You’re working with someone who has a completely different personality type. How can you make it work?

Working with someone who has a completely different personality type can be challenging, especially in the field of biotechnology, where collaboration and innovation are essential. However, it can also be an opportunity to learn from each other, improve your communication skills, and broaden your perspective. Here are some tips on how to make it work.

1 Identify your personality type

The first step is to understand your own personality type and how it affects your work style, preferences, and strengths. There are many tools and frameworks that can help you with this, such as the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), the DiSC model, or the Enneagram. These can help you identify your dominant traits, such as introversion or extraversion, thinking or feeling, or stability or change. Knowing your personality type can help you recognize your potential blind spots, biases, and areas of improvement.

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Dr. Philipp Rohne

Projektingenieur bei Dohm Pharmaceutical Engineering DPhE
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As each person has their personality and strategies, it's important for me to have no special expectations initially. Additionally, one should always remember that most people do their best according to their abilities. Therefore, you should not take things personally and adopt an objective attitude towards others. Objective viewpoints towards other people and reflective action then help in discovering new ways of working and thus optimizing one's abilities.

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Subhrajyoti Roy Choudhury

VP Products@ Herkey | ex-HashedIn by Deloitte | IIM Lucknow | HRTech | Neural Networks | AI-ML
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Deepening our understanding of MBTI types enriches team dynamics and collaboration. By identifying our own and our colleagues' MBTI preferences, we uncover the blueprint of how we work and communicate best. Whether you're an Introvert or Extravert, Sensing or Intuitive, Thinking or Feeling, Judging or Perceiving, each type brings unique strengths to the table. Sharing these insights fosters a culture of empathy and mutual respect. It encourages us to leverage our differences, turning potential challenges into opportunities for growth and innovation. Let's embrace the diversity of our MBTI types to build stronger, more adaptive teams.

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2 Respect their personality type

The second step is to respect the other person's personality type and how it differs from yours. This means acknowledging that they may have different needs, motivations, and approaches than you, and that they are not necessarily wrong or inferior. For example, if you are a logical and analytical thinker, you may find it hard to work with someone who is more intuitive and creative, but you can also appreciate their ability to generate new ideas and insights. Similarly, if you are a spontaneous and flexible person, you may clash with someone who is more structured and organized, but you can also learn from their ability to plan and execute.

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3 Communicate effectively

The third step is to communicate effectively with the other person, taking into account their personality type and adjusting your style accordingly. This means using clear and respectful language, listening actively, asking open-ended questions, and giving constructive feedback. It also means avoiding assumptions, judgments, and conflicts, and seeking to understand their perspective and goals. For example, if you are an extrovert who likes to talk things out, you may need to give more space and time to an introvert who prefers to think things through. Likewise, if you are a feeler who values harmony and empathy, you may need to be more direct and assertive with a thinker who values logic and efficiency.

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4 Leverage your strengths

The fourth step is to leverage your strengths and complement each other's weaknesses, based on your personality type and expertise. This means finding ways to collaborate and cooperate, rather than compete and criticize. It also means recognizing and appreciating the value and contribution of the other person, and supporting their growth and development. For example, if you are a visionary and innovative person, you may benefit from working with someone who is more practical and realistic, who can help you turn your ideas into action. Conversely, if you are a detail-oriented and meticulous person, you may benefit from working with someone who is more big-picture and strategic, who can help you see the bigger context and impact.

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Lucas Warner

Business Development Representative at SDC (Statistics & Data Corporation)
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This is very important when working with someone different than you because you can save much more time focusing on what you are good at. Timelines are everything in this industry and concentrating on what you can do the best while allowing yourself to delegate tasks is very important.

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5 Seek feedback and improvement

The fifth step is to seek feedback and improvement, both from the other person and from yourself. This means being open to learning and changing, and not being afraid to admit your mistakes or challenges. It also means being proactive and constructive, and not being defensive or complacent. For example, if you are a stable and consistent person, you may need to challenge yourself to embrace more change and innovation, and ask the other person for their suggestions and opinions. On the other hand, if you are a change-oriented and adaptable person, you may need to be more consistent and reliable, and ask the other person for their expectations and standards.

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6 Celebrate your diversity

The sixth and final step is to celebrate your diversity and enjoy the benefits of working with someone who has a completely different personality type. This means acknowledging and celebrating your achievements, both individually and collectively, and expressing gratitude and recognition. It also means having fun and building rapport, and not taking yourself or the other person too seriously. For example, if you are a serious and rational person, you may need to lighten up and have some humor and fun with the other person, who may be more playful and emotional. Alternatively, if you are a cheerful and expressive person, you may need to respect and appreciate the other person's calmness and reserve, who may be more quiet and thoughtful.

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Antonique Smith, PHRi

Strategic Human Resources Business Partner
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In my HR experience, there have been countless opportunities to celebrate the diversity in every work environment. I find that particularly where a team may be storming through it's newness, there are so many ways to appreciate each unique individual's "Working Genius". Balance, balance, balance is the key to seeing yourself and your colleagues through this process. Expect the storm. Be careful not to glory in it's chaos. Know who you are in a typical team setting. Reflect consistently on how your action/inaction helps or hurts the energy in the space. Allow your differences to fuel the necessary progress. Celebrate how those differences are moving you to new goal attainment. Celebrate your unique and collective diversity!

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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You’re working with someone who has a completely different personality type. How can you make it work?

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1 Identify your personality type

2 Respect their personality type

3 Communicate effectively

4 Leverage your strengths

5 Seek feedback and improvement

6 Celebrate your diversity

7 Here’s what else to consider

Biotechnology

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