It’s hard to get everyone on the same page when they’re speaking different languages. With employee engagement becoming more crucial than ever, and the benefits of diversity becoming harder to ignore, it’s time to talk about how to bring a group of disparate individuals together for a common goal.
Step 1 of bringing people together is to recognise them as individuals. Understand and appreciate their unique abilities and strengths, learn what motivates them, and use that. Here’s how.
What are employee work styles?
Here are a few of the kinds of people you might meet in your workplace:
The logical worker
The logical worker, also known as the driver or doer, wants to tackle challenges head-on. They’re results-driven and goal-focused. They’re also great analysts with an affinity for data and a linear thinking style that helps them power through from A to B. However, their eagerness to get cracking may cause them to neglect planning or effective communication with others.
The detail-oriented worker
Also known as the guardian or learner, the detail-oriented worker grounds their team with their stable, orderly presence, practical mindset, and attention to detail. They’re excellent planners and strategists, but may need support with the execution. They also tend to be risk-averse and take their time thinking through the implications before adopting new suggestions and ideas. This means they pair excellently with logical workers.
The supportive worker
These workers, also known as lovers or integrators, bring their emotions to work. They’re expressive, supportive, and great at building positive relationships and a harmonious culture. They’re sensitive to other people’s feelings, so they can facilitate communication, understand the nuances of a situation, and use empathy to foster cooperation. Collaboration towards a shared goal is their strength.
The idea-oriented worker
These big-picture thinkers often rise to become leaders or pioneers. They’re visionaries with the power to inspire others to believe in a better future. They can energise any team. They’re resilient, adaptable, excited by risks and possibilities, and adept at turning problems into opportunities. However, their big-picture focus can lead them to miss details or forget to follow up with colleagues.
How to engage different employee work styles
Encourage feedback
Create a feedback culture where everyone feels safe to share their opinions, concerns, and suggestions. You can use suggestion boxes, pulse surveys, or even 1:1s. Get Supportive employees on board to help you with this–they’ll be great at it. Logical and Idea-oriented employees will benefit from getting feedback and listening to their teammates.
Promote collaboration
A collaborative work environment that encourages teamwork, idea-sharing, and open communication makes employees feel engaged and valued. Team-building activities, brainstorming sessions, and cross-functional projects will help Detail-Oriented and Idea-Oriented workers bond, creating a powerful synergy between ideas and action.
Empower employees
Give your people the autonomy to make their own decisions and take ownership of their work–it does wonders for engagement. Training and development, delegating authority, and seeking employee input are all great ways to do this. Your Idea-Oriented and Supportive employees, who are the most sensitive to others and most open to inspiration and new ideas, will benefit most.
Using all these approaches in synergy will create a new sense of synergy in your team.
Are you looking to expand your workforce? JAM is passionate about crafting innovative, bespoke solutions for our customers to help them recruit and retain the specialist skills required for their businesses.
Whether you require extra manpower for a specific project, need to upskill an existing team or you need ongoing support and guidance, JAM can provide your business with a bespoke solution that is tailored to your needs. Get in touch.