Leverage your personality type
ISFP: Leverage Your Personality Type
ISFP: Leverage Your Personality TypeADVERTISEMENT - SKIP
Introvert, Sensing, Feeling, Perceiving
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Self-development
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ISFPs are the first to hear the different drummer. Read full description » |
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Leveraging Your Personality Traits in a Professional Setting
Claire R.
Claire R.
C-Level Technology Executive | Laser-Focused on Execution | Transformational Leadership | Cost-Effective Solutions
Published Feb 26, 2020
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The most notable differences in leaders lie in their individual personalities.
Leaders are most often thought of as the outgoing and extroverted type. This way of thinking can be harmful to the workplace, risking the under utilization of others’ skills, talents and knowledge. If you think back over leaders you have admired, and if you have had the chance to work closely with them, you will no doubt have noticed that leadership can be executed in many unique ways. Some leaders choose to lead from the front – shouting their plans from the rooftop and asking others to follow them. Some leaders quietly influence from the back – forging alliances, engaging in collaboration, and bringing people along. I’ve worked with leaders with both styles, and they both work well when well executed.
How do you lead? By identifying and leveraging our unique traits, we can help transform the definition of a leader to be more inclusive of all different types of personalities and in turn, improve our overall work efficiency. (I can hear the introverts like me out there silently saying “That’s right! We are leaders too!”)
When we place our trust in someone, we know them well enough to identify their credibility in the workplace.
Perhaps you have strong morals which highly value truth and honesty in your work. Sticking by those standards and exemplifying your beliefs through sincere efforts can allow your colleagues to perceive you as someone they can turn to for help or if have questions.
Common traits which garner trust:
- Knowledgeable – Know what you’re talking about, and when you don’t, just admit it. Don’t bluster and pretend that you know. People will see right through that.
- Honest – People like being told the truth. If it comes out at some point that you lied, you are not likely to earn your team’s trust again.
- Genuine – Be real. Be you. If you’re funny, let that humor in at work. If you deeply care about something, let people know. We spend more time at work than any other place, and if we can’t be real, and we wear a game face or professional mask all the time, it’s exhausting and others will sense it.
- Transparent - Show up as who you are, warts and all, and be vulnerable if it fits the situation.
One of the greatest compliments I have had from a colleague is someone on my team who came to me and said “I’ve never worked for someone who was ready to admit their failings and the times things didn’t work. It makes you into a real person, and I can learn so much more from your mistakes than from the great things.” - Good listener – Yes, listen more than you talk. It’s important to really understand what drives and motivates your team, where they have concerns, and where they have suggestions, and you only get that by listening.
Providing a supportive workplace is essential when conflicts arise. Managers aren’t the only ones who can help resolve conflicts. In fact, if we can identify potential conflicts that may come about earlier, we can prevent hostile work environments and invite employees to speak more freely when they have new ideas. If you consider yourself empathetic and are able to focus on the behaviors of people versus their personalities, you can be the perfect mediator to offer a logical solution, building on the successes, insights and achievements of all parties involved.
Common traits of good mediators:
- Even-tempered - You need to be well-tempered and able to control your expressions, verbal and physical cues and keep them neutral.
- Logical - You need to be logical and able to not get wrapped up in the emotions of the situation.
- Practical - You need to be real about what will help solve the problem or what will make it worse. You can only do this by building a deep knowledge of the situation.
- Empathetic - You need to be empathetic and really understand both sides.
Equally important, I think you need to know when you are not in a position to be a good mediator and get some help, from a trusted colleague, a mentor, or HR. Maybe you’re slightly hot-headed and think you might lose your cool, or maybe you’re good friends with the person on one side of the conflict and can’t be neutral, or maybe you are already going into mediation thinking you know the outcome and what should be done.
All of these should be warning signs that you should get some help to ensure fairness.
Though these skills may be easier to identify in people with more extroverted personalities, if we focus on what makes their personalities so inspirational, we can more accurately classify leaders. Susan Cain explains some introverts can be very comfortable with public speaking. “We don’t need giant personalities to transform companies,” she says. “We need leaders who build not their own egos, but the institutions they run.” I have seen a leader I very much admire quietly, without conflict, without any overt sign that he’s actually doing something, get his way every time over the course of three years and I love it. He’s an introvert, but that doesn’t stop him influencing stakeholders at all. I think in some cases the quiet way actually works better.
