Working together can be challenging in the workplace. However, the combined strength of several different perspectives can be formidable. Productivity, innovation, and expansion prospects all improve when teams work together more effectively. Leaders should examine their own working style and provide their employees with the information they need to do the same. Then, and only then, will your team members be able to work together productively and give you their all. This article will explore the various working style and provide an example of each.
What Is a Working Style?
A working style is a set of behaviors and attitudes that you bring to your responsibilities and relationships at work.
If you’re someone who thinks primarily in terms of concepts, for instance, you have a tendency to overlook the small stuff in favor of the larger picture. Those who are logical can determine if a plan or project will succeed and, if not, what has to be done to make it successful. If you’re meticulous, you’ll take charge of outlining the project’s strategy and keeping everyone on track to finish on time. If you’re a team player, you’ll chip in and help get everyone’s work done on schedule.
In addition, identifying your preferred working style will help you focus on tasks at which you will be most productive, ultimately leading to greater professional success. Recognizing your own assumptions and habits might help you overcome them when necessary.
Why Is Working Style Important?
Realizing your own working style allows you to better communicate with others whose methods differ from your own. Understanding how your coworkers deal with difficulties can help you work together more effectively. The same holds true for the workplace; becoming a better employee and team player just requires becoming more self-aware of your own prejudices and tendencies.
Finding the right profession and career path for you depends in large part on your understanding of your preferred methods of work. You can better capitalize on your strengths by seeking out positions that put your planning and preparation skills to good use.
Working Style Types
Although they may be referred to by other names or be subdivided further, the six main types of working styles are logical, idea-oriented, detail-oriented, cooperative, proximity, and supportive. It’s likely that you’ll find yourself in more than one of these groups, given the vast majority of people use a combination of all four styles at some point in their working lives.
“As your roles change, different parts of your personality have to stand out more,” Hadas remarked. A good way to consider different approaches to the workplace. Just as understanding if you’re an introvert or extrovert is helpful, so is knowing your strengths. Insights like that give you control over your professional future. Also, read CULTURE IN BUSINESS: Definition, Types & Examples.
#1. Independent or Logical
- Key advantages: Dedicated, diligent, and able to produce original and forward-thinking work
- Problematic Regions: Lack of coordination, complexity, and a failure to prepare forward.
Team members that are independent thinkers or doers require personal workspace. You prefer to work independently on projects rather than under close supervision or micromanagement.
You have a knack for identifying the core of a problem and then formulating a clear, actionable plan to overcome it. In my experience, this is the catalyst for many brilliant, game-changing insights.
However, your solitary approach to work may make it difficult for you to succeed in teams. You could feel like you can’t concentrate because of all the new information and suggestions being thrown at you.
Here’s an example of a team member with an independent or logical working style: Think of an eager businessperson. You forge your own path instead than blindly following someone else’s. When someone else tells you how to dream or where to focus, it’s hard to do your best.
#2. Cooperative Working Style
- Key advantages: Excellent communicator and a people person
- Problematic Regions: Taking the stage on their own
The cooperative worker represents the polar opposite of the independent worker. You are at your best when contributing to a team effort and listening to others’ opinions.
Instead of writing down your thoughts, you’d rather have a chat and see where it goes. Cooperative team members are typically more articulate for this very reason.
Of course, as the polar opposite of the independent worker, people who prefer to work in teams often find it difficult to do so when necessary. Without regular team connections, you may find that you lack the inspiration to come up with new ideas.
These team members operate cooperatively: Project management and recruiting specialists collaborate. You routinely communicate with others at work, so you recognize the value of collecting input before implementing your ideas.
#3. Supportive
- Key advantages: Excellent in fostering cooperation and resolving conflicts while also displaying high levels of emotional intelligence and self-awareness.
- Problematic Regions: Easily sidetracked; often has trouble settling on the “right” option.
