Personalities thrive in different work environments

Submitted by Hannah Auerbach, Account Executive, Newman Communications

Drawing on their experience from coaching executives and training world-class organizations, Merrick Rosenberg and Daniel Silvert have written a book, "Taking Flight!" about four work styles, using the acronym, DISC. The book lays out a blueprint for understanding how to get more productivity out of workers and helps workers identify what style they are and what they should look for in a job.

Take Flight!" excerpt:

"The degree to which people like their jobs is largely a function of the corporate culture in which they work. People spend a significant percentage of their waking lives at work, so matching work environment with style can lead to greater job satisfaction and a more rewarding career. Although no setting will likely satisfy every want or need, there’s a lot to be said for understanding the types of environments that bring out our best.

What follows are optimal work environments and general job characteristics that match each style: DISC.

Dominant Style 

D’s thrive in environments that value big-picture ideas and high levels of accountability for getting things done. Someone high in D energy will thrive in a culture where setting ambitious goals and aggressively pursuing results take precedence over playing it safe. D’s prefer settings where candor is considered healthy and constructive conflict is welcomed. An environment that encourages competition can bring out the best in the D’s performance.

Interactive Style
 

Given that I’s are enthusiastic, optimistic, and upbeat, they thrive in high-energy, positive work environments. A workplace with low morale can have a particularly devastating effect on an I’s job satisfaction. The I’s desire to talk and contribute necessitates an atmosphere that encourages group interaction. In addition, I’s thrive when empowered with freedom and flexibility. Jobs that require the frequent juggling of responsibilities are well suited to an I’s thirst for variety and spontaneity. In fact, multitasking keeps the I’s mind active and engaged.

A “command and control” manager will not bring out the best in an I. Likewise, highly structured and formalized settings can seriously stifle an I’s talent for motivating others and stimulating innovation.

Supportive Style

S’s are driven by their need for stability. As such, they prefer calm and steady work environments. S’s will typically experience significant levels of stress in settings where constant change is the norm.

Seeking harmony in all of their relationships, S’s thrive in collaborative workplaces in which people genuinely support each other.

Conscientious Style

C’s are detail-oriented and logical and have a relentless need for accuracy. If a culture doesn’t reward quality, C’s will not be satisfied with their work. As such, they thrive in formalized settings with definable standards and expectations. A highly collaborative, free-flowing, and unstructured workplace would not be optimal for strong C’s, as they prefer to work independently and need quiet space to think.

C’s also require ample time for analysis before arriving at a concrete conclusion. A fast-paced atmosphere where people spontaneously make decisions based upon intuition and gut feeling would be unsettling and disruptive. C’s need to understand the logic behind decisions and therefore will thrive in settings in which managers provide rationale and an abundance of information.

The right style of work environment will supercharge your skills and become a reliable source of vitality in your life. The wrong environment will drain your energy reserves and lead to much stress and conflict for you and your coworkers. So, when looking for a job, remember to consider workplace culture as one of the key criteria to determine if a job or company is right for you. And if you’re a manager who helps to create the environment for your staff, try to factor in styles when dealing with each individual."

About the Authors: Merrick Rosenberg and Daniel Silvert have led training for more than 20,000 people in small and large corporations. They have worked with more than two-thirds of the current Fortune 100 companies in 44 states and around the world.