Why Can’t We All Just Get Along? How to Create Cohesive Teams Through Understanding Personalities

Matt Stephen, Ed.D. 35 years in public education Teacher, Counselor, Asst. Principal, Principal, Director, Asst. Supt., Asst. Professor, Consultant, Storyteller, and Papa Constructing and articulating a leadership style called “Whole-hearted Leadership.” ◦ Mission to Serve ◦ Building Meaningful Relationships ◦ Helping Others Develop and Grow

We Are All Different “Why can’t everyone be like me?” “Do I really want everyone to be like me?”

Sometimes it is hard to get along with others Discord Fear in the Workplace Inhibits Production Turnover Law Suits

Why Get Along? More Positive Relationship-Building Leads to: Consistent Behavior Increased Morale Positive Culture Increased Production Happier Customers

Let’s look at little Matt Jeffrey through the eyes of.... So why is it important that we understand different personalities? We perceive people differently

Mrs. Abercrombie and Mrs. Pierce

Building Relationships AwarenessTolerance

To move from Awareness to Tolerance takes: Awareness of Self Awareness of Others Desire to Change Thinking ◦ Here is where we lose those who are anti-social AwarenessTolerance

Building Relationships ToleranceAcceptance

To move from Tolerance to Acceptance takes: Desire to Change Thinking Desire to Change Personal Action ToleranceAcceptance

Building Relationships AcceptanceCelebration

To move from Acceptance to Celebration takes: Desire to Change Organizational Action ◦ Embrace diversity as a team AcceptanceCelebration

Relationships in Our Lives Me Colleagues Management Customer Society

Personality Inventories Personality Types:  Lion, Golden Retriever, and Beaver  Dr. Gary Smalley and Dr. John Trent Personality Color Myers-Briggs Personality Types True Colors Personality Inventory

Strengths– Visionary, practical, productive, strong-willed, independent, decisive, leader Weaknesses– Cold, domineering, unemotional self-sufficient, unforgiving, sarcastic, cruel

Strengths– Outgoing, responsive, warm, friendly, talkative, enthusiastic, compassionate Weaknesses– Undisciplined, unproductive, exaggerates, egocentric, unstable

Strengths– Calm, easy-going, dependable, quiet, objective, diplomatic, humorous Weaknesses– Selfish, stingy, procrastinator, unmotivated, indecisive, fearful, worrier

Strengths– Analytical, self-disciplined, industrious, organized, aesthetic, sacrificing Weaknesses– Moody, self-centered, touchy, negative, unsociable, critical, revengeful

Your Personality Color If your favorite color is red, you are action oriented with a deep need for physical fulfillment and to experience life through the five senses. If your favorite color is red, you are action oriented with a deep need for physical fulfillment and to experience life through the five senses.red If orange is your favorite color, you have a great need to be with people, to socialize with them, and be accepted and respected as part of a group. You also have a need for challenges in your life, whether it is physical or social challenges. If orange is your favorite color, you have a great need to be with people, to socialize with them, and be accepted and respected as part of a group. You also have a need for challenges in your life, whether it is physical or social challenges.orange Choosing yellow as your favorite means you have a deep need for logical order in your everyday life and to be able to express your individuality by using your logical mind to inspire and create new ideas. Choosing yellow as your favorite means you have a deep need for logical order in your everyday life and to be able to express your individuality by using your logical mind to inspire and create new ideas.yellow If green is your favorite, you have a deep need to belong, to love and be loved, and to feel safe and secure. You need acceptance and acknowledgment for the everyday things you do for others - just a 'thank you' is sufficient. If green is your favorite, you have a deep need to belong, to love and be loved, and to feel safe and secure. You need acceptance and acknowledgment for the everyday things you do for others - just a 'thank you' is sufficient.green Lovers of blue have a deep need to find inner peace and truth, to live their life according to their ideals and beliefs without having to change their inflexible viewpoint of life to satisfy others. Lovers of blue have a deep need to find inner peace and truth, to live their life according to their ideals and beliefs without having to change their inflexible viewpoint of life to satisfy others.blue

