How to Match Your Personality to the Workplace

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Noodle Contributor January 23, 2020

Many factors determine success in the workplace. Privilege, connections and educational background; all these play a role in how well a person performs in the office.

Entrepreneurs fostering new ventures outside of well-developed entrepreneurial ecosystems like Silicon Valley face significant challenges. These markets are unlike Silicon Valley, and they will likely remain so. That doesn't mean they can't nurture and sustain new businesses. In transitioning markets that lack abundant private sector financing, creative approaches from government officials, donors, and business leaders can fill the void to support entrepreneurial activity. Northeast Ohio (where Cleveland and Case Western Reserve University are located) has become a laboratory for such innovative solutions. During our time together in this course, we will explore some of these creative approaches to promoting regional entrepreneurship. Northeast Ohio has seen a massive infusion of government and donor resources for over ten years. In that time, Northeast Ohio has promoted regional development (including job creation and follow-on funding) through alternative methods of financing startups. It has not been easy. The region has made progress, but it remains to be seen whether it has struck upon an enduring formula. A dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem takes many years, even decades, to develop. Government policymakers and donors typically seek quicker returns on their support programs, which makes long-term support for entrepreneurship challenging. This course includes case studies and first-person testimonials from entrepreneurs who have launched products and services ranging from medical devices to LED lights to whiskey. You will learn how these entrepreneurs discovered and procured resources from various programs and intermediary organizations. You will hear from business people still in the process of developing their companies as well as those whose ventures have flourished. Our focus will extend beyond Cleveland to selected markets around the world, including Greece, Vietnam, Tunisia, Argentina, Rwanda and China. You will learn about international incentives and other supports available to developing startups and small businesses across the globe. This course examines how different communities around the world approach implementing strategies and methods to support businesses. I will ask you to reflect on how to apply the principles we learn to growing entrepreneurship where you live. The social interactive features of the online platform will enable students from around the world to share ideas and learn from one another. Most MOOCs rebroadcast professors’ lectures; this course is different. Don’t expect to see me standing in front of the camera, talking and lecturing every module. Instead, the lectures will be relatively short in length. They have more of the feel of an engaging documentary than a static classroom setting. ## __What type of person takes the *Beyond Silicon Valley* course?__ - Active and aspiring businesspeople in communities looking to initiate new startup ecosystems or bolster existing ones - Current and prospective entrepreneurs who want to learn about funding sources, risk management, and the lifecycle of startups - Professionals who work in government agencies, nongovernmental organizations, philanthropic institutions, and various private funds that fund startups - Anyone curious about how to create and grow startup ecosystems outside the major tech hubs - The principles Beyond Silicon Valley teaches have been drawn from and applied to startups worldwide, from small villages to megalopolises. You'll study success stories spanning the globe from Vietnam to Kosovo to Botswana. ## __What will you learn in *Beyond Silicon Valley*?__ - How and where startups can find funding to get their businesses off the ground - What role government can play in encouraging startups and a healthy startup ecosystem - How anchor institutions such as universities and healthcare systems participate in startup ecosystems - How nongovernmental organizations support startups - How to raise funds from venture capitalists, angel investors, and accelerators - How to navigate challenging periods in the startup lifecycle - The importance of mentoring in successful startups

In this course, participants learn core principles, concepts, and methods of continuous improvement and explore the history of continuous improvement efforts. In a series of lectures, Master Black Belt in Six Sigma Shane Wentz, Ph.D., enables learners to enhance, optimize, and stabilize business processes and to augment quality control through varied methodologies. Participants gain the skills and knowledge to reimagine internal processes, engage in advanced problem-solving, and empower employees. The course covers high-level foundational principles of Lean, Six Sigma, and DMAIC processes before diving deep into Lean Six Sigma methods. Learners will analyze the tools of process mapping, Kaizen (a continuous improvement method/tool deemed a prerequisite for Lean transformation success), Lean (a continuous improvement philosophy that emphasizes streamlined workflows and reducing waste), and the process improvement methodology driving DMAIC: Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control.

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Many factors determine success in the workplace. Privilege, connections and educational background; all these play a role in how well a person performs in the office. Another factor that contributes to performance is personality type. Everyone leans toward one personality type or another, and these indicate how people flourish in a given setting. Mind Body Green even associates a person’s personality type with how they perform on the income scale. Recognizing how different types function helps determine what kind of roles cultivates success for different personalities.

Introverts are energized through spending time alone with their thoughts. In social settings, introverts usually prefer being in small, intimate environments. These types of people are able to zero in on the task at hand, and drown out all distractions until the task is done. They’re also good listeners and are very observant. The Balance Careers suggests that the best jobs for introverts are veterinarians, archivists, social media managers and researchers. These jobs allow introverts to work independently, and put their observational skills to good use.

Extroverts are the polar opposites of introverts. Gaining their energy from external stimuli, extroverts are people persons. Business writer Nancy Lovering looked at the advantages of extroverts in the workplace and found that these types of people thrive in team settings and networking events. A feature by Special Counsel on the different personality types in legal firms explains how those described as a “people person" are able to excel in social interactions as being “empathetic, interpersonally adept, and skilled in the persuasive arts". The perfect jobs for extroverts are those that allow them to maximize their social skills. Positions such as sales managers, marketing consultants, human resources representatives and public relations representatives all work well with extroverts.

Similar to introverts, artists prefer to work independently, with a flexible schedule. The greatest demand on an artist is to express their creativity and innovation in their chosen job. Artists find a 9-5 job constraining, as well as working under strict orders from a manager. These people prefer to follow through with their own ideas instead of implementing someone else’s. The types of industries that artists thrive in include design, writing, marketing, theater and music.

Analysts are problem solvers. These types work best when using their logical reasoning skills. They enjoy analyzing theories and finding solutions to complex problems. They are very disciplined, and will most likely not stop until they’ve found a solution to a problem in their head. They are also very process-driven, and enjoy doing something in a step-by-step manner. Analysts work best as engineers, corporate strategists, business managers, and accountants.

If you’re not sure where you fit in with these personalities, Business Insider created a test that helps people discover their personality and the ideal work style to match. Keep in mind however that these personality types are not set in stone. If you’re an introvert for example, there are still ways for you to be good at socializing. Journalism graduate Sara Kim made a list of networking tips that can help any personality type have a productive day. The aforementioned roles aren’t meant to restrict us, but rather help us understand the types of work settings where we can thrive the most. There are plenty of examples of people who have been one personality type and excelled in roles closely associated with other types. The trick is to find a role that you excel in.