3 Things (It Might Surprise You to Know) Your Idealist Boss Does Well
Have you ever had a boss that you just didn't click with? No matter how hard you tried,
it seemed like you were working at cross purposes? Did you sometimes wonder how that person
got to be a manager or supervisor?
Dr. David Keirsey points out in the best-selling book, Please Understand Me II, "People
are different... and it is precisely these variations in behavior and attitude that trigger
in each of us a common response: Seeing others around us differing from us, we conclude that
these differences in individual behavior are but temporary manifestations of madness,
badness, stupidity, or sickness." With the differences between us, we often misunderstand
each others' motivations, assumptions, and objectives - even though each of us is usually acting
in what we believe to be the best interests of the organization. In fact, the strengths of one
type of person, the characteristics that make them effective in doing their jobs, are
often misinterpreted by people of other personality types as character flaws - simply because
those strengths are different than their own. These differences can lead to friction,
poor relationships, lack of respect, and make constructive communication difficult, to say the
least
The key to effectively communicating, especially with your boss, is to understand the
motivations of their personality type. If you better understand what makes them tick - what
they're good at - their behavior may make better sense to you, and rather than bothering you,
you may find you are able to benefit from their strengths and even appreciate them. Hopefully,
this understanding on your part forms the basis of a reciprocal improvement in communication
between you and your boss with friction between the two of you becoming a distant memory.
This article points out 3 key strengths for each of the four Idealist types that you may not
be aware of, and may appreciate once you notice. Is your boss a Guardian, Rational, or Artisan?
To learn more about these bosses, click on the links at the end of this article. If you don't
know the personality type of your boss, click here for a few
things to look for that may point you in the right direction.
Surprise: 3 Things Your Idealist Boss is Good At
You've determined your boss is an Idealist. You're fortunate to have an Idealist boss.
Idealists pride themselves on being kindhearted and authentic. Their focus on personal
journeys and developement can make them inspirational leaders. Idealist bosses are gifted
at helping others find their way in life, often inspiring them to grow as individuals and
to fulfill their potentials.
There are 4 types of Idealists. Each brings their own unique talents to the work place.
Here are 3 things (you might not be aware of) about each of the 4 Idealist bosses that are
worth appreciating.
Teacher Idealists (ENFJ) can be the most expressive of all the types (Oprah Winfrey
is a Teacher Idealist). No matter the role they take on, they consider people to be their
highest priority. Teachers often instinctively communicate their personal concern for others
and their willingness to become involved where needed. Here are 3 strengths to appreciate
about this type of boss:
- Teachers are natural mentors. If you are fortunate enough to have this type of boss
early in your career, they will gladly do their best to help you grow in your role and
find your best potential.
- They are clear and open communicators; in fact they tend to "wear their heart on
their sleeve". You usually don't have to struggle to figure out how they feel about how
things are going with the team - they will tell you.
- They encourage democratic participation within their team. When they ask for team
members' opinions in a meeting, they really want to know what you think. (Just don't
express yourself in an overly negative manner.)
Counselor Idealists (INFJ) have unusual foresight into issues and people. They
can be counted upon to help chart the course for a better future for all. They like to
lead quietly by principle and example and create a climate of autonomy that allows for
employee growth. Here are 3 strengths to appreciate about this type of boss:
- They help colleagues, friends, and clients avoid disaster because they are keenly
aware of the possibility of problems before they arise.
- Of all the types, they have the greatest talent for de-escalating situations. They
can almost always find just the "right words".
- They are able to see systematically into complex problems and are at their best when
their skills are used to help solve people problems.
Champion Idealists (ENFP) tend to be the most outgoing of all the Idealists, with
a natural social network and usually knowing everything going on in a company that has a
personal tone to it. They need to feel connected to others and can often be found outside
their office making these connections. Here are 3 strengths to appreciate about this type
of boss:
- They are slow to dismiss "inappropriate" notions, so their teams often arrive at the
kinds of brilliant solutions that seem obvious once they are implemented.
- They enjoy "out-of-the-box" thinking and brainstorming. Working for this type of boss
will allow you to stretch your creativity.
- They are strong defenders of their people to outsiders. In fact, they will usually
support and protect your ideas and projects as strongly as they will their own.
Healer Idealists (INFP) are attuned to psychic health and will notice before
anyone else if a group is malfunctioning because it feels personally painful. They will
put a great deal of effort into healing breaches between people and within projects.
It is not unusual to see them strongly advocating positions that they see as bettering
conditions for people. Here are 3 strengths to appreciate about this type of boss:
- They have a high tolerance for differences. They can become warriors in protecting
"the underdog".
- They prefer to set as few rules as possible, as they want to encourage creativity
within their teams.
- They are very good at making unusual connections between ideas that can lead to
valuable innovations.
Relationships with bosses can be challenging, but as we noted in the introduction to this
series of articles, often times the difficulties arise from the miscommunication caused by
the differences in each of our personality styles. In spite of these differences, as you've
seen above, each of them brings some very admirable qualities to the table. If you can
recognize these traits in your boss, you have taken the first step toward appreciating
the differences about them that can make your relationship stronger and more productive.
You can further explore and understand the strengths and challenges of your entire team
through the Keirsey
Temperament Sorter-II and Team Temperament Report, available through Keirsey.com.
Contact us today for
more information.
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