Your Personality Style

Which statement would you find yourself thinking the most?

1. I sure wish this would be more organized.2. They just need to relax; everything is fine.3. This is not fun; I’m bored.4. They need to make a decision…and NOW.

Q.

for Bringing Out the Plusin Your Personality

Quick Tips

Otter

Face reality; life isn’t always a party Get a personal calendar & keep an updated

schedule Make easy-to-follow schedules Learn to make lists Find someone who will hold you accountable Get to the point; in conversation, limit details Plan variety in each day Be on time; aim to be early

OtterQuick Tips

Finish what you start or delegateso you can keep commitments

Listen more; talk less

Draw others out with questions

Put things back in the same place every time

Tone down your volume of speech and laughter Otter

Quick Tips

Otter

Interrupt nor add to others’ stories

Laugh everything off

Walk into a room talking

Overcommit yourself to too many projects

Do Not

Lion

Be first to apologize Lead, don’t push Develop a plan of encouraging others

(verbally or written) Admit existence of own faults & weaknesses Issue a request instead of an order Greet people with a warm smile If it’s not your problem,

stay out of itLion

Quick Tips

Let people offer opinions without cutting them off or putting them down

Realize others may be right Listen to what people are saying to you,

then allow your heart to open Allow others to be who they are Look for ways to validate the creativity of others Learn to compromise and cooperate with others Learn to relax so you won’t become

a workaholic

lion

Expect everyone to want to do it your way Assume you know everything Be so bossy that you intimidate others Expect everyone to produce as you do Assume everyone wants your advice

Do Not

Golden

Retriever

Speak up and enter the conversation Move into action with enthusiasm Be willing to take a risk Involve yourself in others’ lives Trust your own abilities Recognize your tendency toward laziness and realize

how it affects others Model a winner’s attitude Finish three projects you have

started and set dates for others Golden Retriever

Quick Tips

Learn some phrases to encourage others Show you really heard and do care Develop a plan to keep heading toward growth Communicate your feelings so people will

relate to you Love yourself for who you are Focus on your strengths instead of your weaknesses Remember it is only the first time you do something

new that is frightening; next time will be easier

Golden RetrieverQuick Tips

Let resentment build. It comes out as sarcasm in your “one-liner” humor. Procrastinate and expect others to do your work Always say “I don’t care” Be a wet blanket on others’ ideas

Do Not

GoldenRetriever

Beaver

Realize life may not be quite as bad as it seems at the moment

Cheer up; smile more Realize that perfectionism can cause

procrastination Ease up on your standards for yourself

and others Be less sensitive Learn to meet others’ needs &

appreciate their differencesBeaver

Quick Tips

Lower standards slightly to be more realistic Allow people room to be themselves Speak up more Believe in people Develop acceptance of others who aren’t perfect Express your feelings instead of closing

down emotionally Communicate needs and talk

things over rather than withdrawing

BeaverQuick Tips

Beaver

Allow your unforgiving spirit to alienate those who deeply care for you

Take everything personally and get hurt

Make everyone play 20 questions to get an answer

Take life so seriously

Expect everyone else to have lists and schedules

Let your schedule keep you from seeing and meeting others’ needs

Do Not

the Personalities inYour Workplace

Piecing Together

• Making initial contact with people• Creating enthusiasm and excitement• Encouraging and uplifting others• Insuring that the group has fun

• Motivates others to joins (look for those who need to be included)• Recruiter and a Creative Person • Brings energy and excitement

OtteryellowPlace in the

Puzzle

Best At

Can come on too happy or cute Not considered serious or believable Considered flighty

Encouragement and praise

Listen through my emotions

Otteryellow

REALIZE THEY NEED FUN & ENTERTAINMENT

Motivate Me

Warning

• Leading people to action• Managing the plans and productivity• Giving quick and clear instructions • Making decisions quickly with confidence

• Leadership (Take Charge)• Results• Good Decision Maker Lion

red

Place in the Puzzle

Best At

May come on too overpowering, often intimidates less confident people

Tell me how much I have doneRespect my quick decisions

REALIZE THEY NEED

ACTION AND SOME CONTROL

Lionred

Motivate Me

Warning

• Making sure the group is comfortable• Listening to others• Being sensitive to the need of others