Indigo lovers have a need to feel in harmony and at one with the Universe and to be accepted by others as the aware and intuitive spiritual beings that they are. Indigo lovers have a need to feel in harmony and at one with the Universe and to be accepted by others as the aware and intuitive spiritual beings that they are. Indigo If purple or violet is your favorite color, you have a deep need for emotional security and to create order and perfection in all areas of your life, including your spiritual life. You also have a deep need to initiate and participate in humanitarian projects, helping others in need. If purple or violet is your favorite color, you have a deep need for emotional security and to create order and perfection in all areas of your life, including your spiritual life. You also have a deep need to initiate and participate in humanitarian projects, helping others in need.purple or violetpurple or violet If your personality color is pink you have a deep need to be accepted and loved unconditionally. If your personality color is pink you have a deep need to be accepted and loved unconditionally.pink If turquoise is your favorite color your deepest need is to create emotional balance in your life, to be able to express your hopes and dreams no matter how idealistic they may be and to make your own way in the world under your own terms. If turquoise is your favorite color your deepest need is to create emotional balance in your life, to be able to express your hopes and dreams no matter how idealistic they may be and to make your own way in the world under your own terms.turquoise If your favorite color is magenta, you are a non- conformist who sees life from a different point of view. If your favorite color is magenta, you are a non- conformist who sees life from a different point of view.magenta,

Myers-Briggs Personality Types Extraverted – Introverted Sensing – Intuitive (Practical) (imaginative) Thinking – Feeling (task-oriented) (relationship-oriented) Judging – Perceiving (Plan) (Spontaneous) ISTJ, ISFJ, INFJ, INTJ, ISTP, ISFP, INFP, INTP, ESTP, ESFP, ENFP, ENTP, ESTJ, ESFJ, ENFJ, ENTJ

True Colors Personality Inventory Gold BlueGreenOrange Who am I? How am I perceived by others? Who are my team members?

Gold Organizer BluePeople-Person GreenThinker/Visionary OrangeCreative /Spontaneous

Gold Prepared Loves to Plan Detail Oriented Punctual Strong Sense of Duty Belief in Policies and Rules Values Family Traditions Conscientious Conservative and Stable Well-Organized Most Comfortable with Structured Environment

Blue Caretaker Optimistic Passionate Enthusiastic Imaginative Cause Oriented True Romantic Needs to be Unique Cooperative rather than Competitive Strong Sense of Spirituality People Oriented Peacemaker

Green Problem Solver “Why” Mentality Very Complex Standard Setter Cool, Calm, Collected Intellectual Work is Play and Play is Work Need for Independence and Private Time Driven by Competence Perfectionist Analytical Approaches Interpersonal Relationships in a Logical Manner

Orange Energetic Desires Change Playful Master Negotiator Natural Entertainer Pushes Boundaries Accepts Challenges Impulsive and Spontaneous “Just Do It” Attitude Appreciates Immediate Feedback Most Productive in Non-structured Environments Self-Confident

Let’s Plan a Party!! Golds? Blues? Greens? Oranges?

Is there a need for diversity on a team? Let’s Plan a Staff Development Activity Golds? Blues? Greens? Oranges?

I once knew a principal…. Building Cohesive Teams Realize the need for tolerance – acceptance – celebration Realize importance of interdependence Hold conversations to achieve celebration level

Ask me about my wife, Martha…. What about Social Life? Home Friends Community Church

Building cohesive teams through understanding personalities really works. But… If you don’t want to try it, there are always alternative methods….

Matt Stephen, Ed.D. For True Colors Training contact me at: adersineducation.com adersineducation.com Website: ucation.com ucation.com Facebook Devotions antLeadersInEducation antLeadersInEducation