Small Business Resources › Hiring Staff Guide › Traits of a good team member

When building a team, understanding personality types and the traits of a good team member should be front of mind.

Skillsets, experience, and competency are all obvious considerations in a new hire but understanding the personality types at work and the personality mix of your team are often overlooked elements which should be prominent considerations.

Which personality type is predominant in your work culture? What are the traits of a good team member? Who is a better fit? Which personality types and traits would bring cohesion to your team? Which one are you and who do you best collaborate with?

The 4 types of personalities at work

While it’s important not to rely fully on profiling types of personalities at work, these methodologies do offer a valuable extra set of criteria you can use to maximise your team’s cohesiveness and work efficiency.

This is particularity salient for managers and business owners, who will benefit enormously from understanding their teams better.

So, whether you’re hiring a new employee or looking to better understand the motivations and working patterns of your existing staff, it’s great to learn the four personality types.

• The Analytical

The ‘analytical’ personality type is often known as a fact-based introvert.

1. 1. • ‘scientist’ style of personality
      • deep and thoughtful
      • have high professional standards
      • they’re serious, factual and purposeful

Positive

1. 1. • orderly and well organised
      • aim for perfection
      • self-disciplined

Negative

1. • critical and negative
   • overly analytical
   • doesn’t play well with competing ideas

• The Driver

The ‘driver’ personality type is often known as a fact-based extrovert.

2. 2. • active, dynamic and confident personality type.
      • go-getters and visionaries.
      • big picture thinkers.

Positive

2. 2. • great leadership qualities
      • determined and driven to succeed
      • independent and productive
      • solid factual decision makers

Negative

2. • not detail oriented
   • sarcastic, proud, and unsympathetic
   • can rush into things

• The Amiable

The ‘amiable’ personality type is often known as a relationship introvert.

3. 3. • well balanced, patient ‘middle of the road’ personality
      • quiet, hardworking, and inoffensive
      • easy going and avoidant of conflict

Positive

3. 3. • extremely likeable and conflict averse
      • diplomatic, calm and conscientious
      • empathetic

Negative

3. • can take their time to make decisions
   • often ‘go along’ so as not to make waves
   • indolent, unmotivated, dependent

• The Expressive

The ‘expressive’ personality type is often known as a relationship extrovert.

4. 4. • fun-loving people pleasers
      • driven by (and drive) excitement
      • want to be included

Positive

4. 4. • great team players
      • outgoing and great drivers of positive energy
      • charismatic, persuasive, and excellent communicators

Negative

4. • easily distracted
   • disorganised and undisciplined
   • can be loud and overly talkative

Employees are generally a mix of the different traits, but if you listen and observe close enough, you’ll see their main personality type. Go ahead – can you spot yourself and your team member’s personality types?

The 5 qualities of a good team member

After we’ve delved into personality types in your team, whether new or existing, there are a few key personality traits or qualities that should be prominent in any good team member.

TIP: When interviewing, on top of core competencies, make sure you create questions and ask for examples that unearth the following traits of a good team member.

• Honesty

Openness, honesty, integrity, and forthcoming attributes are a fundamental necessity in any employee. You’re trusting this person with your business; their honesty is essential.

• Reliability

You’re trusting your businesses’ future to these people. They need to show up and perform. Be sure you’re hiring someone reliable.

• Positivity/Optimism

A positive attitude breeds positive results. Team cohesiveness, great work attitude and a drive to succeed all stem from a positive outlook. Nobody wants a negative, low energy downer on the payroll.

• Empathy

The ability to empathise with clients, team members and the public is paramount to a business and is absolute gold when it comes to customer service and communication.

• Flexibility

Roles change, new tasks appear, and different directions can crop up in any business model. You’re going to need flexible team members that can go with the flow and adapt to changing conditions and responsibilities.

It’s obvious why you need to identify the above traits in a team member – who wants a dishonest, unempathetic, inflexible, and negative employee? Anybody?

When you’re hiring for and building a team, pay close attention to the traits of a good team member and the types of personalities at work. It’s not just about experience.