Meetings: they’re as common as sunrises (and sometimes happen more often), dividing opinions like virtual backgrounds on Zoom calls. Some people love them and see it as a chance to shine in the spotlight, while others endure them like waiting for a slow-loading webpage. Yet, like clockwork, they’re a staple of office life, as expected as Monday morning emails and as essential as the first cup of coffee of the day.
For some, like the self-proclaimed World’s Greatest Boss, Michael Scott, there are no bad meetings. But for others, they get in the way of getting the job done. But meetings don’t have to suck; with a little bit of understanding of the four personality dimensions, meetings can be useful to everyone. Whether you’re leading the meeting, or are part of it, take some time to read through these tips on how to get the most out of your time.
Resourceful Oranges
- Keep things lively and hands-on. Resourceful Oranges love getting into the action.
- Stay open to spontaneous ideas and changes. Flexibility keeps them engaged.
- Show rather than tell. Visuals and examples make the meeting more interesting.
- Encourage their creativity and let them share their innovative thoughts.
Introverted Resourceful Oranges
- Prefer to observe and process information internally before contributing.
- Might be more reserved in expressing their ideas but can offer thoughtful insights when given the opportunity.
Extraverted Resourceful Oranges
- Tend to be more vocal and outgoing in group settings.
- Enjoy engaging with others, sharing ideas freely, and prefer dynamic discussions and activities.
Organized Golds
- Stick to a plan and make sure everyone knows what’s happening. Guardians appreciate structure.
- Provide clear instructions upfront. They like knowing what’s expected.
- Give them time to think things through. They like to be thorough before making decisions.
- Thank them for their reliability and attention to detail.
Introverted Organized Golds
- Can take time to warm up in group settings and might prefer to listen and gather information before actively participating.
- Contribute by offering practical solutions and insights based on their observations.
Extraverted Organized Golds
- Often take on leadership roles in group meetings, guiding discussions, and make sure the meeting sticks to agendas and procedures.
- Enjoy facilitating group cohesion and may be more assertive in expressing their opinions.
Authentic Blues
- Create a warm and supportive vibe. Idealists value empathy and connection.
- Encourage open sharing of feelings and aspirations. They love meaningful conversations.
- Let them share their big ideas and dreams. They thrive on inspiring discussions.
- Be patient and understanding of their emotions. They may need some reassurance.
Introverted Authentic Blues
- Tend to focus on deeper emotional and philosophical aspects of discussions.
- Prefer one-on-one conversations or smaller group settings where they can delve into meaningful topics at length.
Extraverted Authentic Blues
- Thrive in group settings where they can share their visions and ideals with others.
- Enjoy making connections and understanding among group members, often bringing enthusiasm and inspiration to discussions.
Inquiring Greens
- Get down to the facts and figures. Rationals love a logical approach.
- Be ready for some intellectual debates. They enjoy challenging ideas.
- Back up your points with data. They appreciate a well-reasoned argument.
- Keep it short and sweet. They prefer efficiency and directness. (They’re the ones asking if this meeting could have been an email!)
Introverted Inquiring Greens
- Like to analyze information internally before presenting their ideas to the group.
- Can more reserved in expressing themselves but can offer insightful and logical solutions once they’ve had time to process.
Introverted Inquiring Greens
- Are confident and assertive communicators in group settings.
- Like debates, challenging ideas, and proposing innovative solutions. They are good at taking the lead in driving discussions forward with their logical reasoning and problem-solving skills.
Understanding and embracing each other’s unique styles can make all the difference in creating productive meetings that people actually want to be part of. Whether it’s a Resourceful Orange diving headfirst into the action or an Organized Gold taking charge of structure and reliability, each personality brings its own contributions to the table. Authentic Blues see the big, while Inquiring Greens provide the analytical backbone. Remember, whether Introverted or Extraverted, each individual adds their own special flavour to the mix. Keep the conversations lively, the ideas flowing, and the connections strong. With a little bit of knowledge and understanding, meetings can go from just a necessity, to a chance to shine and collaborate like never before!
Brad Whitehorn – BA, CCDP is a lifelong Introvert, and the Associate Director at CLSR Inc. He was thrown into the career development field headfirst after completing a Communications degree in 2005, and hasn’t looked back! Since then, Brad has worked on the development, implementation and certification for various career and personality assessments (including Personality Dimensions®), making sure that Career Development Practitioners and HR Professionals get the right tools to do their best work.
