For the most part, you like your job. You can handle your responsibilities with confidence, your boss is invested in your growth and development, and you’re learning a lot.
But, that doesn’t mean things are perfect. Your biggest complaint? You don’t feel like you’re totally meshing with your team.
So you’ve taken the DISC assessment and have learned that your primary style is “S” (for Supportive). How do you feel about that? Do you have mixed feelings? I know I did when I first took the DISC assessment. S is sometimes seen as “Steady” and a whole bunch of “S” adjectives -- “Sweet”, “Shy”, “Sincere” … even “Submissive”. At the time, I was in a leadership position and was concerned about what that said about me, what I was capable of, and whether it limited my options for my future.
From the perspective of a strap-hanging, cubicle-trapped, micromanaged office worker, working from home may sound heavenly. But if you’re the type of person who needs people, variety, and riffing off the team vibe to get the productivity juices flowing, it’s basically your worst nightmare. That’s the power of personality type: different strokes for different folks.
Our human natures long for, and ultimately crave, acceptance. As social creatures, most of us fear rejection like school children fear catching ‘cooties.’ If you’re anything like me, you may subconsciously consult this fear before making big moves in your life, such as agreeing to speak in public or considering a new job opportunity.
You prefer to have some independent time to process information, while your colleague would rather jump right in and spitball some ideas on the spot.
Your boss’ desk is so organized that it looks like it belongs in an office supply catalog, but yours is usually a collection of papers and half-full coffee mugs.
You thrive in high-pressure situations where you need to think on your feet, and your team member likes to rely on tried and true systems and predictable processes.
Teaching is an attractive profession for people who prize learning, and for those who like to help others grow and advance. The best teachers have a passion for their topics and truly enjoy passing their knowledge on to eager students. They even embrace the challenge of trying to reach underachieving students, believing that all young people have innate abilities and the potential to achieve.
What is the secret of successful teams? What qualities do team members need in order for the collaboration to work? For the typical business, these are some pretty tough questions to answer. Luckily, Google – a company whose success depends on the collaborative powers of its teams – has done the heavy lifting for you.
For many ENTP personality types, the corporate world can seem deeply alien. No amount of innovation or charm can mask the contrast between the traditional expectations of the workplace and the free-wheeling, wacky, inventor lifestyle that ENTPs often find most comfortable. If left unexamined, this incongruity can manifest in some unsavory workplace habits that only put more distance between ENTP personality types and their professional communities.
Salary negotiations are a crucial part of working life, ensuring that you work for a fair rate according to your experience and ability. However, for many personality types, achieving the recognition and remuneration they deserve can be extremely difficult. Having the conversation alone can be a daunting task and many people avoid the issue altogether, either because they don’t know how to ask or are too nervous to try. This results in capable individuals working for less than they should be.
Flexible work opportunities are becoming increasingly important for building a diverse workforce. Flexibility can increase job satisfaction, improve mobility by ensuring the most capable people get promoted and help you build the best possible team.
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