GRAPEVINE, TX — Knowing the personality types of your employees is the key to management, humorist Connie Podesta told attendees yesterday at the National Conference on Operations & Fulfillment.
People break down into several personality categories, from organized, bottom-line-oriented types to social, creative types, said Podesta, a motivational speaker who gave the morning keynote here at Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center. Knowing the type of people working for you will help you understand better how your office functions, she said.
People with different personality types sell differently and work differently, Podesta said. Moreover, they interact differently with other personality types, with people of the same type often gravitating toward one another.
Managers should look beyond the office for signs of problems with employees, she said. Often, problems at work are rooted at home or involve physical or psychological issues.
Lastly, managers should be good at recognizing employees who are unwilling to work hard to reach their potential, Podesta said. Managers need the courage and integrity to demand that employees work as hard as they can.
“Difficult people are difficult for one reason,” she said. “They are rewarded for their behavior.”
Scott Hovanyetz covers telemarketing, production and printing and direct response TV marketing for DM News and DMNews.com. To keep up with the latest developments in these areas, subscribe to our daily and weekly e-mail newsletters by visiting www.dmnews.com/newsletters
