Here’s What to Do if it’s You and How to Handle Someone Else in that Mode
I remember taking my first personality test at a corporate job. In addition to filling out the evaluation myself, they asked other people who worked with me to complete it.
Then the results came back.
It said my two primary styles were “driver — driver.” The report explained that my ideal job would be supervising people on a manufacturing line who did repetitive tasks.
I was appalled and ashamed!
At the time, I wrote it off as my years of working in communication agencies. There, I was always juggling multiple tasks and clients. Here, people didn’t feel the same sense of urgency as I did.
One thing I do remember, which has followed me around since, is the idea of “back-up behavior.” When we’re under stress, the qualities that people usually appreciate in us get more extreme. That means we’re creating situations that turn people off when we need their help the most.
In taking a closer look at personality styles and leadership, cf course I have to start with the driver.
Here’s how to recognize one, whether it’s you or someone else. You’ll also discover what’s important to these people, how they react under stress, and what to do if you’re around them when that happens.
By the way, you also may have drivers in your home (maybe it’s you). These ideas work just as well there.
Coming up, we also have the amiable, the expressive and the analyzer. Stay tuned: we’ll hit you or others you know soon.
By the way, I never did become a supervisor of a group of folks doing line work. That may be one of my greatest contributions to the working world!