Consider the employees who have the greatest capacity for empathy. They probably have a helpful attitude toward work. Members who are supportive of one another work hard to build rapport and boost team spirit. Because of this, you have a natural talent for resolving disputes and bringing people together.
Members with a strong ability to empathize are invaluable assets to any team. A team member’s unpleasant day or difficulty completing tasks will not go unnoticed by you. When there is an issue, they can figure out where it’s coming from even if no one is saying anything.
Emotional IQ has its benefits, but it can also be a source of distraction. You might be in a bind till the supporting staff member decides anything important.
In a similar vein, beneficial team members could be reluctant to approach a disruptive teammate for fear of the latter’s reaction.
Example team members with a supportive working style: Managers and members of the operations and human resources departments may have collaborative work styles because of the importance of meeting the needs of the team. Volunteers on a team may also exhibit a supportive work style if they organize events or act as mentors for younger employees. Also, read TEAM LEAD: Meaning, Duties, Interview Questions & Salary.
#4. Idea-Oriented
- Key qualities: upbeat, motivating, and efficient at bringing about change in others.
- Problematic Regions: Not well-organized, may miss important facts, and rarely follows up.
An idea-oriented work approach is the antithesis of a detail-oriented one. These forward-thinking individuals are crucial in bringing about systemic shifts. You can think of it as switching from a magnifying glass to a telescope.
Team members who focus on ideas motivate their colleagues to think creatively, but you have a hard time keeping track of the little stuff. A lot of the work gets left to those who are better at making plans because of the lack of organization.
Example team members with an idea-oriented working style: People who are more idea-oriented tend to work in creative or high-level positions in an organization, such as advertising, graphic design, or even management.
#5. Proximity
- Important features: Balanced and flexible
- Problematic Regions: Not every task can be done equally well by an individual or a group.
You strike a delicate balance between independence and teamwork when you adopt a proximity approach to your work. You might want to be given an assignment and left to figure it out on your own before coming back to the group for criticism.
This approach allows people to enjoy the benefits of independence without sacrificing the benefits of working in a collaborative setting. Proximity is one of the most flexible work arrangements since it allows for socialization and assistance.
There isn’t much a close-knit team can’t do, but not every office setting allows for the ideal blend of team camaraderie and individual focus. Neither creating a spreadsheet nor participating in a team meeting typically involves a “collaboration stage” where everyone pitches in, and sometimes you just have to go it alone.
Example team members with a proximity working style: You may excel in practically any aspect of a company, from management to finance to marketing, when you adopt a proximity working style.
#6. Detail-oriented
Important features: Intelligent, deliberate, adept at reducing danger, and capable of establishing and maintaining peace and calm
Problematic Regions: Not moving quickly enough, focusing on the right things, and obtaining the overall picture
The detail-oriented employee is the one you want on the job since they will make sure everything is done correctly. Also, the first to read the small print are the learners, often known as students. If you identify with this approach, you’re likely highly analytical and strategic, giving careful consideration to even the smallest of things that could snowball into major problems down the road.
A team member who pays close attention to detail may be relied on to take precautions, such as checking for typos before a report is sent to the manager. You place a premium on precision (especially in regard to word choice and language) and cannot tolerate any errors.
It’s true that paying close attention to every last detail might be exhausting at times. Although perfection may not exist, the detail-oriented worker will not accept anything less. This might lead to exhaustion and burnout in a short amount of time. It can also prevent the forward movement of a project.
Example team members with a detail-oriented working style: Many meticulous workers choose to join teams in the fields of writing, editing, and education.
How to Determine Which Working Style You Use
Think about the following factors to decide the working style that best suits you:
#1. Do a Character Assessment
Personality assessment can be a very helpful method of learning about oneself and the working style. In order to gain a sense of a potential employee’s character and viewpoint prior to hiring, several companies have them undergo personality tests. Because the results provide insight into a person’s approach to relationships and work, they are used to determine whether or not an applicant or employee is a good fit for a certain team or position. Numerous personality assessments exist, however some of the more well-known include:
- Winslow Personality Profile. The Winslow Personality Profile includes 24 different personality qualities, all of which are measured on a decimal scale. Although this test is commonly utilized in sports leagues, it can be beneficial in any professional setting.