Influencer skills:
- Communication – Be able to persuade, either one-on-one or in a group setting.
- Mentorship – Constantly seek out mentees and people who need your advice. Be prepared to give your time to make a real difference to someone.
- Camaraderie – It’s important to be able to joke around, have fun, and genuinely get along with the people you work with. This will make influencing them easier and will enable you to spend the time you do at work in a warm, supportive environment.
- Willingness to learn – Demonstrate a willingness to learn about and deeply understand the current situation and the roles people play. Ask ‘dumb’ questions and be curious.
Look for shared traits among your team members. Our diverse personalities can help change perceptions, increase engagement and improve an organization’s overall competitive advantage. Embrace your individualism and remember: strength lies in differences, not similarities.
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Personality types | 16Personalities
Analysts
Strategist
INTJ-A / INTJ-T
Imaginative, strategic thinkers with a plan for all occasions.
Scientist
INTP-A / INTP-T
Creative inventors, with a strong belief in the power of knowledge.
Commander
ENTJ-A / ENTJ-T
Brave, resourceful and strong-willed leaders who always find a way - or make a way.
Debater
ENTP-A / ENTP-T
Smart and curious thinkers who never turn down an intellectual challenge.
Diplomats
Activist
INFJ-A / INFJ-T
Quiet and mystical, but inspiring and relentless idealists.
Broker
INFP-A / INFP-T
Poetic, kind and altruistic personalities, always ready to stand up for a good cause.
Trainer
ENFJ-A / ENFJ-T
Charismatic and inspiring leaders who captivate their listeners.
Wrestler
ENFP-A / ENFP-T
Enthusiasts, creative and sociable free minds who always find a reason to smile.
Guardians
Administrator
ISTJ-A / ISTJ-T
Practical and factual people whose reliability is unshakable.
Protector
ISFJ-A / ISFJ-T
Very responsible and kind protectors, always ready to protect their loved ones.
Manager
ESTJ-A / ESTJ-T
Excellent administrators, unsurpassed specialists in process and people management.
Consul
ESFJ-A / ESFJ-T
Extremely caring, sociable and popular people, always ready to help.
Seekers
Virtuoso
ISTP-A / ISTP-T
Brave and practical experimenters, masters of all kinds of techniques and tools.
Artist
ISFP-A / ISFP-T
Flexible and charming artists, always ready to explore and experience something new.
Dealer
ESTP-A / ESTP-T
Smart, energetic and very receptive people who truly enjoy risk.
Entertainer
ESFP-A / ESFP-T
Spontaneous, energetic and tireless merry fellows - where they are, it's never boring.
Academy | How to Use Knowing Your Personality Type to Succeed
Inspired by Donna Dunning's 10 Career Essentials: Putting Your Personality Type to Work
Have you ever tried to figure out your personality type? Are you an extrovert or an introvert?
What are you more often guided by when making decisions - logic or emotions? According to psychologist Donna Dunning, if you want to achieve better results at work and climb the career ladder, you need to know what psychological type you are.
In this book, the author invites readers to take an abbreviated version of the Myers-Briggs Personality Test and explains how a person's individual tendencies affect his work performance. By better understanding ourselves, knowing our habits and preferences, we make more informed choices in different situations that contribute to success in the professional field. The author formulates ten principles of career growth and shows the strengths and weaknesses of the eight types of attitude to work in the application of each of them.
Who am I?
Trying to make a career without knowing anything about your character is like wandering around an unfamiliar city without a map. By identifying what type of person you are and understanding the specifics of your approach to work, assimilation of information and interaction with other people, you will be able to more deliberately formulate your professional goals and go towards them. The 10 Essential Rules for Career Growth will help you succeed and get more job satisfaction.
