Personality Diversity within Management - toward success
When it comes to building a successful business, a strong management team is key. I've been a part of many management teams throughout my career, and while some have been more successful than others, I've come to realize that there's one key ingredient that can take a group of managers from good to extraordinary: personality diversity.
Sure, building a great management team takes careful planning, strategic thinking, and a deep understanding of what makes a great team. But I believe that the real magic happens when you bring together people with different backgrounds, experiences, and personalities.
Think about it: A management team is responsible for overseeing and directing the activities of an organization. To do this effectively, you need a diverse mix of personalities and skill sets. Here are some of the personalities I believe are essential to any successful management team:
- The Visionary: This is the person who can see the big picture and has a long-term vision for the organization. They inspire and motivate others to work towards a common goal and are often the driving force behind major strategic initiatives. To enhance their role, they should also be able to prioritize and identify which goals align with the company's mission and values.
- The Strategist: The strategist is the person who can translate the long-term vision into actionable plans and strategies. They analyze data, identify trends, and develop plans to achieve specific goals. To enhance their role, they should also have the ability to assess risks and develop contingency plans.
- The Executor: The executor is the person who can turn plans into action. They're skilled in project management and can execute initiatives effectively and efficiently. To enhance their role, they should also be able to delegate tasks effectively and ensure team members have the necessary resources to achieve their goals.
- The Innovator: The innovator is the person who can come up with new ideas and solutions to problems. They're creative, open-minded, and willing to take risks to achieve success. To enhance their role, they should also have the ability to validate their ideas and assess their impact on the organization.
- The Communicator: The communicator is the person who can effectively communicate the organization's vision, plans, and strategies to internal and external stakeholders. They're skilled in public speaking, writing, and interpersonal communication. To enhance their role, they should also have the ability to listen actively and provide constructive feedback.
- The Coach: The coach is the person who can develop and mentor team members to help them reach their full potential. They're skilled in providing feedback, coaching, and guidance to team members. To enhance their role, they should also be able to recognize and address individual and team weaknesses.
- The Problem Solver: The problem solver is the person who can identify and solve problems that arise within the organization. They're skilled in analytical thinking, root cause analysis, and problem-solving methodologies. To enhance their role, they should also be able to anticipate potential problems and develop preventive measures.
- The Negotiator: The negotiator is the person who can negotiate effectively with internal and external stakeholders to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes. They're skilled in communication, persuasion, and conflict resolution. To enhance their role, they should also have the ability to collaborate and compromise to reach a solution.
- The Relationship Builder: The relationship builder is the person who can build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders. They're skilled in networking, relationship building, and stakeholder management. To enhance their role, they should also have the ability to maintain and strengthen relationships over time.
- The Risk Manager: The risk manager is the person who can identify and mitigate risks that could impact the organization's success. They're skilled in risk management methodologies and can develop and implement risk mitigation strategies.
Some of these personalities go hand in hand with direct responsibilities. For example,? the CTO of a company tends to have an innovative personality, while a sales person possesses negotiation and relationship-building abilities. A mix of these personalities could be the difference between a good management team to an outstanding one.?
Apple Inc. is known for its innovative products and successful business strategy, but its management team is also notable for its diversity of personalities. Steve Jobs, the co-founder and former CEO of Apple, was the visionary behind the company's long-term strategy and direction. Tim Cook, the current CEO, is known for his strategic thinking and ability to execute on the company's plans. Jonathan Ive, the former Chief Design Officer, was the innovator behind many of Apple's iconic product designs. Phil Schiller, the former Senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing, was a skilled communicator who effectively promoted Apple's products to customers. By bringing together individuals with different personalities and strengths, this management team was able to achieve their goals and turn Apple into the company it is today.
Personality diversity within a management team is crucial for the success of any organization. A diverse mix of personalities brings different perspectives, strengths, and ideas to the table, which can lead to better decision-making, enhanced creativity, increased adaptability, and improved team dynamics. While building a successful management team may not be easy, taking the time to carefully plan and assemble a diverse group of individuals with complementary personalities can transform a group of managers into a group of leaders that can navigate the company and its employees to success. It is important to recognize the value of each individual's unique personality and to create a team culture that is supportive, collaborative, and respectful. By doing so, an organization can achieve long-term success and drive growth while maximizing profits.
CEO @ Real Impact | MBA in Marketing| Mixed Reality AR / VR | Remote Production|Cloud |Digital Transformation | ex VIZRT | ex GV | ex Prime Focus Technologies
1 年Deep Insights into building a succesful Enterprise . We sometimes tend to overlook and not give importance to these roles ! A definite key to success . Great article Michael
People. Purpose. Passion. | Love What Matters | First Principle Thinker | International Speaker | Visionary Change Agent Leading Difference, Leveraging Data and Listening to Learn
1 年Great insights Michael! I always say when it comes the D&I we could go back and start at the beginning of the alphabets, with “A”… D.I.&A… because it all starts with acceptance, of each other first and foremost, as well as how each one thinks, their style, their insights. Too often that is overlooked esp in corporates where culture needs an innovative kickstart.
General Manager Technical at SIRO Energy
1 年Dear Michael, absolutely nice summary. Diversity is the of success and innovation.
Recent Graduate of Reichman University (IDC Herzliya) | Argov Fellow
1 年So insightful!