As long as she completes her tasks and doesn’t interfere with others’ work, encourage her efforts to build relationships within your workplace – just make sure she isn’t distracting others.

3. Prepared Pete

Prepared Pete spends hours getting ready for everything, whether it’s a major project or an everyday assignment. He often goes over work files during his free time, and he spends days preparing for presentations. And while his work is always top-notch, he sometimes loses the forest for the trees, focusing too much on the details and not enough on the big picture. When assigning team projects, try to pair Pete up with someone who has a more relaxed attitude – someone who does good work, but who can also see the big picture and isn’t afraid to work quickly to meet deadlines. This combination will lead to high-quality projects and presentations that are done in more reasonable time. Having a Quiet Quincy, an Outgoing Olive or a Prepared Pete on your team can be great – if you know how to manage them properly. What personality types do you think can make or break a team, and how do you manage them?