Dominant personalities affect the team’s productivity in all organizations. Dominance leads to negative interdependence among team members, creating an environment fueled by competition rather than teamwork.
As a result, leaders need to learn how to manage different personalities in the workplace. This can be done through various team-building activities. This guide will elaborate on different ways organizations can manage employees with dominant personalities.
Understanding Dominating Personalities
Before delving into how to manage different personalities in the workplace, it’s important to understand what a dominating personality is. In a study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, dominating personalities are characterized by the following:
- Assertiveness
- Extreme self-confidence
- Competitiveness.
While these traits can benefit the workplace, they can create tension and conflict among team members.
Manage Dominating Personalities with Team-Building
Effective management of dominating personalities requires a combination of strategies, such as setting clear expectations, promoting open communication, and acknowledging different personalities. However, team-building activities can play a significant role in supervising dominating personalities within a team. Here are some ways that team building can help:
Acknowledges Needs
Dominant personalities are driven by the desire to be in control. These individuals can be arrogant, impatient, and controlling. With team-building exercises, leaders can identify such members and gain insight into their motivating factors. With this knowledge, managers can create strategies to keep such workers motivated so they do not conflict with other members.
For instance, if an employee’s dominating behavior is caused by their need to feel appreciated, managers can habitually give positive feedback to such individuals,
Promotes Collaborative Work
Team building activities that require partnership promote teamwork. A survey by the Harvard Business Review stated that 87% of participants agreed that team building improves collaboration and communication within a group. Collaborative activities, such as group brainstorming or problem-solving exercises, enable dominant individuals to recognize the value of input from other team members.
Builds Trust
A study concludes that team-building activities improve trust and job satisfaction among team members. When employees learn to trust each other, they focus more on their goals than on competition with each other. Trust-building exercises encourage all team members to feel open and safe with each other, which ultimately reduces domination.
Improves Communication
Effective communication is crucial for managing dominating personalities within a team. Team building activities that promote open communication, such as ice-breakers or team challenges, can help members express themselves better. As per a Society for Human Resource Management survey, 67% of participants agreed that team-building activities improve communication among team members.
Tips for Planning Team-Building Activities
Managing dominating personalities within a team can be challenging, but team-building activities can promote a positive work environment and encourage collaboration. Here are some tips for using team building to manage dominating personalities within a team:
Foster Open Communication
When team members feel comfortable expressing their opinions, it reduces the impact of dominating individuals and creates a more inclusive and cooperative environment. For instance, activities like ice-breakers or team challenges empower all members to express themselves better.
Encourage Feedback
Encouraging feedback from team members can help identify any issues or concerns before they become more significant problems. Businesses can use team-building activities, such as group discussions or surveys, to encourage team members to share their thoughts and feelings about the team dynamic and how it can be improved.
Wrapping Up
Managing dominating personalities within a team can be challenging, but team building can help. Such activities can promote collaboration, build trust, improve communication, and help team leaders understand their members’ strengths and weaknesses. Therefore, investing in team-building activities can help manage dominating personalities and improve the team’s overall productivity.
