Mia
As people slowly but surely return to the office after months of remote employment, questions abound regarding our continued suitability for working in such an environment. Has it been too long? Will we be able to re-adjust to collaborating in person again? The answers to these queries will be made clearer in time – but for now, larger questions about team cohesion are being asked by businesses. So, which personality traits gel best in the workplace, and why?
Patience
A recent study by poster printing specialists instantprint looked into desirable and undesirable co-worker traits, polling 2,000 UK office staff. The survey found that just less than half (46%) of respondents see patience as a desirable quality, topping the list above all others.
And it’s not hard to see why; patience breeds co-operation, and teamwork is often key in the office. Knowing when to wait and when to push for an answer is an extremely valuable skill, demonstrating emotional intelligence as well as professional restraint. By contrast, impatience can result in rushed work or unsatisfactory results, as well as emotional harm to members of the team.
Creativity
Creativity also featured highly, with more than a third (35%) of respondents naming it as a desirable trait in the workplace. In certain roles it may feel like creativity doesn’t have much of a place at all, but it can translate to different positions, tasks and skillsets in a variety of ways.
It can be exemplified by the creation of a newer way to approach a task or problem, or by the streamlining of a process. Creativity can beget initiative, where the planning and discovery of new solutions lay the groundwork for disruptive offerings to a team and business. Employees look for creativity in their co-workers as it represents diligence and refreshing takes on what can sometimes feel like mundane day-to-day work. Are you a creative personality type?
Good Communication
Good communicators are held in nearly as high esteem as patient workers, according to the survey, with 45% of respondents suggesting they like to see that particular trait in their colleagues. This should come as no surprise because employees working together need to understand each other’s workload, skillset and calendar to efficiently and correctly deliver.
Even where different departments rarely work together on a task, communication is key for the effective running of the business as a whole. Poor communication can have devastating effects, if for example co-workers misunderstand the scope or criteria of a given task and valuable revenue is lost as a result. Communication also boils down to personal office relationships and dynamics, where the lack of communication with your team can decrease morale.
Organisational Qualities
More than one-third (35%) appreciate organised colleagues in the workplace. This is about more than team members who are simply neat and tidy; it means they manage their time well, understand their limitations and the parameters of any projects they are working on. They are able to prioritise tasks shrewdly, and do not miss deadlines unless it is for reasons outside of their control. Organised colleagues make the machine that is the workplace run much smoother, and are dependable when it comes to their remit and workload.