- Myers Briggs Type Index (MBTI). The Myers-Briggs Type Index is a widely used personality test predicated on the hypothesis that all social interactions may be broken down into four distinct sub-domains: sensation, intuition, feeling, and intellect. According to this exam, there are 16 distinct personality types, each of which might shed light on your approach to the workplace.
- Revised NEO Personality Inventory (NEO PI-R). According to the test’s assumptions, your levels of neuroticism, extroversion, openness to new experiences, agreeableness, and conscientiousness will be calculated. The way you approach the world can be broken down into six subcategories within each of these characteristics.
#2. Consider the Channels You Use Most Often
To determine your working style, it can be useful to consider the methods you prefer to use for conveying information and ideas. The active listening skills of someone with a supportive work style are only one of the telltale signs of that person’s preferred approach to the workplace. It’s reasonable to assume that someone whose work style is more idea-oriented will use more enthusiastic hand gestures and less succinct language in their conversations with others, and vice versa.
#3. Consider How You Prefer to Organize Your Day
The way you plan out each day can also tell us a lot about your work ethic. Someone who is detail-oriented is likely to organize their day in advance and rarely miss a deadline, whereas someone with a different work style might put off finishing tasks until the last minute.
You can also consider whether you thrive in a fast-paced setting that allows you to be spontaneous in the workplace, or whether you prefer time for planning.
#4. Find Out Your Approach to Solving Problems
Someone with a more rational approach to work may enjoy a healthy argument, whereas others with a more emotional style may try to avoid any sort of conflict, friendly or not. How you respond to disagreements can shed light on your character both at work and in your personal life. To illustrate, if you have a collaborative approach to the job, you can try to find a middle ground whenever a disagreement develops.
What Is the 4 Basic Management Style?
Managers and executives play a crucial role in shaping the outcomes of the organizations they oversee. With a solid leader in charge, you can rest assured that the task at hand will be completed with enthusiasm and dedication. Disengaged workers, high turnover, and low production are common results of having a bad leader at the helm.
However, what exactly constitutes an efficient management style, and to what extent does this play in business culture and industry? Well, there are a number of factors at play, and what succeeds in one setting may backfire spectacularly in another. Fortunately, you may assess the efficacy of your leadership style in a professional situation if you have a firm grasp on your own personal strengths and shortcomings as a leader.
Here are the 4 basic management styles every business owner should consider.
#1. Visionary Management Style
A visionary manager articulates a path forward that resonates with her team, inspiring them to put in extra effort to see it through.
After establishing the team’s long-term goals and overall strategy, visionary leaders typically give their staff some leeway to determine how they want to go about their tasks. Managers typically conduct these kinds of meetings to either reassure employees that they are on the right track or to impart useful information.
Self-direction is a fundamental psychological need, and managers should always strive to meet this need for their staff. Humans have greater satisfaction and motivation when they are able to exercise some degree of autonomy over their work. The most effective strategy for managers to increase their team’s motivation and morale is to let their employees’ individual goals and interests drive their work.
Managers with a vision are regarded as being firm but fair. While they may have a clear notion of where they want to take the company, they are always receptive to input from their staff and flexible in adapting to new information.
Leaders with a clear sense of purpose provide regular feedback on staff performance and heap praise on those who consistently deliver.
However, successfully implementing such a management style is challenging. Before expecting staff to carry out your vision, you must first convince them of its value. Doing so will motivate others to help you realize your vision.
#2. Democratic Management Style
When it comes to administration, in a democratic system the majority always wins. Managers encourage employee input in decision-making because they recognize the importance of a diverse set of perspectives to any group’s overall success.
