Hi Reader,
Every project team has its cast of characters. Some are quiet thinkers, others are natural cheerleaders, a few can switch personalities depending on the day, and at least one person seems to love poking holes in every idea.
The fun part is when you stop seeing those differences as clashes and start seeing them as strengths. That’s when the team really clicks and gets things done.
I’ve had some great feedback from readers who liked my earlier thoughts on personality types, so I figured, why not keep going?
The calm anchor
Introverts are the calm anchors of a team. They listen closely, notice details others miss, and often come back with well-thought-out insights after they have had some time to process. If they feel overlooked, though, they may not speak up at all.
Picture a meeting of six people where two of them do most of the talking (yes, research shows that is usually the case) so our trusty introverts’ wisdom risks being lost. The introvert patiently waits for a chance to speak, but it rarely comes. By the time the talkative pair have finished, they’ve covered everything from project deliverables to the year’s weather forecast to their daily horoscope. Then the meeting's over.
The trick is to draw them out. Ask their opinion, let them finish their thought without interruption, and follow up one-on-one if needed. A little patience can unlock a lot of value.
The spark plugs
Extraverts are the spark plugs. They love diving into new projects, thinking out loud, and generating ideas on the spot. They keep energy levels high, but they also crave encouragement and sometimes leap before they look.
In a company, they can be the big-picture thinkers, the party planners, the ones who volunteer for coffee runs, and often the most up to date on the good gossip, whether it is inside the office or beyond it.
To channel their enthusiasm, try breaking a big meeting into smaller groups, or ask them to tackle problems on the fly. Giving them space to move around during a meeting or catching up over coffee works wonders too.
The in-betweeners
Ambiverts are the in-betweeners who can swing either way. One day they are buzzing with group energy, the next they are perfectly happy working alone. That flexibility makes them incredibly valuable, since they can adapt to whatever the team needs.
They also tend to pick up on other people’s emotions, which makes them great bridges between personalities. They might be the ones planning the party one week and skipping it the next, so you may not want to put them in charge of decorations.
However, too much downtime leaves ambiverts restless. Keep them challenged, build trust quickly, and respect it when they say they need a break.
The Devil's Advocate
And then there is the Devil’s Advocate. This is the one who questions everything, pushes back on assumptions, and sometimes seems argumentative. But this role is vital. By stirring the debate pot and forcing the group to defend its ideas, they make sure the final decision is stronger.
It’s easy to spot a Devil’s Advocate - they seem to be always pushing your buttons during the most difficult times in your project, all while flashing a big smile and offering chocolate.
What's the best style?
At the end of the day, no single style is better than another. Introverts bring depth, extraverts bring energy, ambiverts bring balance, and devil’s advocates bring clarity.
When you learn how to work with all of them, your team stops feeling like a mix of clashing personalities and starts feeling like a well-tuned orchestra.
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Barbara Kephart, PMP
Founder and Chief Project Officer
Projects Pivot
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