Isn’t it funny that when someone does something differently to the way we would do it, our instant response is something like, “You did what?” or “What did you do that for?” Whilst we are generally happy to acknowledge that we are all individuals, in a somewhat surprising and sub-conscious contrast, our default position is that everyone thinks things through the same way that I do. After all, I am normal and reasonable and any other normal and reasonable person would see things the way I see them. Has that ever happened to you? Have you ever reacted like that?
The problem is that we are all human – which unfortunately means that we each have blind spots. One area of our blind spots is the tendency to think that just because we see things from a certain perspective, the rest of the world must too! But the reality is that there are differences based on our personality, background, experience and culture that can have each of us see things in a vastly different way. Those differences can determine what we think, how we process information, how we make our decisions, what we consider important and a host of other factors which can be the cause of conflict or misunderstandings in our workplace. Team members can seem to be at odds with one another because they don’t see a particular issue in the same way.
The good news is that these differences in personality can be understood and even predicted so that conflicts can be smoothed or even avoided altogether. By getting a better understanding of personality differences you can better manage your own responses and lead your team better. An understanding of yourself and your teams’ personality types helps to allow different perspectives be explored which often provides for a better solution and a richer environment. Part of developing yourself as a leader is to gain a better understanding of yourself – why do you process information the way you do? Is there other valid ways that can be considered? Are you open to others having input? Invest in your own understanding of yourself and others and watch the difference it makes to your leadership! It will multiply your effectiveness significantly – and you will probably find yourself asking “You did what?” a whole lot less. There are other questions that you should be asking instead… but we will explore that another time!
With best regards
Narelle