Although democratic managers must ultimately provide their stamp of approval to all decisions, their teams typically have a great deal of sway over the ultimate outcome because of their participation in making those decisions.
Employees are given a lot of say in important decisions because research shows that when workers feel that their opinions matter, they are more invested in the company’s success. Because they are carrying out an initiative that they themselves devised, employees are more likely to support the team’s goals and objectives.
As a result of their managers’ confidence in them, many workers appreciate this style of leadership since it allows them to put their talents to good use.
However, inefficient execution of a democratic management style is a common problem. Managers who still hesitate after getting input from their staff are a potential bottleneck. Make sure they are contributing to your success if you want them to feel like leaders of your team. If you don’t deliver on your promises, they may begin to doubt you.
#3. Transformational Management Style
Managers with a transformational mindset are creative thinkers. They typically see change and progress as the only way to stay ahead of the curve, and as a result, they push their staff to the limits of their abilities. This encourages workers to keep pushing themselves, which ultimately benefits the team’s output.
Transformational managers inspire loyalty and satisfaction in their staff by always pushing them to do better and reminding them that they have limitless potential if they just keep working hard enough. Managers like these are committed to their staff’s development and success at every turn.
Since these groups are creative, they can easily adjust to even the most radical shifts in their field. However, they run the risk of advancing too quickly and spreading themselves too thin. As a manager of people, you need to know how far you can push each person before they start burning out, but constantly challenging the status quo is critical for innovation and keeping ahead of the curve.
#4. Coaching Management Style
A coaching manager, like a sports coach, looks out for their players’ long-term improvement. They enjoy imparting knowledge and seeing the development of their staff. They have a greater tolerance for temporary setbacks provided that the team grows as a result of the experience.
In order to boost the team’s performance, coaching managers often offer incentives like promotions and more responsibilities to encourage their staff to continue learning and growing in their roles.
Coaches may foster loyalty in their teams by continually imparting knowledge and providing possibilities for advancement. However, this action may also foster an atmosphere of unhealthy competition within their team.
Coaching leaders prioritize two things: their team’s growth as individuals and the team as a whole. The most successful teams have strong bonds among their members, and workers benefit most when their manager and peers work together to help them advance professionally.
How to Answer “What Is Your Work Style?”
Providing a convincing response is more difficult than it seems at first.
You should learn as much as possible about the organization before going in for an interview. Then, use these guidelines as a guide to writing a memorable reply.
#1. Consider Your Ideal Method of Work
Responding to “What is your work style?” requires a great deal of introspection. Some people believe they can thrive in any professional setting by just altering their approach. Tolerating an office culture is one thing; prospering there is another.
If you want to be successful at work, you need to like your work and how you do it. Be truthful with yourself as you think back on your work history. In what ways did you have the most fun? What unfortunate happenings will you never forget?
It’s up to you to determine your optimal working conditions and methods. You may find, for instance, that you are not suited to teamwork and would rather work independently. That’s a life-changing epiphany you need to have before applying for jobs.
Realizing your ideal working conditions can make a world of difference. It will aid you in not just answering this question and describing your work style, but also discussing the kind of employee you will be. In addition, it guides you toward businesses that will foster your growth and development.
#2. Pick a Few Accurate Terms to Describe Your Profession
Using industry-standard characterizations is one excellent approach to this question. Use these keywords to provide interviewers with a vivid image of your work style and highlight your most impressive qualifications in a way that won’t lengthen your answer.
Consider your preferred method of working and the best setting for it. You can describe your approach to teamwork as “independent” or “collaborative,” for instance.
You should go the extra mile and use strong language to convey the kind of contributions you like to make in team settings. For those who enjoy working together, “cooperative” is a good adjective, whereas “supportive” describes managers who put their employees’ needs first.
#3. Try to Relate Your Response to the Job for Which You Are Applying
Interviewers often ask, “What is your work style?” because it’s a great chance to reiterate your qualifications for the position. Don’t just talk about yourself and what’s important to you; emphasize how your approach to work might help the firm succeed. Here’s when it pays off to have done your homework.
