It is believed that each and everyone has their unique talents and gifts and the culmination of these distinctive abilities is a recipe for success and greatness especially at the work place. However, there is a catch. At the workplace, it is very essential to cultivate tolerance for every personality type and strive as much as possible to avoid prejudice or judgment. Ju st as other natural resources such as iron, water, gold, oil, timber among others need to be managed well and maintained to avoid damage or loss, so should human resource be maintained to avoid losing them. The best way to maintain human resource is by identifying various personality traits and facilitating an environment that fosters inclusivity.
What are these personalities types?
The theory of four main personality types can be traced back to ancient Greek physician Hippocrates (460 to 370 BC). Hippocrates believed that human personality traits and behaviors were influenced by four bodily fluids, called “humors”. Thus, blood, yellow bile, black bile, and phlegm. He then classified these personalities into four temperaments based on the dominance of the humors. These temperamentswere sanguine, choleric, melancholic, and phlegmatic. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is a personality inventory which identifies a person’s personality type preferences and strengths. It was developed by Isabel Myers and her mother Katherine Briggs based on the theory of Personality types 1 by Carl Jung. The MBTI inventory is one of the world’s most widely used psychological instruments. From the experiment, it was identified that people had 16 personalities types.
One might be wondering, how is it possible to identify all these 16 personality types of co- workers or juniors and bosses?
Fortunately, each of the 16 personalities have been given names based off professions, functions among others. For instance, ENTJ personality is called, ‘The commander’. Just as the name suggests, commanders are known for giving orders and acting tough but behind that toughness is a soft and caring person. The characteristics of the commander may highly be visible in the individual’s personality.
Taking quizzes online may be the best way to identify personality types. Identifying based off names is great. However, there maybe a tiny chance of misinterpreting people. Well-developed and accurate quizzes help identify exact personality types. It essential for every company let employees take quizzes to better understand them and make room for them to develop their potentials and overcome their weaknesses.
Why is it so important?
Embracing various personalities aids increase in team dynamics and collaboration. Diverse workplace, including individuals with different personalities, promotes effective collaboration and teamwork. ISTP-Ts, while introverted, can contribute to teams by adding their expertise and problem-solving skills in a focused and independent manner. By not embracing ISTP-Ts, organizations may miss out on the opportunity to build well-rounded teams that benefit from different perspectives and complementary skills.
Diverse personalities can sometimes lead to conflicts and tensions within the workplace. Differences in work styles, opinions and values may create tensions and misunderstandings. Conflicting priorities or approaches to decision-making can also arise, leading to disunity and division. Managing and resolving conflicts in an inclusive and constructive manner becomes crucial to maintaining a harmonious work environment.