1. Determine your personality type
Each person develops his own idea of what to strive for in professional activities. Criteria for success depend on interests, abilities, principles, character traits and life experience. One of the most popular psychometric tests is the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, developed in the first half of the 20th century by Catherine Cook-Briggs in collaboration with her daughter Isabelle Briggs-Myers based on the ideas of Carl Jung. To determine your personality type, you can take an abbreviated version of this test yourself or take the full version with the help of a professional psychologist.
The main personality types according to Myers-Briggs are represented by four pairs of opposite characteristics. In each pair, you will undoubtedly give preference to one of the poles. Based on this choice, your personality type will be determined. Different combinations of preferences give a total of 16 personality types, each of which is assigned a symbol of the first four letters of the keywords:
1 Extraversion (E) or introversion (I).
Faced with a problem, an extrovert seeks to discuss it with other people, and an introvert seeks to think it over on his own.
2. Sensory sensation (S) or intuition (N). In the perception of information, people who prefer to see everything for themselves focus on specific facts and details, while the opposite type seeks to catch patterns and present the big picture.
3. Logic (T) or feeling (F). When making decisions, a person who thinks logically strives for objectivity, and his opposite is more interested in emotions.
4. Judgment (J) or perception (P). In his relationship with the outside world, the judgment-oriented person tends to act at all costs, while the opposite type prefers to wait and see how the situation develops.
Based on 16 personality types, eight categories of people are distinguished depending on their attitude to work:
1. “Active” (ESTP and ESFP). His motto is “act according to circumstances”. Observes what is happening around and sensitively recognizes problem situations and new opportunities.
Has a quick reaction and knows how to act impromptu.
2. “Researcher” (ENTP and ENFP). Likes to connect concepts and try out new ideas.
3. “Achiever” (ESTJ and ENTJ). Prone to critical analysis, productive in work. Willingly assumes responsibility and solution of organizational issues.
4. “Team member” (ESFJ and ENFJ). Above all, she values cooperation, a healthy working environment in a team, and is sensitive to the problems of other people.
5. Information Processor (ISTJ and ISFJ). In everything he strives for accuracy and certainty, and therefore, before acting, he tries to find out all the facts and combine them with what he already knows.
6. “Looking to the future” (INTJ and INFJ). Assesses prospects and looks to the future, is fond of new ideas and technologies.
7. “Analyst” (ISTP and INTP). Possesses flexible thinking, likes to solve problems. When making decisions, most often guided by logic.
8. “Conciliator” (ISFP and INFP).
Like a caring gardener, first of all he thinks about how this or that situation will affect people.
Following the guidelines below, focus on the strengths and weaknesses of your work methods to build a career strategy that suits your personality type.
2. Switch to an optimistic attitude
A positive attitude is very important for work. Optimists radiate confidence, are happy to help others, and willingly take on challenging tasks. Colleagues and superiors value them for their enthusiasm and willingness to overcome any obstacles. To make a good impression on others, speak kindly about people and events, and also try to get out of any difficult situation with dignity. Don't judge others, don't gossip, and don't complain. The way you dress, move, and talk speaks volumes about how you relate to people, so try to send the right signals to those around you with your appearance and behavior. Understand how your current circumstances affect your attitude towards life.
A variety of factors can negatively affect a person's mood: an illness, a difficult atmosphere in a team, severe stress or a difficult life situation. If unprofessionalism and disorganization reign at work, conflicts constantly arise, there is no labor discipline and a conscientious attitude to business, this can dishearten even the most optimistic person. When faced with an unpleasant situation at work, you have three options: either close your eyes to the problem, or try to solve it, or quit. To eliminate severe stress from your life, strive to resolve any conflicts that arise, create a group of people around you who are ready to support you in difficult times, devote more time to your hobbies, keep a sleep schedule and do not forget about physical exercises. Referring to yourself mentally, joke and cheer yourself up.
3. Make yourself responsible for your destiny
Being responsible for your career means being able to work independently, be resilient in difficult situations, and always finish what you start.
Do not allow yourself to shift the blame on others, stop halfway and look for excuses for your inaction. Take a close look at the steps you take in the professional field. Do they lead to your goals? If you are not getting the results you want, you need to somehow change your actions. Of course, sometimes it is impossible to do without help and advice, but ultimately you are responsible for the results of your work. Companies value independent workers.
