Personality and Profitability: Decision Making

As a busy executive and leader, you are probably well aware of the fact that you should be keeping up on changing corporate trends, and that you should be abreast of current research regarding best practices in your industry. Like many, though, you may be "too busy" just keeping the doors open, to take the time for necessary reading and/or training opportunities. You know you "should" be doing all these things, but life just keeps getting in the way.

Perhaps you are one of the many busy executives who feel constantly under the gun. Your success depends primarily on profitability. If you make that happen, you have "succeeded." If not, you, or your organization, may be history! If this is true, beware! You may be tempted to just keep doing what you have always done…and getting what you have always gotten. If results have been less than stellar, consider doing something different!

Of course you need to be profitable. The question is, how will you make that happen? Will you look at the big picture and focus on ultimate success? Will you seek new, cutting edge ideas, to boost the bottom line? Will you see your employees as an important tool for success, and consider ways to improve retention or boost productivity? Will you focus primarily on costs, and cut anywhere you can to tighten the belt a little bit more?

Interestingly, the solution you choose may have more to do with your basic personality than with which strategy will be most effective at any given time. As a matter of fact, each of the approaches above represents the choice of a different personality in response to the same or similar problem. Your understanding of basic personalities in general, and your own personality make-up in particular, could make a major difference not only in your decisions, but most importantly, in your bottom line. Research shows that individuals under stress, with little or no personal insight, tend to resort to past patterns regardless of the outcome.

Studies over the past ten years, find that different personality types have their own unique and very different ways of responding to life and solving problems. Each personality type has its own strengths and Achilles heels, or inborn weaknesses, which determine how they respond. These traits also determine their ultimate level of success.

The "Leader" * personality, for instance, is found in about 10% of the population, but they end up in leadership positions 90% of the time. Leaders are visionaries and see the big picture, but often lack the people skills needed to motivate their employees to follow and to give their best. Decisions are more often focused exclusively on the bottom line, with little regard for the people who are actually making it happen. This can result in poor productivity, low morale, and high turnover, all of which negatively impact profitability.

"People" types, on the other hand, value people and have the people skills necessary for effective teamwork, but may tend to avoid conflict or take things personally, and therefore may not be as effective at resolving the many people problems that crop up daily in the work environment. Decisions not to confront issues such as these can diminish effective teamwork and reduce productivity, both of which impact the bottom line.

"Free Spirit" personality types are very entrepreneurial and tend to come up with creative and innovative solutions to difficult problems, but may not have the structure or follow through needed for successful long-term results. Decisions by these leaders or supervisors may result in too many new ideas and not enough follow through. This could result in incomplete projects or failure to implement strategic plans.

"Task" types are experts at organizing systems, developing detailed action plans, and following through to completion. But they may be resistive to change, and may tend to focus on numbers rather than people. Their workplace decisions can lead to interpersonal conflict and resentment, rigid structure, and resistance to innovation.

Fortunately anyone can learn more about themselves and others, and can develop more effective ways of dealing with relationships, solving everyday problems, and reaching personal or professional goals. Anyone can sharpen their inborn strengths, overcome their Achilles heels, and develop learned strengths necessary for greater success, personally and professionally.

Don't just do what you've always done, if you're not getting what you want. Consider doing something different. Learn more about yourself and others. Put the skills you learn into practice. It will definitely impact your bottom line!

* Personality designations from The Peoplemap, Understanding Yourself and Others, by E. Michael Lillibridge, PH.D.

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Pat Swan, M.S., Personal Life Coach and Relationship Coach
Author of Watch Out! Your Relationships Can Be Hazardous To Your Health
Reduce relationship stress and discover secret remedies for better health.
Visit my web site www.patswan.com and Sign up for my FREE Well-Being Tips
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Copyright 2003 Pat Swan

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