Combatting the Number One Stressor in the Workplace (or anyplace!)
For those who have returned to work since the pandemic, it’s an understatement to say it’s been an adjustment. So many things have changed from what we wear to how our offices are set up, who we work with, what we do, etc. But one thing that hasn’t changed is the difficult personalities of some people we work with.
Did you know that interpersonal relationships are the number one stressor in the workplace? We spend twice as much time with the people we work with than with our loved ones, yet many of us don’t know our colleagues and have never stopped to ask ourselves the “why” behind people doing what they do.
Some examples are:
Addressing a colleague with a cheery “Hello!” only to be ignored.
Waiting and waiting for a co-worker who won’t immediately reply to an inquiry.
Dealing with a colleague who “hides away” in their cubicle.
Putting up with the office prankster who does everything over the top.
In our typical human fashion, rather than seeking understanding, we invent stories to explain their actions…e.g. they don’t care about people, or they don’t like me, etc.
Sound familiar? In most cases, our deductions about the person are false assumptions that damage our work relationships and negatively impact our work environment.
About ten years ago, I completed a Personality Dimensions workshop that helped me gain insight and knowledge about myself and provided an understanding of why others do what they do. It was an eye-opening moment that answered many questions for me and resolved many concerns (and stress) regarding the personalities in my office and my life! I was so impressed with the results of this assessment that I decided to become a Certified Personality Dimensions Facilitator.
The premise of Personality Dimensions is simple, there are four primary temperaments identified by colours, symbols and descriptors: Inquiring Green, Resourceful Orange, Organized Gold and Authentic Blue. We all have elements of each category, but one is typically stronger. Also, Personality Dimensions identifies our level of Introversion & Extraversion in terms of where we derive our energy from and how we prefer to think and plan. Generally, Introverts like quiet time on their own to rejuvenate and problem-solve, while Extraverts tend to gravitate toward being with others to recharge and talk through issues in a group setting. As with the colour categories, some people have both introverted and extraverted tendencies depending on the circumstances.
A recent article published by Brad Whitehorn, Associate Director at CLSR Inc., used the Personality Dimensions assessment tool to help us gain insight into the personalities in The Office, a made-for-TV series currently enjoying a resurgence in popularity. Perhaps you can identify some of your co-workers in the following characters:
Michael Scott is the happy-go-lucky, if sometimes unlucky, Regional Manager of Dunder Mifflin Paper Company. Initially, his core needs appear to be freedom and fun making him come across as a Resourceful Orange, however, as the series continues, we see that Michael is more of an Extraverted Authentic Blue who is all about building genuine, meaningful relationships. He’s an outgoing guy who comes to life whenever he’s around people, which may explain the high number of seemingly useless meetings he called!
Then there’s Dwight Schrute (Extraverted Gold), Assistant to the Regional Manager, whose love of rules and policies sometimes pushes the people he works with over the brink! His overzealous attention to detail is his happy place, i.e. his detailed emergency exit plan that feeds his soul and demonstrates his care and commitment to the people he works with.
Next, let’s look at Pam Beesley (Authentic Blue) the receptionist turned salesperson who is always considering the feelings of others. Her lovely “realness” in ensuring everyone is appreciated and fondly remembered makes her the perfect person to organize the office party even though some office members would find it “painful” to attend!
Enter Jim Halpert (Introverted Green), the charming, witty man about the office who thinks things through logically and strategically. Introverted Greens like Jim often get labelled “aloof and uncaring” in an office setting, especially at social events. They also place a high value on knowledge and achievement and tend not to get caught up in emotional situations. Where Authentic Blues are always striving to find out about themselves and others, Inquiring Greens want to acquire facts about the way things operate and the why behind it all.
Be it an analysis of a classic sitcom cast of characters or an assessment of your day-to-day co-workers, the Personality Dimensions tool is an effective way to discover different temperaments we possess and learn how to interact with each other better.
If you want to reduce the biggest stressor in the workplace, increase cohesiveness, improve positivity, and gain a deeper understanding of the “why” behind yourself and others, let’s connect and discuss how I can help.