• Keeps everything steady• Makes others feel like

they belong• Support person

GoldenRetriever

greenPlace in the Puzzle

Best At

May come across as too low-key or lazyAppears too unenthusiastic or uninvolved

Recognize how calmI am and level headed

Value who I am andwhat I bring to the group

REALIZE THEY NEED REST & QUIET TIME

GoldenRetriever

green

Motivate Me

Warning

• Planning and explaining the details• Keeping the financial records straight• Staying calm and functional amidst chaos

• Critical thinker• Systems for

accomplishing the task

• Detail person

blueBeave

r

Place in the Puzzle

Best At

Might come across too intellectual and remote May make others feel less intelligent Can get lost in the details

Invite me and welcome me into your group

space

Validate my contribution even though it may

seem negative

REALIZE THEY NEED ORDER & ENCOURAGEMENT

blueBeave

rMotivate Me

Warning

Personalities at Work

GOLDEN RETRIEVER

Job Pluses

Environ-ment

Decisions

Are

Workspace

SimulativeFast –Paced

Congenial

Spontaneous—

Heart

Casual, Usually

Cluttered with piles & sticky notes

The Start,The

Challenge

FriendlyCasual

Open Door Policy

Consultative—

Heart

Casual Comfortable with items

within reach

The Involvement Relationship

s

EfficientEffective

Productive

Decisive—Head

No FrillsFunctional with items in the right

places

Accomplishing the task and winning

OrganizedFunctionalPractical

Calculated—Head

OrganizedLeaves

Workspace Neat

The Process Developing

Systems

Personalities at Work

GOLDEN RETRIEVER

Struggles with

People Who Are

Likes People

Who

Fears

Too SeriousNarrow-Minded

Not Flexible

Enjoy LifeLove

Possibilities Are Positive

Being BoredBeing Left-

OutBeing

Unpopular

Too Controlling

PushyDemanding

Are SupportiveRespect &

Value ThemMake Them

Laugh

Major ChangeBeing

Overwhelmed

Put In the Spotlight

Lazy/Incompetent

Not Productive

Weak

Perform Well

Are Self-Assured

Like Action

Loss of ControlLoss of RespectBeing Wrong

Disorganized

InsincereSuperficial

Are SeriousAre

DependableInclude Them

Making a MistakeBeing

Misunderstood

Being Dismissed

Personalities at Work

GOLDEN RETRIEVER

Stressors

When Stressed

Rigid Situations

and People

Talks Loudly With

EmotionImpulsive

Actions andTalks A Lot

Fast-PacedDisharmony

ConflictInstability

Avoids/Isolates

Veges-OutBecomes a

Couch Potato

Distractions from

ProblemTV/Books/

Sleep

Incompetent PeopleOut of Control

SituationsNot

Producing Enough

Verbal AggressionDomineerin

gAssertive

BluntPushes

Harder for Production

ChangeChaos

Sloppy WorkIrresponsibil

ity

WithdrawsDisengagesGoes Back to Facts &

DataFor AnswersIndecisive:

Analysis Paralysis

OTTER Inspirational Loud With stories A lot Direct Prefers verbal

LION Authoritative Loud Logical One way Direct To the point

BEAVER

Communication Style

FactualDelivered perfectly“Need to know” IndirectPrefers writtenSofter & precise

Warm Soft & collectedTwo-wayIndirectPrefers verbalHesitant to open up

GOLDEN RETRIEVER

Otter to Lion Get to the bottom line quicklyDon’t start with stories & laughterGive facts

Otter to Beaver Be sensitive to their scheduleKeep to the pointWatch for signs that they are done

Otter to Golden Retriever

Slow downListen to themAsk their opinion

Lion to Otter Be interested in their colorful storiesDon’t roll your eyesDon’t try to always correct them

Lion to Beaver Allow them to share their ideasEncourage & prompt themAppreciate their research and details

Lion to Golden Retriever Be careful not to shut them outDon’t be impatientValue and ask for their opinion

Beaver to Otter

Respond openly to their funny happeningsCompliment them frequently

Beaver to Lion

Don’t drown them in detailsCut to the essentialsBe confident

Beaverto Golden Retriever

Watch for positives and mention themOffer them sincere praise

Golden Retrieverto Otter

Enter into conversationGet excited about their ideasSmile

Golden Retriever to Beaver

Offer facts and back them up with documentationValue their time and schedule

Golden Retrieverto Lion

Speed up your speechGet to the bottom lineShow energy

GOLDEN RETRIEVER