How can Network Engineers work with different personalities?

1 Know yourself

The first step to working with different personalities is to understand your own. What are your strengths, weaknesses, values, and motivations as a network engineer? How do you prefer to communicate, learn, and work with others? What are your triggers, stressors, and coping strategies? By knowing yourself, you can identify your own biases, blind spots, and areas for improvement. You can also leverage your strengths and adapt your style to suit different situations and people.

2 Know others

The second step to working with different personalities is to learn about others. What are their roles, responsibilities, goals, and challenges as network engineers or related professionals? How do they prefer to communicate, learn, and work with others? What are their triggers, stressors, and coping strategies? By knowing others, you can appreciate their perspectives, respect their differences, and find common ground. You can also communicate more effectively, tailor your feedback, and support their development.

3 Use tools

The third step to working with different personalities is to use tools that can help you assess, understand, and adapt to different personality types. There are various frameworks and models that can help you categorize and describe personality traits, such as the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), the DiSC profile, or the Big Five model. These tools can help you discover your own and others' preferences for introversion or extroversion, thinking or feeling, judging or perceiving, and so on. They can also help you adjust your communication, collaboration, and conflict resolution strategies accordingly.

4 Be respectful

The fourth step to working with different personalities is to be respectful of everyone's individuality, diversity, and dignity. This means avoiding stereotypes, assumptions, and judgments based on personality traits. It also means acknowledging and appreciating the contributions, strengths, and perspectives of each person. Moreover, it means being polite, courteous, and professional in all your interactions, regardless of personality differences. By being respectful, you can build trust, rapport, and goodwill with others.

5 Be flexible

The fifth step to working with different personalities is to be flexible and adaptable to changing circumstances, demands, and expectations. This means being open to new ideas, feedback, and solutions from others who may have different approaches, opinions, and styles. It also means being willing to compromise, negotiate, and cooperate with others to achieve common goals and resolve conflicts. Furthermore, it means being able to cope with stress, uncertainty, and ambiguity in a fast-paced and dynamic environment. By being flexible, you can enhance your creativity, productivity, and resilience as a network engineer.

6 Be proactive

The sixth and final step to working with different personalities is to be proactive and take initiative to improve your interpersonal skills and relationships. This means seeking opportunities to learn from others, share your knowledge and expertise, and collaborate on projects and tasks. It also means soliciting and giving constructive feedback, recognizing and celebrating achievements, and addressing issues and concerns promptly and constructively. Additionally, it means seeking support and guidance when needed, and offering help and assistance when possible. By being proactive, you can foster a positive, supportive, and collaborative culture among your peers, colleagues, and clients.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?