When asked what a motivating work environment should look like, different employees will answer differently, because each of them has individual strengths and weaknesses and feels motivated when they are able to optimally use their strengths. For a manager, this means knowing their employees well and understanding what motivates them.
A personality profile can help shed more light on this issue. Most such profiles consider four basic behavioral styles, consisting of such opposing poles as extroversion and introversion, and people-oriented and task-oriented behavior.
Introverted employees tend to be the underdogs in a team. They are perceived as reserved and withdrawn, preferring quiet activities alone or in small groups. Extroverted people, on the other hand, are considered sociable, social, and like to be the center of attention.
Task-oriented people work in a results-oriented manner. They are interested in numbers, data, and facts. People-oriented employees are emotional. They prioritize relationships with other people and their needs, and therefore often act impulsively.
Based on this data, there are four personality types:
- Dominant personality type – characterized by extroverted and task-oriented behavior
- Initiator Personality type – characterized by extroverted and people-oriented behavior
- Stable personality type – characterized by introverted and people-oriented behavior
- Conscientious personality type – characterized by introverted and task-oriented behavior
It is rare for a person to have a single personality type. Each person exhibits characteristics of all four personality types to varying degrees. This means that different employees respond to different motivators.
An employee with a dominant personality type sets long-term goals. He likes to be the center of attention and control his surroundings. As a manager, you can motivate such a person by creating a work environment full of diverse, responsible tasks and challenges. He loves competition and makes quick decisions. He is motivated by regulations and a predetermined work environment.
An employee with the initiator personality type enjoys working in a team with others. He is motivated by a work environment with the prospect of making new contacts. He is open and optimistic and expresses his thoughts and feelings out loud. He loves teamwork. He expects immediate loud verbal praise from his manager with the phrases "Wow! You did well!". The enemy of his motivation is restrictions and deadlines, time plans and routine tasks. Also tasks that must be completed with complete accuracy.
An employee with a stable personality type prefers a work environment where he can work constructively with everyone and knows exactly what is expected of him. He wants the support of his supervisor and colleagues. He avoids major changes and strives for a stable and harmonious work environment. He is motivated by encouragement and recognition for dedication and a job well done. His role is very similar to that of a team manager: to create an organized, predictable work environment. He is also a patient listener.
An employee with a conscientious personality type strives for perfection. He is systematic, plans for the future with calculations and analyzes situations. As a manager, you can motivate such a person with praise, which he has earned for qualitatively and accurately performed tasks. He is demotivated by a lack of information or time to make decisions and perform work at a high quality level. Along with his thirst for knowledge and focus on quality, he is also distinguished by diplomacy, although he has difficulty softening his strict approaches towards himself and others.
Do you have the language of motivation to communicate with your employees? Do you offer them customized motivational incentives? Do you want to study yourself and your employees with the help of a personality profile?
Then join us for the seminar – “HR – Employee Management and Motivation”
