When I began my journey at Pixafy a year ago, there were about 10 employees. Now that number has more than doubled to 25 employees! Can you say amazing?!
Nonetheless, when you double your staff, you also double the amount of personalities around the office and that’s what makes things truly interesting, engaging and well, sometimes, even frustrating. So, how do you deal with all these different personalities?
From my experience, it’s best to follow these three steps:
- Listen. It’s vital that you always listen to whoever is talking and then you can ask questions or jump in as soon as they are finished. A lot of the time when there are multiple personalities in an office, there are lots of ways that people react, speak (cadence, language, tone of voice) and if you don’t listen to what it is they are saying and how they are actually saying it, things could be misinterpreted. Remember, if you don’t listen, you can’t ask good questions, nor can you offer valuable advice or feedback.
- Learn. When there are different types of people and personalities it is really important to learn about each person. Talk to them about their background, where they are from, what are their hobbies and interests outside of work, and where they worked previously. Watch how they communicate with others and genuinely be interested in learning more about them. People enjoy talking about themselves and they are interested in telling you all that they can. Also, always remember that actions speak louder than words.
- Laugh. Sometimes when the going gets tough, the tough get going. Well, I say don’t go anywhere; just laugh! Laughter is truly the best medicine. There will always be someone that may be tough to work with or shares different opinions than you, but it’s important that you listen and learn about that person’s perspective(s). Sure, you may disagree, but they may also challenge your insights and with that comes personal growth and understanding. You can’t argue with happy people, so keep it light and understand that nothing is worth getting that frustrated over at work or in your personal life.
We will always have to deal with many different walks of life, whether it’s at a job, throughout your career, or in your personal life. With that being said, it’s imperative that we keep an open mind and always listen to what others have to say, meanwhile always remaining true to yourself. We don’t need to change our ways or thoughts, but we should be constantly evolving.
