Why it’s not always good news when you get on easily with your team

It can be challenging to lead people who have very different personalities from your own, but it's not impossible.

When someone is similar in style to you, a natural rapport arises and communication feels effortless. That’s great at a cocktail party but not necessarily at work – it can lead to groupthink and overlooking the valuable contributions of others.

One key is to try to understand and appreciate the perspectives and strengths that each person brings to the team.

Effective leaders are able to adapt their leadership style to fit the needs of the individuals they are leading. This may involve using different communication and decision-making strategies with different team members.

In order to lead people with very different personalities, it's important to be open-minded and willing to listen to and consider the perspectives of others. This can help to build trust and foster a sense of collaboration within the team.

Another key to leading a team of people with widely varying styles, values and approaches is to focus on the common goals and objectives that the team is working towards. This can help to create a sense of shared purpose and drive towards success.

Overall, leading people with very different personalities can be challenging, but it can also be a rewarding and enriching experience and we know it’s optimal for results, too. By being open-minded, adaptable, and focused on shared goals, leaders can help to build strong, productive teams from a diverse range of individuals.

Until next week,
Take care of yourself and others

Madeleine

PS. If you’re working with a team and finding it hard to build connection, let’s see if I can help. Send me a message to enquire, and please share with anyone you think may benefit.

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