Only if you’re completely familiar with the company and your position will you be able to confidently respond to this question. You may learn a lot about the company and its people by reading the job description, perusing the corporate website, and stalking the company’s social media pages.
Refer back to the original posting for the position that interested you. Take note of the language used. You may be able to piece together a reasonable solution with the help of a few hints.
Your mission is to make the connection between your skills and the needs of the business. Give an account of your qualifications. Make it easy for the hiring manager to see you in the position by tying your response to the job description.
#4. Provide Illustrations
Don’t just say “I work hard” when asked about your work style. That’s helpful, but it doesn’t compare to seeing it in action.
The interviewer will get a better sense of your abilities and work style if you provide them with examples of your past work.
Think back on your time in the workforce and describe a situation where you successfully implemented your preferred method of working. You might elaborate on the benefits of your preferred method of working and the reasons it has proven effective.
#5. Keep Your Response Brief
Finally, remember to be brief and to the point while responding.
Limit yourself to under two minutes, and think about implementing the STAR technique. You can sound concise while still making an impact by using this method during an interview. Situation Task activity and outcome is an abbreviation for “situation,” “task,” “action,” and “result.”
Answers that are both informative and concise demonstrate your communication skills. The interviewer may ask, “What is your work style?” or something similar. You may make a terrific impression while keeping things moving if you minimize the time it takes you to answer.
How to Manage These Different Working Styles
Here are tips to manage your working style.
#1. Take Advantage of Their Skills
Consider how to get the most out of your team members while building one for a project. To what extent can you accommodate various work styles?
The team members who focus on the finer points, for instance, would benefit from having a set agenda and adequate time to consider all of the options before making any judgments. Meanwhile, people that are idea-oriented tend to be forward-looking, so it makes sense to put them in charge.
People who are more logical tend to want to get right in, while those who are more empathetic will want to pool their resources and make sure everyone is on the same page. When a project needs to be finished, how will you divide up the work and bring people on board?
#2. It’s Important to Hire Appropriately
If you have a coworker who is quiet and avoids arguments, you should try to avoid putting them in sticky situations. Be sure to reassure them that there will be no negative consequences for stepping out of their comfort zone.
Just as it is a surefire way to hinder the advancement of any pioneers on your team, isolating them from the rest of the group while they work is also a bad idea. It is your responsibility as a manager to learn what drives each member of your staff so that you can place them in roles where they may succeed.
#3. Let Your Intentions Be Known
The achievement of your team is proportional to the effort put into establishing goals.
Gather the team before beginning a new project to talk about how the project’s aims and expectations fit in with the larger organization’s mission and values. Discuss how everyone’s contributions contribute to the project as a whole.
Due to individuals’ unique approaches, the completed product may appear differently to each observer. Make sure they know what’s expected of them, give them constructive criticism as they go, and back them up (or give them space) as they feel comfortable.
Bottom Line
While it’s understandable to want to establish a distinct working style, keep in mind that even the most well-rounded managers draw from a variety of strategies while leading their employees. That’s why it’s important to have the leeway to choose the management approach that will yield the best results in each given situation or for any certain employee.
The emphasis inside an organization can shift from problem-solving and creativity to decision-making and persuasion during a feedback session, thus different approaches are required.
While it may be argued that the most effective working style is one that rings true, you should be conscious that this may not be the approach your company requires at the moment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is Your Manager Style?
The question “What is your management style?” refers to more than just that. The interviewer wants to determine if you’ll be a good cultural match for their company. That’s why the most effective response will demonstrate your adaptability and versatility. My approach to management changes depending on the group I’m in charge of.
How Would You Describe Your Working Style?
Some interpersonal skills you could highlight include effective communication, empathy, dependability, leadership, inspiration, and teamwork. Alternatively, you may emphasize hard-to-measure qualities like initiative, persistence, creativity, and resourcefulness.
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