Personality differences in the workplace are what make teams thrive. We all bring something special to our jobs. Why is personality important in the workplace? Different ways of seeing the world, of thinking, and of behaving spark creativity, improve problem solving, and create organizations that are agile and authentic. Getting the right mix is the foundation of a productive team and a congenial work environment.
People often ask” Why is personality important in the hiring process? Having the right background and skills is necessary, however, finding someone with the personality that is suited to the role and the culture is just as important. The personality type that loves selling and customer service is not the same as the personality type who loves diving into the numbers and making sure every spreadsheet is perfectly accurate.
We invite you to get a basic understanding of the 4 personality types and how personality testing as part of your hiring process can help you find the right person. A resume will never tell you enough about a job candidate. Here are some of the benefits of different personalities in the workplace and thinking ahead when it comes to personality fit.
A bad fit with culture is consistently cited as a top reason why people leave a job. If they don’t have the right personality for the role or don’t connect with the rest of the team, it doesn’t matter how much they earn. Turnover is expensive and disruptive. Doing all you can to reduce employee turnover is important, but preventing it by making careful hiring decisions that consider personality is a better approach.
People are happier in their work and are more accomplished when they are well suited for their roles. Temperament, attitudes, and ways of doing things vary from person to person. You might consider, for example, testing sales representatives to find people who are self-starters, stay motivated, like meeting people, and are skilled at establishing rapport. An introvert might struggle in this role.
If your organization has a strong culture that works well for achieving your aims, you will want to test personalities so that you bring in people who will fit with, enjoy, and add to the culture. If you are looking to make some changes, testing for culture fit during hiring can give you insight into people who will enhance your workplace.
Perhaps you want to spark more innovation and risk-taking. You might want to make the workplace more relaxed. Maybe you need to be more responsive to customers. Culture testing can help you build the right combination.
When people fit in their roles and into the team, your organization works together better. People “get” each other more naturally. You can avoid the assumptions and doubts, and distrust that can arise when personality differences in the workplace don’t mesh well.
A good personality fit is your goal in hiring, but you will also want to avoid hiring toxic personalities. It takes just one person creating drama, dropping the ball, spreading doubts, and defying expectations to spark conflicts. Certain personality disorders lead to behavior issues that can upset your team and potentially put people in danger.
Seeing problems in a different light, having experiences in other areas that can be adapted in new ways, and bringing new insights to your teams, all contribute to innovation. Diverse perspectives and personality types bubble up creativity and new ideas. Increasing diversity in the workplace pays off with inspirations that strengthen your organization.
You will want to test candidates’ hard knowledge and abilities with a skills assessment to make sure they are intellectually capable of doing the work. Knowledge and skills are not enough. That is why personality is important in the workplace. Testing for personality will help you find the employees most likely to succeed, improve your teams, protect your culture, and reduce turnover.
Finding job candidates who are competent, team-oriented and reliable isn’t a mystery. You can discover the real person behind the resume and who will be the best fit by adding personality testing to your hiring process.