In Memory of our Beloved Sister Linda Gilden
I came across an article in Harvard Business Review called “Great Teams Are About Personalities, Not Just Skills,” by Dave Winsborough and Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic.
The authors mentioned a 2016 Google study where the company claimed to have found “the secret ingredients for the perfect team.” It turns out Google doesn’t just hire based on talent— they look for something they call “Googliness.”
In other words, personality really matters. And they’re not alone. Many big organizations now use personality assessments to help them figure out who fits best where—whether it’s hiring, promoting, or building the right mix of people for a project.
The Solo Work Myth
As speakers and writers, we sometimes feel we’re working solo and don’t need to think about team building or personalities.
The truth is, we can’t succeed alone. We must interact with editors, designers, publishers, and others. Once our work is in print, we connect with marketers, readers, and the public.
Speakers also need clear communication with event planners, those who help at book tables, accommodation hosts, and the audience afterward. You may not have considered how much personality shapes your work or ministry. Learning a few relationship skills—and understanding both your personality and others’—can make every partnership more effective.
Beyond Labels: Understanding Your Work Style
There are many assessments that use different words to describe each personality, but you’ll find most are grouped in similar ways and it’s simple to determine which one fits you.
Some use animal names, some letters, and others draw from ancient history. Here, we’ll use words that are clear and easy to understand. If you’re a writer, you have a team waiting to help you. You’re either a Mobilizer, Socializer, Stabilizer, or Organizer. Maybe the words extrovert and introvert sound more familiar. The extroverts are the Mobilizers and Socializers, while the introverts are the Stabilizers and Organizers.
When you narrow it down, you might recognize yourself.
Mobilizer: the get-it-done person.
Socializer: the life-of-the-party person.
Stabilizer: the keep-it-peaceful person.
Organizer: the everything-in-order person.
When Different Personalities Collide on Stage
Once you identify your personality, you can discover how helpful it is to know the personality of your event planner, publisher, and others you work with.
For example, if you’re a Mobilizer speaker, you know exactly how things should be done—and want them done immediately. However, if your event planner is a Socializer, she won’t be as eager as you are to go over all the plans and details.
Your to-do list may feel overwhelming to her. Offering lunch after the meeting (if you’re in the same town) might help her stay focused since there’s a promise of fun afterward.
If your planner is a Stabilizer, you may find him or her agreeing with everything just to keep peace and move things along. You and an Organizer will likely enjoy working out the details together, but take care not to create a debate over whose way is best. You both have strong ideas.
If you’re the speaker, remember—the event planner brought you to the venue, and you’re under his or her authority. Most of all, learn as much as you can about your audience and meet their specific needs. In every case, remember to be respectful.
The Publishing Ladder Requires Relationship Intelligence
If you are a writer, you need to be aware that you are a very important part of a team.
You cannot be successful in your calling unless you can work well with those up and down the publishing ladder. Likewise, publishers, editors, designers, and typesetters depend on writers to provide the material they need to produce their publications.
As with speakers and event planners, writers will work far more effectively with others in the industry if they understand the personalities of those they collaborate with.
The Send Button Dilemma
Suppose you are an Organizer-type writer who is a perfectionist.
First of all, it was probably hard for you to hit the send button—you wanted to make sure your manuscript was perfect. But on the other end of that send button is a Mobilizer editor who loves to dive right in, making notes and a list of changes for the author.
If you know yourself well, you’ll recognize that you must guard against taking those comments personally. If you understand your editor’s personality, you can view their feedback as constructive criticism meant to make your work shine.
The Mobilizer’s notes may come with fewer soft edges, while the Socializer may add a little fluff to make the process fun. You’ll likely find fewer comments from Stabilizer editors, who prefer to move the project along with a minimum of conflict.
Writing for Four Audiences at Once
As a writer, you also know you’ll have readers—another part of your team—who represent all four personalities.
Therefore, as you write, include something for your get-it-done person, life-of-the-party person, keep-it-peaceful person, and everything-in-order person. If you can do that, you’ll broaden your readership and extend the reach of your message.
Before You Label Someone Difficult
A little personality insight goes a long way in helping you understand those around you, both personally and professionally.
Before you label your event planner, editor, publisher, or friend as difficult, pause and consider their personality. You’ll find it easier to work with them—and to respect their role—once you understand what motivates their responses.
Article adapted from LINKED by Linda Gilden and Linda Goldfarb. Take your free assessment at linkedpersonalites.com.