4. Learn at every opportunity
Respect the experience and achievements of others and try to learn something useful from any conversation. To learn from others, you need to be able to listen.
The purpose of communication can be different: to talk about something, to share impressions or feelings, to defend one's point of view, to evaluate someone's actions, to express support or interest. You need to clearly understand the motives of each conversation in order to build your line of behavior based on them.
When you are approached, put your affairs aside. Hide your cell phone and turn away from the computer screen.
Do not rush to express your opinion, even if it is an endorsement. Unwarranted criticism, arguing for the sake of arguing, apparent indifference to the subject matter, avoidance of direct discussion, condescending or sarcastic tone - all this hinders communication. Show interest in a variety of ways during the conversation, such as asking the other person questions. Sympathize with him. When the other person has finished speaking, summarize what has been said to make sure you understand it correctly.
5. Learn to get along with people
Speaking persuasively is just as important as being a good listener. The ability to communicate will help you in making acquaintances and expanding your network of useful contacts. It is necessary not only to know what to say, but also to be able to present it in the right way.
To better convey your thoughts to your listeners, try to understand what they are.
Consider character traits, preferences in ways of obtaining information, education and experience. Express your thoughts clearly and specifically. Be sincere and avoid ambiguity. When discussing someone's work, make only constructive comments and don't forget to point out the positives. Your words should not sound anger and condemnation. The object of criticism should not be a person, but his concrete actions. To resolve conflicts that arise in communication, use the following four-step method. First, determine the interests of each participant in the conflict. Set yourself the goal of finding a solution that will suit everyone. Discuss all alternatives with the participants until an agreement is reached. Finally, ensure that the decision adopted is respected by all parties to the conflict. In some cases, it is worth fixing this decision in writing.
6. Cultivate curiosity
Curiosity is a sign of a lively mind. Uninquisitive people rely only on what they already know, and as a result, their information is often outdated or incorrect.
Nowadays, in order to succeed in any field, you need to be able to find the right information and organize it. A modern person must learn throughout his life, so the ability to perceive, structure and apply new ideas is especially important for us. Establish a reputation for being competent, well versed in the latest developments in your field, and then your management will always attract you to participate in new projects. Keep your knowledge up-to-date with the help of the Internet, visit libraries, conferences and trade shows, read periodicals, become a member of professional associations. When gathering information, always check the reliability of sources.
Pay attention to biases and separate personal opinion from facts. Whenever possible, try to apply the acquired knowledge in practice.
7. Get your thoughts in order
Organize your thought processes in such a way that you effectively resolve problems and make informed decisions. To do this, use the following five-step method:
1.
Once you have identified the problem, focus on the root causes of the problem.
2. Consider several solutions.
3. Make a decision by evaluating all the options and choosing the best one.
4. Set a deadline for implementing the solution and develop an action plan.
5. Evaluate the results of the solution and, if necessary, make changes.
Different problems require different ways of thinking. Usually there are five main types of thinking: practical, creative, logical, holistic and humanistic. Remember that in each specific situation you need to use the approach that will be most effective.
8. Exceed expectations
To be successful, you must do more than what is expected of you. Take advantage of work organization techniques such as prioritization, time management, and workload sharing. Find out exactly what your management's expectations are in order to set specific goals for yourself. At the same time, you yourself must make higher demands on yourself.
Take on additional responsibilities whenever possible and constantly improve yourself so that others perceive you as a purposeful, persistent person who knows how to manage his time and achieve results.
9. Adapt to changing conditions
The world is constantly changing. Anyone who does not pay attention to the important changes taking place around him runs the risk of being on the sidelines of life. To develop insight in yourself, consider any situation from different angles and consider all options for the development of events. Look for different sources of information, read publications on the topic, attend seminars and conferences. Focus on self-development: learn new skills and fresh knowledge. To better adapt to changing conditions, ask yourself a series of questions: “What needs to be done in order to better understand the current situation? How can the changes that are taking place change my life for the better? How will they help my career growth?” Be willing to take risks or do something new.
