The Art of Managing Different Personality Types Within Your Team

People approach us because they've noticed a disconnect on their team. Maybe team members are clashing or there's other disruptive behaviour. Perhaps you've gone through a significant change - such as returning to the office - and productivity has taken a dip. 

It's tempting to jump straight to solutions, such as booking professional skills training or team coaching. And those will be effective in solving the problem. 

Still, understanding the various personalities within your team gives you an entirely different perspective. It explains why specific issues keep showing up and strengthens the impact of your training. It gives everyone a shared language to better understand how to work together. (Find out how our founder, Joy, felt after our team's experience doing a personality assessment!)

In this article, we're going to discuss managing different personalities and what that looks like in your workplace. 

This is not only for managers or team leaders. Anyone who works with people benefits from understanding how different types of personalities show up at work and how minor adjustments can make collaboration smoother.

We’ll discuss:

• A Good Team Is Made Up of Different Personalities
• Understanding the Different Personality Types Within Your Team
• Work with Different Personality Types in Your Workplace
• Building a Stronger Work Environment with A.R.C.H.

A Good Team Is Made Up of Different Personalities

People always say, "I wish I could clone myself." But if that were true, that actually wouldn't be a very good team. 

A strong team is never made up of a single type of personality. 

Strong teams are built on variety. You need creative thinkers, careful analysts, planners, problem solvers, and doers. When you have a mix, you get stronger discussions, more balanced decisions, and a healthier company culture.

Understanding the Different Personality Types Within Your Team

There are many ways that people describe certain personality types. For us, we use the acronym A.R.C.H. - Achiever, Reliable, Curious, Harmonious. 

Most people don’t fit neatly into one box. You’ll probably see pieces of yourself in every type. Still, most of us have one dominant style, along with a strong secondary style that influences how we communicate, make decisions, and handle day-to-day situations.

Work with Different Personality Types in Your Workplace

As you can see, each team member's personality has strengths that contribute to a successful team. Each one also has tendencies that can cause misunderstandings. What motivates one type will confuse another. What drives one kind of person to meet a deadline will drive another up the wall.

Let's walk through some common workplace scenarios where you may see different personality traits interacting. 

Adapting Your Management Style and Building Leadership Skills 

A big part of leadership is recognizing what people need to thrive.

For example, imagine you need to offer constructive feedback to two employees about their performance. 

When you speak with Heather (a Harmonious employee), you might offer feedback in a supportive, collaborative way rather than a corrective one. You might be able to suggest ways to improve in a more casual or off-the-cuff conversation.  

However, you wouldn't want to surprise Rachel (a Reliable employee) or put her on the spot. She might need clearly defined feedback and is the type of person who needs some time to process the information before moving forward.

Both employees want to do well. They simply approach feedback differently.

Dealing with Difficult Personalities and Improving Collaboration

People are rarely difficult on purpose. In fact, most friction comes from misunderstandings or mistaken assumptions. 

Take Aaron and Carl as an example. Aaron is an Achiever. Carl is a Curious type. When they collaborate on a project, their differences surface quickly.

Aaron wants quick decisions and steady movement. He expects Carl to keep pace. Carl, on the other hand, feels like Aaron is pushing ahead without giving the work the depth it needs. From Aaron’s point of view, Carl is slowing everything down by being a perfectionist. From Carl’s point of view, Aaron is rushing to get things done at the expense of doing it right.

Neither perspective is wrong. They are simply looking at the same task through two very different lenses. Once you understand that, it's easier to avoid making assumptions and talk things through. 

Understanding How Team Members Make Decisions 

Team decisions get smoother once you realize that everyone brings a different pace, comfort level, and perspective to the process.

For example, your team is brainstorming ideas. Hadari (a Harmonious employee) jumps in with ideas, talks things through, and energizes the room. You might ask him to take the lead in starting the conversation. However, Ramona (a Reliable employee) is an active listener. She is asking the right questions and keeping the group focused. She is able to identify the most realistic options and summarize key decisions to keep the team moving. 

Both contribute, but in very different ways. 

Boosting Morale and Recognizing Team Players 

It's important to recognize your employees, regardless of their personality type. However, when you recognize people in a way that matches their personality type, it makes your praise land more meaningfully.

For example, you tell a Harmonious type, “Your report was fine.” She feels deflated by the lack of enthusiasm, even though you meant it reassuringly. Knowing that a Curious type values clear detail might stop you from simply saying, “That was great,” because they will wonder what exactly worked and how to repeat it next time.

Matching your praise to the person helps them feel genuinely valued.

Building a Stronger Work Environment with A.R.C.H.

When you understand your team's personalities, you reduce unnecessary conflict and strengthen communication. You also get far more value from any coaching or professional skills training you choose next. 

We can compare it to fixing the foundation of your home before working on the flooring or decor. If the base is stable, everything you build afterwards has a much better chance of lasting.

***NEW!*** Introduction to A.R.C.H. Personality Types in the Workplace

This course is designed for anyone who wants to improve communication by understanding workplace personalities. You will discover your A.R.C.H. style and how it shapes your interactions with others. Once you have learned the traits and motivators of all four A.R.C.H. temperaments, we will dive into how to adjust your communication and build empathy so you can use the model to collaborate more effectively. You will also learn how to apply A.R.C.H. to teamwork, writing, meetings, and day-to-day leadership.

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***NEW!*** Personality Types in the Workplace: Resolving Conflicts with A.R.C.H.

This course is built for those who want to manage and resolve conflict using a practical model. You will explore how each A.R.C.H. type reacts to stress, spot early signs of tension, and use strategies that accommodate the way people think and communicate.

You will learn to handle tough conversations with clarity and confidence and walk away with tools that support healthier, more productive relationships at work.

COURSE OUTLINE PRIVATE TRAINING REGISTER NOW

Both courses are designed to support team management in a realistic, approachable way. When you understand who you are working with and why people behave differently, you step into managerial responsibilities with more confidence and help your team reach its full potential.

No workplace is perfect, but teams thrive when people know how to communicate, adjust, and show up for one another. Personality awareness gives you a foundation that supports every other skill you teach.

If you are ready to build that foundation and strengthen your team for the long term, reach out to our team of training coordinators today.