Beyond the Golden Rule: Practical Strategies to Manage Diverse Workplace Personalities
As the workforce continues to evolve, and perhaps more rapidly these days than in living memory, workplace culture keeps coming up as one of the most important pillars of successful companies. Previously, culture has been largely defined by the “Golden Rule”, that is, to treat others how you want to be treated.
We’ve likely all been guilty of this false conscious bias in the past. After all, it’s very human to want to relate to others in ways that are inherently familiar to us. Now, however, innovative organizations are moving toward a “Platinum Rule”: treating others how they want to be treated.
CliftonStrengths is an ideal tool to implement the Platinum Rule. Why? Because it helps to understand personalities through individual strengths. You will avoid making assumptions about your fellow team members and direct reports, and learn how best to communicate and lead in ways that complement their capabilities.
Why the golden rule falls short
The “treat others how you wish to be treated” principle falls short because it makes the assumption that everyone responds to the same communication style. But personalities, motivations, and work styles vary greatly. Leaders can unintentionally miscommunicate, or cause friction, when they treat others based on their personal preferences.
The CliftonStrengths model illustrates just how diverse a team truly is. Simply put, no two people share the same combination of strengths, and these differences shape thinking, behaviour, and relationships.
Managing personalities effectively means recognizing and tapping into the value that each individual brings, as well as how team members complement one another (as opposed to trying to bend them to your own exact combination of workplace traits).
Spotting and valuing individual strengths
First-time and experienced leaders alike can utilize the CliftonStrengths assessment to identify team members’ strengths. For example, a high Analytical strength needs a lot of data in order to confidently make decisions. On the other hand, a high Activator strength prefers to start quickly and make decisions on the go.
Recognizing patterns such as these can prevent friction, build trust, and help leaders organically align work objectives with team members’ strengths and capabilities.
Adapting your leadership style to cater to strengths
Another quality that the golden rule lacks is flexibility. If you treat others how you expect to be treated, then you exercise somewhat rigid ways of being. With the platinum rule, however, flexibility is an essential component of interpersonal communications, and creates more space for diverse personalities.
Adapting communication and motivation strategies to match a direct reports’ strengths can contribute significantly to working relationships and organizational success. For example, someone with a high Communication strength thrives when they have space to share ideas, and a high Deliberative strength in turn thrives when they have time to think before responding or acting.
Embedding strengths in team culture
Intentionally embed strengths within your team by integrating CliftonStrengths language into daily practices, including meetings, feedback, and recognition. You can also assign projects based on strengths to boost motivation, which in turn positively impacts performance and morale.
Team leads can also experiment with sharing success stories where a strengths-based approach improves collaboration or outcomes (or both!).
Encouraging open conversations about strengths helps to weave them into the team’s identity. Strengths-based language offers a neutral but meaningful focus point so you can work together to identify success and opportunities alike, and continue to improve the platinum model of communication.
Bringing out the best in every personality
Ultimately, managing different personalities is about recognizing and leveraging the right strengths. And a CliftonStrengths framework can help you embrace the platinum rule so your team can show up and contribute to a work environment where diverse personalities can thrive!
If you’re looking for more support with practical applications of the platinum rule, consider our Startup Manager Training for new, first-time, and always-growing managers and team leads.